The path to Tranquility (summer)
97. Understanding the objective meaning of life
The meaning of life refers to the reason for the existence of life and
the direction of its action, that is, why life is lived. This meaning can be
individual, group, or even life as a whole. The individual cannot be separated
from the group, and the group cannot be separated from the whole. Therefore,
the meaning of life as a whole is the true meaning of the existence of each
life.
Before the emergence of life, things gradually dispersed and tended toward chaos. However, the emergence of life reunites things and creates a new order. For example, plants synthesize food from carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen and other elements through photosynthesis, which not only supports the reproduction of animals, but also provides energy for humans, thereby creating more new things. We pool our wisdom and use the resources of the earth to build tools that can reach other planets in space.
It is conceivable that if interconnected life can reach every corner of the universe, the universe will transform from a state tending to disintegrate into a brand new combination. Without life, the earth would lack vitality, and the universe would eventually return to silence and enter an extremely long state of waiting. Therefore, without the understanding or giving of life, the existence of the universe would have no meaning.
Obviously, life appears with a mission and a goal that must be achieved. From the definition of life, the only mission of life is survival. It is not life if it cannot survive. From the behavior of life, the only goal of life is connection. Because only by connecting together can life have enough power to survive. All our actions revolve around survival and connection. Even in illusory dreams, we cannot do without these two points.
Observe our lives. First, whether we have hope for the future or not, we are all trying to survive by at least performing basic physiological activities like breathing and eating. On the other hand, we are always connected to others, even if we are not physically in contact, we are always connected mentally. For example, through reading, we connect with the author. Or in a dream, we may see someone we long to see, or feel sad about losing contact. The desire for intimacy and group activities further reflects our need to connect with others. For every living thing, if it becomes the only existence in the world, it is likely to die soon. This shows that only as part of a whole can individual life survive normally and have real meaning.
Life is essentially composed of various things, so it must constantly combine things to form a powerful force that makes the universe always full of vitality. If this is not done, life will gradually decline. Therefore, the mission and goal of life constitute the highest meaning of its existence and guide the actions of all life. In fact, maintaining the constant change of the universe is the value of all things. This is not only the fundamental reason for the emergence of life, but also the core source of our sense of value.
Apart from viewing life in this way, all other definitions of the value or meaning of life are inevitably subjective and uncertain. Life is a subsystem of the universe. The meaning of our existence is to promote the evolution of the universe. Therefore, we should constantly improve our level of consciousness, pursue a better life, and allow ourselves to continue to evolve. While we cannot achieve permanent change, we can gradually get closer to this ideal. Most importantly, our consciousness has the potential to achieve this eternity.
Recognizing objective meaning in life is important because it makes us feel more motivated and oriented. All our actions will be for the benefit of life. When we face challenges and difficulties, we will have more courage to use our abilities and wisdom while maintaining cooperation with others. By understanding the objective meaning of life, we can grasp the correct moral standards and will not agree with any concepts or methods that harm life. When we are constantly aware of our thoughts and actions and align them with the meaning of life, we can live harmoniously in the world.
If we don’t understand the objective meaning of life, it can lead to a life that is complicated and full of anxiety. We may develop desires or thoughts that are contrary to the nature of life and impose unreasonable missions on life, forcing it to pursue unattainable goals. Yet survival and connection are at the heart of life, simple and absolute truths. If we believe we have to undertake great missions and achieve great things, it may mean we are chasing a dream. But this pursuit sometimes puts our survival and the environment at risk.
Although we can give meaning to our existence, as long as these meanings conflict with the objective meaning of life, we will enter an illusion and may even push our lives into the abyss of despair. Life has no fixed meaning other than survival and connection, but the universe is full of hope because of its existence. Setting a destination for life that does not exist is a waste of time. Therefore, to live meaningfully, we should not violate the mission and purpose of life. Otherwise, when we wake up from our dreams one day, we will sigh that life is short.
To live out the meaning of life, we not only need to strive to survive, but also to live authentically. We should avoid living by habit and prevent our minds from becoming stubborn and rigid. At the same time, we should also free ourselves from material desires and instead pursue a lifestyle that consumes less material things. As conscious beings inhabiting life, we are the true owners and controllers of life. However, consciousness only needs a small amount of matter as a support, and infinite things in the world can become its tools. As long as consciousness can come together through life, we can transcend the limitations of the body and truly connect. When we are able to freely roam the boundless universe, we have achieved the ultimate goal of life.
In order to achieve our goals in life, we need to develop deep relationships with others. Therefore, we must let go of our preconceptions, peel back our egos, and get rid of our fantasies and emotionally driven behaviors. Only through reason and consciousness can we truly love each other and develop relationships of mutual help and sharing. The meaning of life is not only a guide for our journey in life, it also inspires us to learn more and know our true self. By understanding the objective meaning of life and combining sensibility with rationality, we can realize the highest value of life.
96. True happiness comes from loving each other
98. Acting for the purpose of life
