meaning of life

[Lao Tzu]

i have a theory on the meaning of life.


billions of years ago lightning struck the right place at the right time, giving birth to life. This life evolved, and one of the forms was human.

humans are social creatures, and in order to be social there has to be a set of 'higher' laws or ideals to follow & live in concurrence with. Religion, patriotism, social mores, etc. all serve as the 'higher' laws that we try to live in concurrence with.

the desire to know what the meaning of life is is a desire to know what we are expected to do so we can feel a sense of social conformity by doing it. We need to know what the social organism needs us to do to be conformist.

 

[theoak01]

in this life i feel we are here to reproduce and try to live the best we can to get into heaven and live a good after life which is the most important

 

[Warik]

The meaning of life is suffering.

Don't believe me?

Name one person who doesn't suffer.

-Warik

 

[havoc]

Eliminate Suffering by detachment.
Make sure you have the things in life YOU need, stay away from your wants.
In Islam, they teach about the 12 Jewels: Knowledge, Wisdom, Understanding can help you achieve Freedom, Justice, Equality, Food, Clothing, Shelter, after this comes Love , Peace and Happiness.
The meaning of Life is simple: Its all about experiencing the present moment, not the past, not the future, the present is where you are at, be grateful, enjoy. peace

 

[Warik]

Eliminate Suffering by detachment.
Make sure you have the things in life YOU need, stay away from your wants.
In Islam, they teach about the 12 Jewels: Knowledge, Wisdom, Understanding can help you achieve Freedom, Justice, Equality, Food, Clothing, Shelter, after this comes Love , Peace and Happiness.
The meaning of Life is simple: Its all about experiencing the present moment, not the past, not the future, the present is where you are at, be grateful, enjoy. peace

Are 'needs' and 'wants' absolute, or relative to the individual? If they are relative to the individual, then how does one distinguish between a 'need' and a 'want?' If they are absolute, then does the pursuit of a 'want' guarantee suffering? Finally, if focusing on 'need' helps to eliminate suffering, then why is the most suffering in the world located in countries where people are still focusing on their 'needs' and have yet to even consider a 'want?'

-Warik

 

[Lao Tzu]

The meaning of life is suffering.

Don't believe me?

Name one person who doesn't suffer.

-Warik

you're the shit warik. Click the link in my sig.

i can't.

i think suffering is ineviatible considering how amoral life is. I think it would have been nice if evolution had stopped at the plant kingdom rather than evolve into the animal kingdom with their fucking nervous sytems (& the emotional & physical pain they control). It would have been better for animal life to never exist than to exist the way we do, unable to attain any realistic protection from unexpressible suffering.

 

[havoc]

Are 'needs' and 'wants' absolute, or relative to the individual? If they are relative to the individual, then how does one distinguish between a 'need' and a 'want?' If they are absolute, then does the pursuit of a 'want' guarantee suffering? Finally, if focusing on 'need' helps to eliminate suffering, then why is the most suffering in the world located in countries where people are still focusing on their 'needs' and have yet to even consider a 'want?'

-Warik

Needs and wants can be both absolute and relative. There are a gang of differences that relate to that. Geography, Tradition, Culture, Gender, Economics, etc.
Its my experience that my faith provides and makes up for any needs or wants, the way I think, the way I react, the way I live. I eliminate the unneccesary, the worries, the pointless complaining, bickering and wondering what tomorrow will bring. As I stated, one must live in the present.
You asked "if they are relative to the individual, then how does one distinguish between a 'need' and a 'want?". This depends on the individual, you answered your question by stating it.
Next, you asked "If they are absolute, then does the pursuit of a 'want' guarantee suffering?" Depends on the "want". For example, a car , being a want, can bring suffering, especially if its a lemon. On the other hand, a car, not being a lemon, can bring satisfaction. Depends on the "want". That is up to the person to decide if the "want" brings suffering. Every "want" is unique.
Next, you bring up "countries" that are scarce in resources. This goes back to the "Geography, Tradition, Culture, Gender, Economics, etc" statement. There are those in those "countries" you speak of that are among the suffering and sufferers that do not experience it because they have detached themselves by accepting there circumstance. They wake up in the present, live in the present, and will continue to do so till death arrives, they live there day to the fullest, if it means they got 2 bites of rice today, instead of the usual 1, then so be it, they are grateful. peace

 

[the People's Champ]

Its my experience that my faith provides and makes up for any needs or wants...

Mormon?

 

[havoc]

If you could label my faith then I would of put a known religion instead of the word "faith" that you quoted. To me, my faith = how I think.
My faith cannot be labeled and never will be. To label a faith is to limit a faith, which shows intolerance.

Next!

 

[the People's Champ]

Good answer