Question
Posted by Soshanta
I could not think of a better place to ask a question I have been asking people in all walks of life than death cafe. The question is the following: What is the purpose of life? After reflecting on that question and the reflection yields a response I would welcom your response be sent to soshanta@yahoo.com Thank you very much Richard
Comments
Two ways to answer
Purpose - the reason for which something is done or created or for which something exists.
Falsifiable (science)
Life was not necessarily created for a reason/purpose, or even created by an entity at all. As far as we know life evolved via natural selection, sexual selection, gene flow and genetic drift.
Unfalsifiable (cannot be proven true or false)
Purpose is not an intrinsic property. And there are an infinite amount of concepts of a creator/god that one can conceive of, which can have their own purposes for creating life. Therefore there are multiple purposes life MAY have been created for, depending on what unfalsifiable creator you choose to subscribe too.
Posted by IanGM
Reason for life
You and I and everyone is here to provide for the creative force of the universe (what we also are) with experiences and the feelings attached to these experiences.
We are all one, you and I and the creative force in the universe.
There is only the illusion of separateness.
There is no right or wrong.
Only differences in being or doing.
We do this forever.
On an infinite number of planets.
In an infinite number of universes.
An infinite number of times.
Why?
There's nothing else to do.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mMRrCYPxD0I
Posted by skywrangler
Hmmm...
Perhaps the ultimate gift that sentience gives us is the ability to be utterly subjective, especially about a question such as this. For myself, I believe that we are free to make up our own reasons and purposes within the universe we construct inside our minds. Personally I favour the genius of Douglas Adams and his '42', which seems to me to approach the subject with a satisfying degree of fun, and which for me symbolizes that it doesn't really matter so long as we try to do the least amount of harm while we are here.
Posted by Leo Simmons
Reason for Life
It seems like a complex question but in fact the answer is quite simple.
"Growth"
We are here and whether we like it or not we are evolving daily.
The long answer involves all the complexities of life which match up with "nature vs. nurture" etc. genetics and mutation.
The short answer is what is stated above.
So growing spiritually and physically is the main thrust of what we are supposed to do.
We are dual beings in my opinion and we are caretakers of that fuzzy thing we call "spirit/soul or as I like to put it "conscious energy".
Like anything it grows with time and experience but we do have to direct ourselves to steer towards positive growth.
There is a phrase attributed to Jesus in the bible but I think as a general principle it is just the truth and it makes sense. "Seek and you shall find.".
If you are curious about what I have stated here then I suggest you continue to follow that path.
I am a senior citizen but I started this path when I was 16. It has taken decades but I think I have it figured out. Although there is much more that just the above. For the purpose of this conversation that would be one of the primary principles and a good starting point.
Cheers
Posted by Scott
Purpose
Perhaps the purpose of this particular experience... is just that, a particular life experience. To grow, to know and to just allow and acknowledge what may happen. Must there be a purpose? Our egoic self would entertain a yes response, but what if this illusion of this experience was to simply be? The purpose of life as an energy being is to experience, learn and expand.
Posted by Continuity of Life