| A course on the Meaning of Life - Part 1 |
What is the most enduring question in philosophy, religion and psychology? It is the question regarding the meaning of life. This existential quest may smack of banality, platitude or psychobabble, but it remains the ultimate core concern which no one can afford to ignore. At some point in life, whether it is a personal encounter with death, a sudden reversal of fortunes, a tragic event, an impending doom, or a major crossroad, the existential question about life and death can hit us with such force and tenacity that we can no longer ignore it. Although most of the time, the quest for meaning is triggered by negative experiences and feelings of meaninglessness, it may also be prompted by the need for happiness and fulfillment. One commercial says: "You only live once, so don't blow it." This tagline begs the question: What are you doing with your life? How should you live? Since we only go through this life once, we have reasons to make the most of it. The worse fear is not death, but the discovery that we have never really lived when the time comes for us to die. We all have the urge, the desire to live fully, to do something significant, to make a difference, so that we don't have to dread the death-bed realization that we have squandered away our precious life. Henry David Thoreau once said, "I went to the woods because I wanted to live deliberately. I wanted to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life; to put to rest all that was not life. And not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived." You don't need to retreat to the woods or the desert, but you do need to start searching for answers to existential questions sooner rather than later. Now is the time - for rebirth and transformation. This course is designed to facilitate your existential quest. I hope that it will help you discover your true calling, live your life with passion, and fulfill all your potentials. The five most basic questions This course explores the five most important and enduring questions about the meaning of human existence: (1) Who am I? - This is the question about self-identify or the identity of the true self when everything external is stripped away. It is concerned with such issues as:
(2) Why am I here? - This the question about the purpose and reason for living. It is often expressed in a variety of ways, such as:
(3) Where am I going? -- This is the question about life goals, future direction, and making tough choices.
(4) What is the meaning of suffering and death? -- This is the question about the condition of human existence - the inevitability of suffering, sickness, aging and death. It is concerned with finding reasons for living in the midst of pain, affliction, trauma, tragedy, and death.
(5) How can I find significance and happiness? - This is the most asked question, because most people believe that they have the right to be happy but feel frustrated when they cannot find it.
The above big five will provide a helpful guide to examine our own lives. How we answer these questions will determine, to a large extent, how we live and how we die. Our ability to survive and flourish depends on finding satisfactory answers in our quest for meaning and purpose. When I first posted these five fundamental questions in the Positive Living Forum, I was amazed by different answers people gave. Obviously, every person has to discover their own answers, but there are roadmaps and signposts available to facilitate the quest for meaning. I invite you to join us in this important quest. There will be rough patches and challenging obstacles. But the journey will be a rewarding, life changing experience. At the end, you can feel good about yourself, because you have confronted your own destiny, and taken part in the adventure of a lifetime. |
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