The Information Channel Felist.Com -*-------------------------------------------------------------------------- +---------------------------------------------------------------------+ | [ http://unityway.wordpress.com ] Unity Way | | | | November 19, 2006 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------- | | | | Meaningful Life | | by Andrei Yashurin | | | | Not so long ago one person asked me what is the meaning of life for | | me. Questions like that always give you an opportunity to connect | | to your highest ideas which you might often forget in the course of | | your days - this is why I treat them seriously. Here is the answer | | I gave: | | | | "The meaning of life for me is striving for deeper knowledge of | | myself and for unfoldment at all levels of my personality, for | | creative self expression through which I make my unique | | contribution into the universal evolution. At the same time, | | meaningful life for me involves non-attachment to particular forms | | of my inner and outer expression at any given moment". | | | | Of course, it is a generalization and not all-inclusive or final | | formula, but it was a good starting point for further discussion. I | | am aware that many other people have totally different ideas | | concerning the meaning of life. But no matter what is our | | understanding, we are to find this meaning. | | | | Victor Frankl, the professor of psychiatry and a Holocaust survivor | | emphasized this urgent need in his well-known book "Man's Search | | for Meaning". According to him, "Man's search for meaning is a | | primary force in his life and not a "secondary rationalization" of | | instinctual drives. The meaning is unique and specific and can be | | fulfilled by him alone; only then does it achieve a significance | | that will satisfy his own will to meaning... There is nothing in | | the world that would so effectively help one to survive even the | | worst conditions, as the knowledge that there is meaning in one's | | life". He traced a connection between meaningless of one's | | existence and such problems as psychosomatic health disorders, | | relationship difficulties, and even suicides. The opposite is true | | as well: people who live meaningfully live longer, enjoy better | | health and greater success. | | | | According to Frankl, "the meaning of life differs from man to man, | | from day to day and from hour to hour". That's why I am convinced | | that every person have to search for meaning on his/her own. | | | | Quite often others tell us what the meaning of life is. Their words | | might sound convincing, but what do we think ourselves? Does our | | heart agree? If opinions of others don't satisfy us, let us find | | our own answers and see whether they will be more suitable for us. | | But we need to begin this search with an assumption that life is | | meaningful, even if we don't fully realize it yet. | | | | The search for meaning, essentially, is a path or ascension. As we | | grow in wisdom and awareness, we may ascend from a lower meaning to | | a greater meaning. Whatever we accept as our meaning, let us stick | | to it - until the course of events will disclose to us something | | more appealing. | | | | Sometimes we hear that God gives the ultimate meaning to human | | existence. But this statement frequently brings confusion rather | | than clarity. And the biggest question is, what is God? | | | | Believers are ready to explain that God is this, or God is that. | | Atheists and skeptics insist that it cannot be true. These | | arguments could be insightful, or at least entertaining, but as I | | observe them I often have a feeling that both sides don't hear each | | other. Often I have a feeling that both sides have something | | valuable to say. Often I have a feeling that both sides are wrong. | | | | My approach is different, and it helps to avoid endless and | | fruitless discussions abut the nature of God. In our search for | | better life, let us begin not with God, but with meaning. Let us | | accept that our life and the world in general are meaningful. Let | | us accept that our relationships with the world are meaningful. As | | we ponder upon an idea of meaning, it will become gradually | | revealed to us. It will be confirmed our experiences. Our | | understanding will grow even further, and it would be possible for | | us to recognize the universal order - and to identify it with God. | | | | (to be continued) | | | | ------------------------------------------------------------------- | | | | Recommended Reading: | | | | [ http://astore.amazon.com/talksontruth-20/detail/1419642391 ] The | | Miracle That I Am: Expressing Your Spiritual Self by Brad Jensen | | | | Previous Articles of Andrei Yashurin: | | | | [ http://unityway.wordpress.com/2006/11/11/creative-energy-of-love/ | | ] Creative Energy of Love | [ http://unityway.wordpress.com/ | | 2006/11/04/work-and-love/ ] Work and Love | [ http:// | | unityway.wordpress.com/2006/10/29/working-with-god/ ] Working With | | God | [ http://unityway.wordpress.com/2006/10/21/good-works/ ] | | Good Works | [ http://unityway.wordpress.com/2006/10/14/ | | freedom-through-awareness/ ] Freedom Through Awareness | | | | [ http://unityway.wordpress.com ] Talks on Truth Blog | | | | [ http://zme.amazon.com/exec/varzea/pay/T3FSLT9BWIHSWQ ] If you | | find these messages helpful, please send a donation to Andrei | | Yashurin | | | | If you like our list, please recommend it to others. | | | | To be unsubscribed, click the link at the bottom of this message, | | do not write to the author. | | | | E-mail: [ mailto:yashurin@gmail.com ] yashurin@gmail.com | | | | Information: The publisher of this list technically cannot | | subscribe/unsubscribe anyone. You are responsible to do it | | yourself. Please check links at the bottom of this message. | | | | All messages (c) 2006 by Andrei Yashurin | +---------------------------------------------------------------------+ -*-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Unsubscribe: http://felist.com/member/unsub?grp=lit.unityway&email=e@mail http://felist.com/ mailto:ask@felist.com