Some thoughts about 'the meaning of life'

It is my opinion that us (our souls / consciousness) are put here in different lives and bodies (reincarnation) to live every possible physical and emotional experience for the duration of the 3d universe. Like a training academy.

By the end of that 3d time period (end of the universe) you are judged / graded. After all that experience are you good or evil? If the scale tips towards the good side you ascend, if not you are then put back into the universe to repeat another term when the next big bang happens.

Having multiple universes makes this learning of experience during the time of the 3d universe a lot more comprehensive. IMO the multiverse is just a 3d school for souls to learn the difference between right and wrong if you like.

I don't belong to any religion or new age cult this is just an idea i have postulated myself that i feel comfortable with. Its not finite and is ever changing. I create my own reality and thoughts on spirituality instead of following a religion. No religion seems to fit right with me.

Would love to hear what other think.

Interesting post and thoughts you have there for sure. I, personally, am not religious (although I once was) and prefer to keep an open mind about it all. I believe in 'evolution', but that of course does not rule out the ability to also be spiritual. I tend to lean towards the universe and our spirits being 'indifferent' though. So from my perspective that excludes ego and your beliefs tend to be more ego oriented, from my perspective. Please understand that is not a personal attack, just my point of view.

Anyhow, nice to meet you and it's nice to read such deep thoughts!

Happy New Year,
LL

reply to post by Lucky Lady



Welcome to ATS LL

Thanks for your thoughts no offense taken in any way. I'd love to know more about why these thoughts are more ego based. Hopefully i can learn something about myself here. Tell me more.

Hi again, Argos and thanks for the welcome. I am not actually new to ATS. I posted here years ago and then got caught up in life and what not and faded away. I was unable to remember my old id and password and had to register under a new personna. Oh well, I probably outgrew the old one anyway.

Okay so you ask why I see your beliefs to be more ego oriented it is because of the mention of judgment and 'right' and 'wrong'. Also, the entire belief in ascension is ego oriented from my perspective as it indicates a certain degree of being 'special' or advanced spiritually. I have trouble with the entire New Age movement because it is completely 'ego' based from my perspective and at the same time it claims 'ego' is the problem with the world.

Anyhoo, I have no problem with ego as I am quite realistic and understand that we are unable to overcome it as humans and it helps us as humans evolve as it evolves (collectively). I am inclined to believe that we are mind, body and spirit and that our minds (ego included) can remain attached to us spiritually through other planes of existance (which are also created via the mind). But, in our most pure and raw state spiritually, I believe us to be completely indifferent to right/wrong, good/bad, love/hate....all of it. In other words there are no dualities...as they are an illusion.

Am I making absolutely any sense here?

Originally posted by Argos
I create my own reality and thoughts on spirituality instead of following a religion. No religion seems to fit right with me.

Would love to hear what other think.

You get a star for that one. I follow a path much like yours, Though I decided to go ahead and give my path a name. Just in case anyone asks

I'm a Spiritual Anarchist. I believe that for one to truly be free and experience the divine, they must first overcome the brainwashing that has been inflicted upon them from birth. Free the chains on your mind and the chains on your soul will melt away.

You believe you create your own reality. I wish I could give you two stars or even an applaud.

"Your life is a reflection of your perspective on it. If you go around seeing things as being terrible, they inherently will be." mrwupy

You ask what others think? I think your on the path that will set you free my friend.

I salute you,

So, we're essentially on "newbie island" of the MMORPG called "Life".

I actually agree with your thinking and consider the physical realm a training ground for the soul or spirit to learn lessons, mature, and gain wisdom so that it has the .. ability, know-how, and the state of conciousness to 'ascend' as you put it.

Whether you ascend to another dimension/universe or to Heaven is not that important when you get down to the fundamental meaning of the teaching.

"Whenever life gets you down, Mrs. Brown,
And things seem hard or tough,
And people are stupid, obnoxious or daft,
And you feel that you've had quite eno-o-o-o-o-ough..."

Galaxy song


Amen

[edit on 1-1-2008 by Rasobasi420]

The Meaning of life ... in 4 1/2 minutes:

www.youtube.com...

Theres one thing i don't like about the theory of having multiple universes. If theres multiple universes then there must be more of you, and if there is more of you then there is going to be each soul representing the life you lead in that particular universe, IE: all your memory's, experiences etc. But what happens to your soul in each universe when you die? How can you have more then one SOUL of yourself? Having lived different lives in that universe with different experiences...

also back on topic, i believe the meaning of life, is to give life meaning.

simple

reply to post by Argos


I share your thoughts............

www.belowtopsecret.com...

The purpose of life, if not it's meaning, is to experience.

What You are is everything and the only thing. God, if you will, but that gives rise to misconceptions of the bearded-guy-in-the-clouds variety, so don't get hung up on the definition.

As everything, you cannot go anywhere because you are already everywhere. As the only thing, there is nothing other than You with which to do anything.

So You 'create' life and the playground of the universe, illusions of otherness, within which You can experience.

