(originally posted Dec 1, 2014)
Why are we here? What is the meaning of life? These questions pervade my mind almost daily destroying any shred of serenity I have garnered.
Is truth subjective or objective? The Hermeticists would say that in this illusive reality of dualities there are no truths but half-truths, because they are experienced from finite perspective.
Existentialists would have you believe that life has no meaning but that which you give it, for we are all operating on free will. While Christians believe in free will, evangelicals would say that we must make choices in accordance with God’s law in order to achieve salvation. In the same breath, they would assure you that your sins could be wiped clean by simply accepting Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior. Christians that take a less literal view of the bible, may be more likely to quote the phrase “the kingdom of heaven is within you,” a concept that threatens the very fabric on which the church is founded; that intermediaries are not necessary to access God; one must only look within.
The concept of looking within seems to be a concept agreed upon by the spiritual, religious, philosophical, and scientific communities. The benefits of meditation are expressed in these communities for various reasons; however, it seems to be the only common ground they stand upon. Perhaps this is why a moment of silence in schools would be a much less biased way of starting the day.
In attempting to learn the truth of this life, I must come to terms with the idea that in this existence, whether illusive or not, finite or eternal, the only life or one of many incarnations, I may never know the answer in this lifetime. Instead of unraveling at the seams in search of this answer, I must practice “acceptance.”
I do not know the truth, and therefore, I will make choices that support my own fundamental happiness. Perhaps some people would deem this as selfish, once again passing judgement and imposing their beliefs on my free will. Others may agree that a full cup runneth over, spilling blessings onto others, or like RuPaul says, “If you can’t love yourself, how the hell you gonna love somebody else?”
Sadghuru does not agree with the idea of self love, because love is a sweetness of emotion that takes place between 2 people. All semantics aside, whether you call it self love or even egotistical, are we not all seeking happiness? If I cannot know the truth anyway, what is the point of living up to other people’s expectations?
I believe there is an ultimate truth, but perhaps truth cannot truly be pinned down, for if God is infinite than truth can never be boxed in. Truth is not a finite concept. In this dimension of existence, there is but subjective truth, and one must be true to oneself in order to achieve any shred of happiness in this lifetime.
Perhaps that makes me an existentialist. I don’t know if life has meaning. If it does, I don’t know what that meaning is. So I will make choices based on free will, and give my life meaning through purpose. For the time being, that is meaningful enough for me.