Wednesday, October 4, 2023

Discovering Your Purpose in a Meaningless Life©

 


“Meaningless! Meaningless!” says the Teacher.
“Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless.”

(Ecclesiastes 1:2, KJV)

 

Are you feeling lost and unfulfilled in life? Discovering your purpose in a seemingly meaningless existence can be daunting, but it’s not impossible. With the right mindset and tools, you can unlock your true potential and find true meaning in your life. Don’t settle for a life without purpose - take the first step towards a more fulfilling life today.

Have you ever wondered about the reason for your existence and how you ended up where you are now? Apart from religious beliefs, the most crucial question for any sentient being is “Who am I?” and “What is my purpose in this world?” And where do I fit in this world?” However, adding another vital question to this list is essential: “Why do you want to live under these conditions?”

The question of whether life has meaning when it has no purpose is one that many people have pondered. Albert Camus famously posed the question of whether life is worth living, given its absurdity and incongruences. He wondered if the desire to live is an unconscious or conscious impulse, an innate instinct, or an external force. Others, often religious leaders and theologians, believe we are placed in this world for a specific reason. This question leads to a dichotomy between the will to live and the will to die. The crucial point is that we are here, moving, acting, and existing. This is the ultimate concern.

At some point in our life, we would confront the meaning of our life, especially when facing personal struggles. Some philosophers and scientists who focus on worldly knowledge and technology argue that life is meaningless, originated by chance and necessity, and will continue this way. Similar ideas were expressed by thinkers such as King Solomon and Arthur Schopenhauer. The virtual reality theory suggests that our lives could be predetermined and that we may be trapped in a matrix-like existence, similar to the Platonic Cave. While there may be some truth to these ideas, the question of the purpose of life remains unanswered.

The concept of self-awareness dates back to ancient times when humans began to reflect upon and give meaning to their experiences in an attempt to understand the world around them. The wonders of the universe, such as the sunrise, sunset, and countless stars in the sky, left them in awe, and they felt that their understanding was inadequate in explaining these phenomena. As a result, they attributed religious significance to them.

In his book A History of Religious Ideas, Mircea Eliade argues that consciousness cannot exist without attaching meaning to man’s experiences and impulses. The discovery of the sacred is closely linked to the consciousness of a meaningful world;[1] for ancient people, being human meant being religious, as everything they did was considered holy. Eliade concludes that awareness of the sacred is an essential part of consciousness, not merely a stage in its development. [2]

The beauty of life resides precisely in probability and apparent randomness because it gives humans the capability to exert their creative power to make their lives meaningful. We are already here on planet Earth; we cannot withdraw from it, claiming that life has no meaning.

            The saying “Knowledge is Power, and Ignorance is Bliss” is common. This leads us to question whether it is better to live in blissful ignorance or seek wisdom through personal experiences to lead a more meaningful life. Many people tend to focus solely on fulfilling their physical and sensory needs, like eating, working, sleeping, and engaging in recreational activities that satisfy their senses, neglecting their spiritual needs. As the Master of Nazareth once said, “Man does not live by bread alone...” Thus, humans need not only physical nourishment but also intellectual and spiritual sustenance.

Modern science has revealed that we live in an immaterial universe. Quantum mechanics has emphasized that atoms consist of spinning immaterial energy vortices, which are essentially pure light that appears and disappears. This discovery has led scientists and philosophers to confirm the metaphysical principle that the entire universe is an expression of universal consciousness. While humans are but a small fragment of this consciousness, we possess the power to shape our social circumstances.

According to quantum mechanics, reality is fluid and shapeless until observed by consciousness. At that point, the various possibilities collapse into one specific outcome. This happens when consciousness, through awareness and intention, selects a particular manifestation from the latent probabilities.[3]

It is crucial to be aware of our social environment to shape the course of events in our lives effectively. The more aware we are, the better equipped we become to shape our future consciously. Unfortunately, many people lack knowledge about self-control and the process of conscious co-creation. This leaves them feeling disoriented in their daily lives, believing that external forces govern their experiences. The key to regaining control is to have a clear purpose and a thorough understanding of the process, which helps us protect ourselves against randomness and chance. Therefore, we must thoroughly know our goals to remain in control and shape our experiences.

The ability to exercise free will is dependent upon one’s level of awareness and self-control. Free will entails conscious choice, which is only possible when one is mindful of the options available at a particular moment. If there is no awareness, then the capacity to independently choose a specific action is null. Tom Campbell, a physicist at NASA and consciousness researcher, believed that consciousness arises from the capability of choice and free will. He defines consciousness as “awareness that makes choices.”

Various religions and philosophies have approached the question of the meaning of life from different perspectives. Buddhism’s first noble truth asserts that life is inherently filled with suffering. The Jewish faith contends that human misery stems from Adam and Eve disobeying God’s commandment. Christians believe suffering is a means to redemption and a better life (heaven), while other religions advocate for resignation and humility.

