Tattvamasi said:
Meaning, hmm..
Imo, life itself in all it's forms is imbued with all the meaning it needs; to exist, simply, and play all it's various parts; like a well orchestrated dance; dancing forever.
Anything outside of that, in terms of 'the meaning' is arbitrary imo; secondhand.
As the great huxley once said - everything is it's own minute particular.
Thank you very much Tatt, especially for the Huxley quote. I once heard an offhand discussion about the meaning of life, and one person said, "I don't get why people always argue and fight and discuss over this. The meaning of being is simply being, it's for itself." I thought that was rather pithy. Part of my tattoo alludes to this as well. I enjoy this view, but it's a difficult one to embrace 100% of the time (for me at least).
For example, I'll be doing some required work and I just think to myself, I really don't want to do this. This is not fulfilling at all and does not make me happy. It is solely a systematic waste of my time on Earth. But I have to complete to maintain my standard of living, so it does serves that purpose. However if my meaning was to just be, I wouldn't do a lot of things. One day. But maybe this is a poisonous view of life...
Aegle said:
I had a feeling that perhaps if I peruse trying to became the change that I wanted to see in the world it might create a ripple effect as we are all ultimately connected. Through introspective meditation and mindfulness meditation I discovered how to cultivate meaning in my life and it is through nurturing and more specifically nurturing: children, animals and plants.
My hope is that through conducting my actions with honour and the purest intentions, my future meditation practices and enthegoen journeys that I may be able to uncover how to actualize my meaning in the most profound and meaningful way possible. I guess only time will tell... I would love to know how do you cultivate and grow meaning within your life?
Thank you for sharing your story, Aegle. In many cases it seems to come down to doing whatever you think is best with your given circumstances.
The search for meaning in my own life is what prompted me to make this post. I have learned over various psychedelic journeys that it is my mission to either define my own meaning or take on a prescribed one. Lately I have been having a lot of difficulty with this, as knowing and doing are two very different things. I am in college at the moment and I find a lot of days I am in bed just thinking about how I don't want to do this anymore. I was very sick recently and most nights I had a wish in the back of my mind that I wouldn't wake up the next morning.
I am a believer in extraterrestrial realms/merging with the mind at large after death, or at least the idea of the void. Many times I think it would just be easier to enter the void rather than live through this short life on Earth (whereas for many this might be a terrifying prospect). For a while I was an antinatalist, meaning that I believed it would have been better to never have even been born. That changed, as I realize how unique our lives are/seem. I understand my sentiments might sound alarming to some, but it is a philosophical anxiety, definitely not a suicidal one.
I have dreams for what I want to do in life, so I guess those are what keep me going. I have plans of helping a lot of people as well, assuming I have the resources to do so. Satisfying many of my ape pleasures/ego is another (unfortunate?) component. But when faced with the objective meaninglessness, the inevitable, infinite void always seems easier.
universecannon said:
I hear you. But just to play devil's advocate for a second...doesn't trying to be here NOW sound a bit contradictory in some ways?
Yeah I kind of got that thought as I was typing but it sounded okay when I read over it. For me personally I do have to make a conscious decision or 'shift' to this kind of existence. After that shift is made the trying stops. But I have to work a little to become aware of my awareness, feel if it is ready, etc. I need to make sure I can safely relinquish all worry about the past and future, as I have a fear of "getting burned" and regretting something that happened because of a lack of action.