What You think you are is defined by egoistically-based perceptions. What you see is that ego's interpretation of yourself. When look out at the ocean, what you are looking at is yourself, but what you see is the ocean, you have the experience of Ocean. When you look into the sky, you look at yourself, but see what you have learned to be sky, to be clouds.

There is no grand design or designated outcome for life, just the opportunity to live it.


All IMHO, of course

To me, the meaning of life is that life means nothing.

A spider lives, it dies, it's dead.
A person lives, it dies, it's dead.
A plant lives, it dies, it's dead.


Moral of the story, you are what you are, you die, you are dead.

Consciousness IMHO is an evolutionary process indeed. I feel that we go through revolving cycles of biological and energetic experiential accumulation. Physical death = birth into pure spirit. Spirit integration into biological housing = physical rebirth.

I feel we are spirit beings living out a human experience. I feel that each of us carries a tiny piece of the 'source' within us. I feel that as we experience, so does the source, through our senses, emotions, and experiences. Like a trillion tiny tenticles branching out and gathering data, sending it back to the central body for processing. Everything is connected.

The meaning of life is to experience all you can and leave a positive mark on the grounds you walked. The world is an amazing place with all of the unexplained phenomena as well as what is factually proven. Earth`s beauty is everywhere and it can be found most, inside of you. We truly know nothing in the grand scheme of things and should never give up on our personal quests for truth and knowledge. This site alone has opened up many new doorways of thinking for me and I am always open for learning new ideas. Even as I step further into more compelling ideas and try to link everything together I am always reminded, as a gut feeling, as something I just know is correct, there is definitely a God, and there are definitely always two ways to react to any situation. Good and bad are forces to be controlled by anyone and it is easy to let one`s self be fooled. I have nothing but respect for everyone`s opinions and am not the type to force my beliefs on another as mine too are always evolving.
Science has proven a lot for our people but it is also always changing. There is a lot of missing information within many of theories such as with evolution. That is one area in which I try to tie things together, thinking maybe our bodies have evolved from apes but also maybe somewhere along the line God gave us free will. Or maybe there is some missing link to carbon dating and that as things are older the method becomes more complex then our own understanding of the process we have so called mastered. What if the math is wrong and what appears to be millions of years old is actually only thousands? This is to conceive that a major theory of science is incorrect. Could it be? I believe anything is possible. What if there is an unknown number to the equation that ultimately has to do with an event in history that manipulates the dating process to what we actually think is factual? This is just one thought on how everything we think we know can easily be compromised.
There have been many mistakes made in the past by very intelligent people. We are human, we make mistakes. We must learn from our mistakes and always strive for what is right. We are born with the ability of knowing the difference of right and wrong. The meaning of life is to get as much right as possible, never giving up on the quest for the truth even when we think we may have it all figured out. Questions ultimately bring answers in one form or another, so never stop asking and never stop "living".

Originally posted by Argos
By the end of that 3d time period (end of the universe) you are judged / graded.

Your theory sounds very feasible to me. Many times ask my myself what could possible be the reason of living. That life is a learning experience and test to eventually gain access to the next universe. If you fail you'll to do the test over again and the test might be harder (which could explain why some people have to cope with such a miserable things). It could also explain why some people die earlier. They might be ready for the final test already. I've once heard that people who have committed suicide have to re-do the test in most cases and eventually doesn't solve anything, (if true).

Originally posted by Argos
No religion seems to fit right with me.

I've always been in christian primary school education but since then never visited church anymore. Last Christmas I went to church again for the first time in maybe 8 years, however, I don't feel I need church to believe or to make me or my believe feel better.

I, personally, do not agree with the notion that human beings are "graded" according to the relative notions of "good" and "evil" as you suggested.

I believe that there is no such thing as right or wrong outside of what humans define these terms to be - the very fact that what is deemed "good" and "evil" has changed over time is concrete evidence of this. As an example, some societies have laws which make homosexuality illegal and is deemed immoral - other societies do not and allow many different types of sexuality by law.

I am of the belief the meaning of "good" and "evil" was inherited from our forebears with generations of social momentum, but we have no obligation to uphold them or to leave them unaltered. I do not deny the importance of religion in having helped this momentum in both a negative and positive light, however, i feel as though we are slowly and rather painfully, moving away from religion as a source of judging behaviour as we have taken what there is to be taken from it. It is akin to the saying "When the student is ready, the master appears......" and i feel slowly but surely the student (ie human race) is fumbling in his studies but making some headway towards religion is losing its importance as a barometer for morality.

Which leads me to the original question posed by this thread. My own meaning of life is complex but simple-

To find my authentic self and act out of my authentic self as often as possible.

What does this entail? To me in order to become whole i must try to discover my own personal truth - a search which may cause me significant pain before giving me a new sphere of freedom. If i choose to content myself solely with intellectual "wisdom" i will remain in the sphere of illusion and self deception - "intellectualisation" is a well known defence mechanism whereby we use only our rational thought to avoid feeling our emotions.

