Assuming that there is no big secret to like, that there is no purpose but to live, then what is the point of it all? Why must we continue to live? Why must anything continue to live? Because there is life, must there be a purpose? Must there be a big cosmic reason for our existence?



Help me out here, I'm having kind of a mid-mid life crisis.

and????

the purpose is its a learning point from what we have or had learned from our pastlife to this, so it continues and repeats over and over again

How can you confirm that we truly exist? Why should there be a "telos" end to anything? why can't things just be?

What makes you so certain that everything repeats? it is true that history repeats itself but there is no guarantee that things will repeat again. example just because humans die in the past does not necessarily mean we are mortal.

It's kind of hard for me to put in words what I'm really asking...

I think a simpler way to put it would be...

"If there is no purpose, is there a purpose?"

I know it doesn't make a whole lot of sense, but I hope someone sees what I'm driving at.

what a wondrous ride we are on and we paid nothing for the admission except to exist...

From the religious point of view, the purpose is to reproduce and multiple -- a simple (i.e. primitive) and a quite straight forward concept.. which has brought the humanity to the present day!

From the Univers-al point of view, there's absolutely no reason (or purpose) for a speck of dust to exist!
But, since we have been given a gift (or a curse) of existence, we're trying to make the best of it -- as comfortable and pleasant as possible! (the alternative is a Misery!!!)

There's no scientific proof of the reincarnation -- nobody can prove to have had existed before (at least not Yet, although that's possible under the hypnotic trance!) -- the human brain is still not large enough to contain more than one consciousness at a time. But in just a couple of mileniums -- give or take a few centuries -- our descendants would be capable of assuming any personality they choose... (simultaneously)

All of that may sound quite hypothetical, but until the crystal ball is invented (to confirm my theory one way or another), all of it may be quite plausible!
However, the point is just in one word -- Descendants -- who require a lot of comfort (and bring a lot of pleasure..)
* * * AND THAT IS THE REAL PURPOSE -- Reproduce and Multiply in the most comfortable and pleasant manner! ! ! * * *

The point of it all is to have a good orgasim, alot to drink, good food, enjoy vacations in exotic lands, meet woman that melt your mind (even if it is only for a chat), gaze at the stars with a good glass of wine, read a good book that makes you laugh, or enjoy your friends and family.

And once you have done it all


You do it again!

Enjoy the "now" of life

don't worry about the afterlife. This is a brick wall waiting for you to think "what is the purpose."

Don't worry about the purpose, because even the smartest people in the world don't know.

Just enjoy life all the way to the end.

And when you reach 80 laugh at yourself about how you can't get out of the bathroom fast enough to watch the other part of the movie in time.

Laugh, laugh, laugh. Study genotology if have to!

That is the best I can give on advice. Probably sucks, and if so, I will look for a joke to make you laugh to understand that life is beautiful if you really want to see it so.

go get a shiny little convertible automobile and you will find your purpose...

You might be interested in the following book:

The Faery Teachings by Orion Foxwood.



It addresses the following questions:

1. Who am I?
2. What is it? (the Great "It", The creator)
3. Why do I exist?
4. What part of 'it' am I?
5. How do I fit into 'it'?
6. Where do I go when I die?
7. The Faery Tradition, what is this?

If you are interested you can find the book here:

http://rjstewart.net/other-authors.htm

I'm only suggesting this because these are the questions you're asking. I'm not necessarily recommending the book, I'm just pointing out that it addresses the questions you are asking and thus you may find it interesting and/or helpful.

Now I do recommend the companion CD. I have personally found it very helpful for bringing together the three aspects of consciouness.

So I would recommend getting the CD at least, if not the book.

The CD contains guided meditations. They may seem like fantasy, and in a very real sense must be imagined in the mind. So in that sense they are fantasy. But at the same time, if you take them seriously, they are showing you how to bring your three aspects of consciouness together. So think of them as a psychological map. And don't be afraid to lose yourself in your imagination. Embrace your gift of imagination and live the experience in your mind.

Of course, this may only be helpful for you if you love the Earth. It's basically an Earth-based (or nature-based) tradition.

