The Ultimate Purpose Of Life?

Ever wondered what's the point of life? What are we doing here? Why do we all exist?

Well, I don't know the answer any more than you do, of course. But here's my take on things. See what you think.

First of all, imagine that you are God. You may not believe that such a being exists, of course. But we're doing a 'just suppose' here, so see if you can humour me for the purpose of this post. Imagine that you are God, then. What do you do?

You're an all-powerful, all-knowing, infinite being who simply is. You always have been and always will be. But what do you do? How do you spend your time?

You can just hang out in a state of bliss for all eternity, of course. But this isn't an 'either-or'. You have infinite power, so you can hang out in infinite bliss and do other stuff too. So what do you do?

All you have for now is the infinite you. If you want to experience anything more, you have to create it first. So all you have to decide is: what will it be?

As you have infinite power, you might as well use it. So what you decide to bring into being is everything that could possibly be. It's probably best for us to think of this in terms of what we know, so imagine an infinite series of bubbles. Each of these is a universe and one of them is our own.

What you will want to do now, of course, is explore these worlds of substance which you have created. This is easy for you to do, for all of it was created out of yourself. No other raw material was available. So while you explore your creation, you are being your creation, each lump of rock and every living thing.

This exploration is entertaining, but is there perhaps something more for which you are searching?

Let's look at what you have. There is the infinite bliss from which you emerged and you also have the substance which you have created. But are either of these enough?

In bliss, which we might call heaven, there is only the light of yourself. Nothing very much happens there, and without any shadows, it's all a bit boring. How can you even recognize the splendour of the light when there isn't any darkness against which to observe it?

Down in the worlds of substance, it is different. These are places of light and dark, where there's plenty to entertain you. But the darkness is painful and sometimes it seems like the darkness is all there is.

If only there was another way of being!

Perhaps you are waiting for such a world to emerge.

These worlds which you have created are not static. They are living systems, constantly evolving, bringing infinite possibilities into being. In time, you know that the worlds you want will emerge: worlds of shadow yet worlds in which the glorious light of yourself will also be known.

Is such a world emerging here? Is it possible? Is this why Deeksha and other techniques are available now? Could all of us (who are really you) be on the verge of this new way of being: going about our daily lives with all the drama and interaction which the light and shadows provide, yet always aware, deep inside, of the glorious light which can drive the pain of the shadows away - and help us to understand why the darkness is there.

What do you reckon?

 

These may also be of interest:

The Call Of The Dark

We Have The Biology

A Taste Of Enlightenment?

Consciousness Animation

Comments

[Marie]

Westminster Confession of Faith:

Q. What is chief end of man?

A. Man's chief end is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.

[Simon]

Hi Marie - Welcome and thanks for your comment. I don't disagree with you here, but I wonder why you think that "Man's chief end is to glorify God"? Why does God require such glorification?

[Mark]

Simon,
Interesting thoughts. So, by your illustration, are we simply a form of entertainment for a content but somewhat bored God?

[Battlerocker]

Good description. I wonder whether there is really a third alternative to light and dark, however. It seems each is there to illustrate the other...I'm not sure what a 'purpose' for the third would be...if it even needed one...

[Malcolm Campbell]

There's a lot to ponder in this post. We are, I think, God without consciously knowning it. If we knew it, we wouldn't ponder or know anything because then we would simply "be."

[Phylippa]

Dear Simon "Could all of us (who are really you) be on the verge of this new way of being: going about our daily lives with all the drama and interaction which the light and shadows provide, yet always aware, deep inside, of the glorious light which can drive the pain of the shadows away - and help us to understand why the darkness is there."

I truly feel that we are on the verge of finding "a new way of being". I am heartened when I find another website such as yours, There is a real desire to find another way of being, I am sure that we are generating 'light' or higher vibrations whatever label you want to use, by this desire. I think that all of us at sometime in our lives have decided to make a difference in whatever way is presented to us. Maybe this higher energy of ours will bring about a fundamental change in the way the world views itself and the world needs visionaries NOW. Keep on seeking your highest way of being,after all we are made in the image of God aren't we? with love and blessings

[Simon]

Thanks for all your comments! It's great to hear from you all and I'll respond to everyone as soon as I have the chance.

Mark first: That's a good question! Thanks for giving me the opportunity to clarify things. First of all, my own belief is that we - and everything else - are all a part of God, so there isn't any question of God *using* us for anything. Whatever we are doing here, it is with our full agreement and co-operation - even though we might have forgotten this! Not that you were necessarily implying otherwise, but I wanted to make this clear.

