The Purpose Of Life
Finding Your Own Purpose In Life
On Life & Meaning
I am starting a blog series. It will be a seven-part series. The series consists of two fictional characters, Siddhartha and his teacher. The stories are inspired by the life of Lord Buddha. It is, however, a fictional representation. The stories start when Siddhartha starts on his journey of self-discovery. In his search to understand the reality of life, Siddhartha meditates and self-reflect in a forest. There he comes across a monk who helps him get answers to the existential questions that had been troubling him.
The two talk about questions of self-realization, such as the true purpose of life, the nature of beings, the fear of failure, overcoming anger, finding meaning in life, improving focus, etc. The conversations are in the form of a series of dialogue between the two. As you read through the questions, I hope that these conversations will help you answer questions that you, too, have in your life. These answers can help you lead a more enlightened life and make better decisions in your life.
The Purpose Of Life
For each man has his destiny,
His own truth, his own reality.
For a long time now, Siddhartha had been pondering over the very basics of life. Some of the questions concerning its existence, spirituality, enlightenment, the ultimate truth, etc. One day he met a wise old man, a monk, sitting under a tree in a meditative position. He gently bowed to the monk and put forth his problem as follows:
“As a human race, we are a very curious species, pondering over questions of existence since ages unknown. While some of us can understand the “ultimate reality” of life, others give up the struggle to indulge in other chores of life. There have been many explanations for the “absolute truth.” Some believe that understanding oneself is the final destiny of a human being. Others believe living a simple, disciplined life is the sole purpose of life. Some believe the achievement of “Nirvana” — the state of enlightenment as the aim of human life. Some believe that life is meaningless. How do I begin to understand life and the ultimate purpose behind it?“
The monk smiled and replied, “Life must have a primary aim for each one of us because an aim is what drives action in human life and provides us power. However, our differences lead us on different paths in this search for the ultimate truth. Which one of the realizations is true? Can it be that none is true? Can it be that all are manifestations of the same reality? Can it be that there exists no reality? What I believe is that each individual has their notion of the meaning of life. Each individual has their understanding. What appeases and satisfies one individual’s mind must be conferred as the ultimate truth for him. Each realization is a manifestation of the same state — the state of knowing when all the doubts and questions are answered when there can be no answer unanswered, for, in that state, there is no question left that aggravates the mind.
Everyone has to strive hard to find answers to all those questions, for what satisfies me might not satisfy you, and what is true to me might not be true for you.
The differences between you and me are what make life a blessing. Celebrate those differences and learn from others and yet try not to emulate others. Duplicity might lead one to a path that provides only a pseudo-satisfaction, a state of internal discord with oneself.
Consider an analogy. Every one of us has a different method of writing. Yet the purpose is the same — to put thoughts onto a piece of paper. There are many ways of writing — with a pen, a pencil, with colors, etc. Similarly, there are so many different ways to achieve that state of eternal peace — through meditation, music, arts, love, devotion, etc. As each individual writes differently, similarly, each individual comprehends that reality differently. Some methods might be popular such as writing in cursive handwriting with a pen, similarly following a righteous life according to the scriptures is a popular method to achieve that state of bliss. However, it may or may not bring you eternal peace. Maybe your destiny is to follow a simple life, an ascetic life, or maybe a life of indulgence.
Follow your heart, and find your peace.
I can guide you on the very basics of treading on that path; the journey will have to be completed by you alone.”
Cheers,
Ravi.
About Ravi
Ravi is a poet, innovator, and entrepreneur. Ravi got a degree from IIT and Princeton University and lived in Bangalore and California, working at various software startups. He is the author of Be Buddha and regularly blogs at Ravi’s Blog.