Also, don't take the faeries too literally, they are metaphors for spritual encounters. There spirits are real, the fae are their vehicle of communication.

~~~

Now having said all of that, I must confess that I may be jumping ahead.

I actually began my journey into the Faery World through Core Shamanism.

The Faery World is the psychological world that called to me. But the Fae are not the only way.

You could be more pragmatic and look into the doctrine of emptiness as taught through Buddhism. However, with no attempt to be puny I found that doctrine a bit empty. I see what it is trying to get at, but I think the Fairy Tradition does a better job, at least for me.

Another suggestion would be core shamanism itself. But that's a bit abstract. In fact, most shamans will encourage you to seek something specific even after you've learned the fundamentals of shamanism.

The specifics are typically folkloric traditions and/or mythologies. Almost any mythology will work as a vehicle for spirits (even including such mythologies as Christianity, Islam, and Judaism), however, those mythologies tend to breed egotism because they view God as an extremely jealous ego. So I would personally suggesting steering clear of those particular mythologies.

Mythologies that are positive include, The Faery Tradition that I've already mentioned, The traditions of some North American Indians viewed as Wanka Tanka and the spirits of nature, Some of the more positive Greek Mythologies are cool, and various traditions and folklore of witchcraft, the Moon Goddess, and the Horned God.

You need to find what calls to you.

With that in mind, I'd like to recommend the following book:

The Shamanic Temple of Witchcraft by Christopher Penczak

Don't let the term Witchcraft throw you, this particular book has almost nothing to do with witchcraft and is solely focused on shamanism. The only reason the term Witchcraft appears in the title is because this book is Volume Three on a series of witchcraft teachings. But shamanism isn't witchcraft.

Penczak doesn't specify which tradition of folklore you should embrace for your shamanic journeys, although his acccompany CDs assume a Goddess, a God, and a Great Spirit. But he doesn't name them, so they can be anything you like. Plus he also tell the reader to use whatever is comforable for them.

His books are very generic.

He also addresses all of the same questions I listed above.

You don't really need to have read the first two volumes of his works. They are more focused on the traditions of witchcraft. But they also include meditations, and the bringing together of the three aspects of consciousness.

So I would recommend all three volumes actually. Even if you ignore the witchcraft stuff you might find the material on the three aspects of consciousness to be enlightening.

Then again, if you're nature-oriented you might actually enjoy the witchcraft traditions too. This isn't about religion, and Penczak doesn't necessarily support 'Wicca'. He's more interested in the abstract concepts of spirituality as a whole.

So anyway, this is all just food for thought.

You can't know whether you'd be interested unless you know what's out there. So I'm just sharing some of the things that I've found that are avaiable that address the questions you are asking.

Happy journeying! Whether astrally, physically or spiritually .

My own personal take on this.......

I don't think there is one grand overriding purpose that applies to us all. I think each of us has a journey, and it is up to us as individuals to figure out what that is. I believe that learning all we can, being the best "us" we can be, and doing our best to provide positive contributions in whatever way possible helps us do so.

However, I could be wrong. After all, if I knew the right answer, I'd make a LOT of money selling books, lol.

Isn't the point of life to have babies and procreate life. Strictly from a biological sense.

You don't need to know the right answers to make money selling books!

Trust me!

In fact, Christopher Penczak sells LOTS of books and doesn't even claim to know the right answers!

All he does is SHARE traditions that he feels have helped him!

He's not claiming that they hold truth. He's simply claiming that they have been benefitial to his life and the lives of many other people historically.

You don't need to claim to know truth. In fact, it's probably better that you done. You'll gain more repsect than people who claim that their answers are the only truth.

You can write books to just share your experience.

Of course, if you're experience is that you're life is total chaos and you have no control over anything then your books probably aren't going to sell enless they captivate the by your own brand of lunacy.

So I think you need to have some strategy to share.

Or at least an interesting style of lunacy.

If that's true then I failed at life by chosing not to partake in the act of procreation.

Also, this philosophy doesn't sound very encouraging to anyone who might happen to be sterile for whatever reason.

Surely life isn't just about making more life. That seems like a circular redunancy.

I mean, why bother if that's the 'only' point to it?

What's the point in keeping life going, if the only point to life is to keep it going?

Why keep it going would then be the next question.

If the answer is because it's FUN.

They we've answered the real purpose of life!

To have FUN!

But the Buddhists claim that life is suffering.

And the Mediteraneans claim that if you have fun you'll be sent to hell.

Especially if you have fun procreating!

I have a lot of interesting lunacy, lol, but I'm afraid that when I share it, people are more likely to wish to institutionalize me than pay me to share my thoughts ;)

Dear Sir:
I found your reply (lecture) to Kravin very educational - from the point of view of the Education - but not very helpful to the poor fellow who's temporarily got confused, and is searching for a way out:
in essence, you suggested him to go and read some books (that even you have found to be "empty")...
************************************************
* * * HOW VERY TYPICAL OF THE TEACHER! ! ! * * *