The truth of the matter is there is no inherent “meaning of life.” It is up to individuals to make their own lives meaningful. The problem arises when people assume that a higher power or someone else will provide them with a purpose for their existence, which is a flawed assumption. Instead, the more appropriate question to ask is whether the struggles and pains that humans experience in life hold any significance. Moreover, it is a misconception that life must be free of hardship and suffering. In fact, spiritual growth and self-development are often the result of enduring pain and adversity. That is why many spiritual teachers contend, “Suffering is the path to wisdom.”

According to the Master of Nazareth, “The Kingdom of heaven is within you.” It is up to each individual to create their reality rather than the other way around. However, in order to tap into this inner power, one must first become aware of it. Otherwise, external influences such as the mass media and social or cultural circumstances will shape our reality unconsciously. My book, “Awaken the Power Within: In Defense of Self-Help,” offers compelling evidence that “All the power that ever was or will be” lies within one’s grasp. Spiritual masters and mystics of all faiths have long known this truth. For instance, the early Catholic Church father, Clement of Alexandria, stated that “he who knows himself knows God.” This statement is self-explanatory.

I have a theory that could help answer the age-old question about the purpose of human existence. The physical reality, which is considered “Maya” or “illusion,” serves to test our ability to distinguish between life’s dichotomies, such as what is beneficial or detrimental to our personal growth.s Thus, it gives us the opportunity to tap into our creativity and inner potential rather than being controlled by external forces. As homo sapiens, our aim is to strive for progress, bettering ourselves, we improve our collective consciousness. These ideas are central to my book, Awakening the Power Within, which explores the notion that life comprises a collection of experiences contributing to our consciousness expansion.

Although life may seem devoid of inherent meaning, humans have the faculty to assign meaning to our experiences. Doing so sharpens our intelligence and helps us gain wisdom, ultimately developing our potentialities and making us akin to gods. It’s important to break away from the herd mentality and prioritize individuality while recognizing the interconnectedness of life and sharing love with others.

Precisely, as discussed in my book A Solution to a Pointless Life, religions are noble myths created to give life meaning and aid in the early stages of human consciousness development. The purpose of existence is to increase awareness and expand consciousness, eventually leading to Homo Deus (man-god) status. Let’s remember what the Serpent of Wisdom advised to Adam and Eve: “You shall be like God” (Gen. 3:5)

Science has yet to answer specific questions, such as where ideas come from and the role of free will. This raises a philosophical paradox: Do humans have free will to determine their future destiny? Based on my experience, I affirm that humans have free will to some degree. However, biological conditions, level of education, family, and social constraints impose limitations. As humans develop their power of self-control and awareness, they gain more ability to exert free will. Wisdom acquired through experience and education, whether academic or self-taught, along with the practice of meditation, reflection, and further learning, enhances our capacity for free will.

Free will is closely linked to our ability to exercise self-control, maintain awareness and accumulate experience. To put it in simple terms, a person who has developed these personal attributes can be compared to someone standing atop a mountain with a clear view of the vast “field of life.” On the other hand, someone who lacks these abilities can be compared to someone standing at the base of the mountain, with a limited view of what lies ahead and at the mercy of the blind forces of destiny.

Again, the purpose of human existence is to give meaning to a meaningless life, to enhance awareness, and to expand consciousness. Those who develop these personal attributes have the ability to control the negative consequences of external influences and use good times for their well-being and success.

We must recognize that we can shape our own reality, but we must first become conscious of this ability. Otherwise, we may fall victim to external influences such as mass media and societal norms. In my book, Awaken the Power Within, I delve into the idea that we hold all the power we need to create our reality.

I propose a thesis that could potentially answer one of the most fundamental questions of human existence. As individuals (unit of consciousness), our task is to work towards progress and the well-being of all human beings in order to evolve our collective consciousness. Every single action we take has an impact on our species. Rather than being controlled by external forces, we have the opportunity to develop our inner potential and creative power through this physical reality. The underlying idea is that life is a series of experiences that provide us with wisdom, ultimately leading to the expansion of our consciousness. This, I believe, is the true purpose of human existence. Let it be done.

                                                             Albert Amao Soria, Ph.D.

Resources:

- “Does Live Have a Purpose?” Blogger.com/Midwest Book Review: https://midwestbookreview.blogspot.com/2020/02/blog-post.html

- “Regain the Power Within You.” Wordpress.com: https://albertamao.wordpress.com/

- Albert Amao Soria, Awaken the Power Within, Tarcher/Penguin, 2016

- Albert Amao S., A Solution to a Pointless Life, AuthorHouse, 2023



[1] Mircea Eliade, A History of Religious Ideas: From the Stone Age to the Eleusinian Mysteries, trans. Willard R. Trask. (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1978), xiii. Emphasis Eliade’s.

[2] Ibid.               

[3] Refer to my book Awaken the Power Within (New York: Tarcher/Penguin, 2016).