I believe i can do this by revisiting my childhood. Most people, without realising their past is constantly determining their present actions, avoid learning about their history. They continue to live in a repressed childhood situation, ignoring the fact that it no longer exists.

I will not go into the details as to how i do that, but will end on this point. I find that when i act out of my authentic self (and by that i mean when i am acting from a state where i accept myself of being worthy of love, acceptance and validation who has something to contribute to the world) i find my actions invariably involve treating others with compassion, acceptance and ready to open my arms to my fellow human beings.

It is a wonderful way to connect with others


[edit on 2-1-2008 by the titor experience]

We are all participating in an amusement ride where all possibilities are explored, allowed and acted out. We come here, grow here, live, perform good and evil, and than die. Do your best and you leave with fond memories. Do it all wrong and you leave with guilt ridden memories. The one solace waiting at the moment of departure is you are not judged upon leaving from here to there, rather, you judge yourself.

Your choice to come back is up to you. the ride is addicting. If the voice says do you want a pass back. Think carefully, do you wanna do it again. I know I don't, knowing what I know now. But than, I may seriously consider a return to a time of fond memories I most enjoyed. I could change some things I have lived, if I try on my return.

I don't really understand the search for a 'meaning to life'. Why do people need to find a meaning, reason, or purpose for all of this. Is it too much to simply accept that we came from a few chemicals that, through time, bettered themselves to the point where they became self aware and tricked themselves into thinking they were something more? Is it too disappointing to realize that when you die, nothing happens besides your body's decay back to the fundamental stuff that might give a sapling a chance at a few rays of sun before another self-important mixed up bunch of chemicals come and cut it down?

Before I become flame bait, I must add that I'm not claiming a certainty; I'm not saying I'm right or that anybody else is wrong. As far as I'm certain, I'm completely uncertain. Though, I've seen no evidence to that fact.

My spiritual evolution started with the acceptance of Christianity. It soon progressed to the realization that Christianity is rubbish and then that most religions are simply copy cats of some ancient rubbish. So, I started looking farther east but soon lost interest (possibly out of a general sort of jadedness). Over the years, my spirituality has dwindled from a non-specific "I believe something is out there," to a "I think something is out there," and finally to "I'd like to think that something is out there."

While, at this point, I'm completely jaded and hopelessly disappointed (and yet surprisingly comfortable) with the realization that you and I are nothing and that we will die and rot just like everything else. I for one am looking forward to the rest I'll be getting. Despite all that; the most important spiritual 'awakening' I've had (and still hold firm to) is that; should I find an answer that differs from what I've asserted, it will not be shown to me by any person who claims to have discovered a spiritual truth.

I must point out, however, that I don't recommend a glorious path of spiritual self destruction. Since I've arrived at my shining pit of nothingness, my writings and musical compositions have also seem to have lost all depth and purpose. In fact, all of my artistic ventures seem as lifeless and as pointless as I feel us all to be. Perhaps there's something to be said for that. Perhaps it's already being said here:

www.abovetopsecret.com...

Well, [/end most depressing post ever] [begin new cup of coffee]

[edit on 2-1-2008 by memoir]

"I don't know if we each have a destiny, or if we're all just floating around accidental-like on a breeze, but I, I think maybe it's both. Maybe both is happening at the same time." -Forrest gumb-

My father once told me when i was a child, that he sees life as a "playground of souls". I personally keep changing my mind about if we are all just dust in the wind or is there something more to this life experience. I quess there must be..life is pretty miracleous to be just an accident of evolution.

Replies to posts no.1:

Thank you everyone for posting i had no idea my thoughts on the meaning of life would cause such a stir. Have really enjoyed reading your replies.

I will reply to each and then summarise.

@ gtirlad2

I think the theory for the soul in a multiverse is if true then it is one suol for everyone of you in each multiverse. A bit like that film called the one with Jet Li in it. See where im going with this?


@John Murdoch

I watched that video you posted and found it very interesting. I believe alot of it is true. Sounds alot like the belief Lucky Lady has. Thanks for sharing.

@runetang

Thank you for posting. I'm glad we agree on the process but i don't agree with following a rule book or messiah to get through. (No offense intended) And that is my problem with religion. I make my own rules and judge myself whether i feel good or bad. I am my own religion and the only person who forgives me is me. /rant

@mrwupy

I'm with you my friend all the way, you manifest what you think and care about most. I also believe there is a spiritual dumbing down of society going and thats why the doctrine of many religions doesn't suit me.

I quite like Buddhism but Buddha also has different views from me that don't sit well, but on the whole that is the religion i find most to my liking.

@ Lucky Lady

I understand what your getting at actually. And its kind of what i mean in a small way. The 3d universe is here for 'us' to experience "right/wrong, good/bad, love/hate....all of it." And when were not in a physical reality we are indifferent to all these feelings emotions.

Life is like a 3d playground to come forth and experience quite literally everything. While this maybe true, my own 'ego' as you've put it seeks a greater meaning for this situation we call life. And thats why i like the thought of it being a test as stated in my opening post.

I appreciate your thoughts though thank you.