************************************************
.. instead of the helpful straight-forward (though phyllosophical) advice, you -- in the typical teacher's manner -- say:
GO READ A BOOK, STUDY SOME DOCTRINE -- MAY BE IT WILL HELP!
==========================================================
And then you try to confuse the_hell from the poor fellow:

"What's the point in keeping life going, if the only point to life is to keep it going?"
-- it is, you're right, a circular redunancy! But, PARADOXICALLY, that's One of the main purposes of life! ! ! * * * * *

(I am sorry for your circumstances -- not being able to, or haven't taken time to, produce descendants.. BUT, PLEEEEEASE, DO NOT DISTRUCT EVERYBODY ELSE FROM PURSUING ONE OF THE MOST FUNDAMENTAL OF LIFE'S PURPOSES! ! !) * * *

Though, I agree with you:
"They we've answered the real purpose of life! To have FUN!"

... And the Procreation Is the the main definition of FUN! ! !
(aside from self-actualization * * * * * * * * * *)

P.S. In the words of the rock group, Pink Floyd:
"HEY, TEACHER, LEAVE US KIDS ALONE!!!"
--------------------------------------

i don't think theres just one answer. some people tend to focus on one thing "life sucks" "lifes great "i am a christian" " i am a protestent" etc. some people get sucked into labels and think they have to subject themselves to what the majority of what that label supposedly represents. i find that for the most part no belief, philosophy or ideology is 100% right or wrong whether it's in the universal or individual sense. the percentage varies on the belief and person(s) view on that belief.

the general thing is to live for something(s) you believe in, search for truth and meaning, grow and improve. there are many different forces at work in the universe(both known and unknown) and they all struggle for meaning, purpose and existence. the key to the universe lies within everyone, our potential and the choices we make. regardless of whether there is something pulling strings or guiding us it is important that we believe in ourselves and our potential.

it might sound cheesy and trite but i believe it's true.

Is your purpose like unto my purpose?

being is after all a state of I am. (or am I)

You are wrong on both counts. My choice to not bring life into this world has neither been do to a lack of time or inablity. It was a very well-thought-out decision based on the following observations.

1. This world is already over-populated by humans, IMHO.
2. Human society in general is utterly stupid and foolish.
3. Humans have not yet risen above animalistic thought.

We live in a world that is driven by competition and greed. Not cooperation and sharing. This is the norm. I see no reason to bring more people into an overpopulated species that thinks itself higher than animals but doesn't act the role.

It's also been my observations that people would rather just jump to random conclusions of their own choice than to open their eyes to the acceptance of truth.

Just as you have assumed that my decision to not procreate was due to lack of time or ability. You never even bothered to ask me what my reasons might be. You just assumed that you should be able to figure it out on your own.

This is so typical of human behavior. It's based mostly on personal opinion and predjudices rather than on genuinely knowledge and truth. People would rather just jump to their own conclusions than to take the time to learn the truth.

In fact, your suggestions about me being a 'teacher' and comments on my teaching 'methods' are also totally in error and nothing more than your very own uncontrolled need to jump to erroneous conclusions.

It was never my intend to 'teach' Kravin anything. I merely suggested some materials that address the questions that he was asking. He may or may not find those materials interesting.

In fact, I don't believe in 'teaching' anything. I don't even like that word. If I were going to help someone I would prefer to do it through 'mentoring' rather than teaching.

What's the difference?

Well, I used the term 'mentoring' to mean 'active participation'. In other words it would be impossible to mentor someone through books or rigidly designed courses. Those kinds of things merely present information.

Mentoring is an entirely different thing. When I mentor someone my major purpose is to discover just what it is that they are seeking and then offer whatever knowledge and insight I have gained through my life's experience to help them achieve their goals.

So you've been wrong on every count. You read a post, and get a perception, possible driven by your own experience with 'teachers'. And then you attempt to shove those conclusions onto me.

Yet I made no attempt to 'teach' anyone anything. I merely offer some possible materials that my be of interest with respect to the questions raised. I never even suggested that they might answer these questions to any degree of satisfaction. I merely suggested that they address the questions being asked.

Also the 'emptiness' was a reference to a doctrine of Buddhism. I never once said that I found anything to be empty (other than perhaps the doctrine of emptiness itself).

Although I could say much about the doctrine of emptiness. I understand what it is trying to get at. I think the concept is cool. What I think fails, is the doctrine itself.

In fact, Jess642 actually described the concept that the Buddhist doctrine of emptiness is attempting to get at when she said about love in another thread:

"Vastness, immeasurable vastness is the closest I can get."

This may seem almost like a contradiction to emptiness. How can immeasurable vastness be the same as emptiness? One concept seems to embrace the idea of a void whilst the other concept appears to embrace the totality of everything.

But they are indeed both the same concept. The doctrine of emptiness is the viewpoint from the ego. It is the ego that is empty and devoid of substance. But once that realization has been made what is left is the immeasurable vastness that all is one.

I never preach doctrines of any kind. However, I do offer that they can sometimes be useful as tools of understanding. Sometimes understanding a useless doctrine can be helpful in clarifying non-understanding.

And non-understanding is as important as understanding.