Life – What Is the Purpose?

It might be an unusual question to start the new week and something that we probably don’t think about too often – especially when we’re so busy with life’s daily round of responsibilities. But what are we doing here, breathing air and living on this beautiful blue speck on the outer edge of the galaxy? What is our purpose? It’s a question that’s sparked debate and speculation for thousands of years and we can’t help thinking that our distant ancestors must’ve pondered the same mystery: why are we here? And yet, perhaps, deep down, we’ve always known the answer.

We’ve become accustomed in the current era to viewing ourselves simply as biological entities, the product of an evolutionary process, a mammal with heightened cognitive abilities that’s capable of thinking, planning and dominating the environment. Of all the hominin species, we’re the only one to have survived, even though some of our distant relatives managed to maintain their presence for more than two million years with only stone tools and an incredible ability to live off the land. Let’s recall that modern humans have only been around for some two hundred thousand years so it might be too soon to pass judgement on our success as a species. But, as the last surviving hominin, the question remains – what are we doing here?

We still don’t have a complete explanation for human consciousness so enquiries concerning our purpose and potential have often turned to mystics and philosophers for insights into our fleeting role on this little planet. The great teachers who’ve expanded their perception beyond the familiar boundaries of our physical senses seem to broadly agree on the purpose of humans. Can you guess what it is? It is to discover who we really are. It sounds simple enough but it seems to take countless reincarnations before the truth is revealed and enlightenment frees us from the cycle of rebirth. If this is the case, why don’t we take a few steps in the right direction by practising meditation and learning to still the mind’s ceaseless chatter. Beyond the layers of illusion produced by our mind’s constant activity, reality – and our true nature – are waiting to be discovered. One step towards enlightenment seems to justify all the years of our life. Let’s take that step today and make the journey truly worthwhile.

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