When I first read what you wrote about us being entertainment for a bored God, I thought to myself "No - that's not what I said!". But then, when I thought about it, I realized that you were reflecting back to me *exactly* what I had said. It only goes to show how crudely I put it! Not that I should be hard on myself - the problem is that the right vocabulary to express what I mean is hard to come by.

When I talk about heaven being boring and God needing to be entertained, I am simply using the nearest human equivalents I can think of to describe something which is indescribable. No - I don't think that God is *really* bored in heaven, but I also think that if heaven itself were enough, then none of us would exist, for what would be the point in God creating anything if 'he' were fully content with what he had already?

It is not really about him looking for entertainment, though, so much as searching for the ultimate way of being. What I am suggesting is that God is exploring the infinite possibilities which he has created and looking for whatever pleases him most. Ultimately, perhaps, it is all about happiness, that of God and that of ourselves (which amounts to the same thing) - and what I am hoping is that we can have such happiness here.

[sunflower Optimism]

Simon, in your comment above you said "No - I don't think that God is *really* bored in heaven, but I also think that if heaven itself were enough, then none of us would exist, for what would be the point in God creating anything if 'he' were fully content with what he had already?"

Then why is the ultimate "Christian" goal to attain heaven? Must be a marvelous place, as described in the bible and through tradition.

Perhaps God is happy with heaven - but decided He wanted company, wanted to share the beauty of what He had? Perhaps He's looking for company that comes of it's own free will and not coerced?

Interesting post - will have to think on it some more.

[sunflower Optimism]

Ok, Simon, I think I may have finally figured out what troubled me about this post. You start with some basic, accepted premises about God. You stipulate if we imagine ourselves as God then "You're an all-powerful, all-knowing, infinite being who simply is."

Then as God you wonder "How do you spend your time?" God is not bounded by time or space. Time is a human construct. God is all knowing. So I don't think that God needs to go through the motions of creating other worlds or lights/shadows. They are not for His benefit. He ALREADY knows. He knows every permutation of everything that could possibly be. That is what all-knowing means.

Heaven - where God *is* may be the ultimate utopia. I don't think heaven is so much a "place" as a state of being. Perhaps it is simply the feeling of connection with the universe (ok, God, for this post) I know in my church, the concept of heaven is nearness to God - while hell is the opposite, being away from God. Oh yes, we believe in angels, the devil and the fires of hell also - but usually emphasized is the chasm between God and those who "don't play nice." This is contrasted by being held "in the bosom of Abraham," for those who DO play nice.

As I said in my previous comment here I don't think God created the universe for His enjoyment, but rather for us. I think the point of the creation could be companionship (did Christ not weep when Lazarus died?) or the sharing of God's endless love. My own children are young adults in college and whenever I see them making good choices in life, I am overjoyed that they are staying on the "right track." Perhaps my children and this joy corresponds to God's creation and His joy (joy=human construct!) when we also stay on track and find the way to goodness and happiness.

This is a difficult question, as we tend to put our "human" boundaries on God and what He does. I can't even presume to know what God is is *thinking* (I know, thinking=another human construct!)

Still "brainstorming" here, may be back again, LOL.

[Marion]

Simon, wow, there is so much to think about here. It's a very well done post!

I have been back two or three times...your post has hit a few buttons for me.

We are on our way to finding a "new way of being"...I believe that with everything I've got!

[The Artist]

Great food for thought here, have enjoyed visiting your blog, best wishes, The Artist

[Simon]

A few more responses:

Battlerocker – Yes, I suspect there are numerous – and unimaginable – other ways of being in other universes, where light and dark may not even exist. As for our own, I suppose the combination of dark with enduring light which I have suggested is a kind of third alternative in itself.

Malcolm – I think you are right. When we are totally one with God/the Universe , there is only being. I’ve had such an experience briefly myself and knowing didn’t seem to come into it – I had moved beyond thought altogether. I suspect, though, that there are other (lesser?) levels of enlightenment where knowing is involved. It is this sort of level I have in mind for our ‘heaven on earth’.

Phylippa – Great to hear from you and thanks for your support! It’s nice to think that these speculations might be actually changing the world! I’ve read several times in the last few days about sending out positive energy – it’s something for a future post, I think.

Marion – Thanks for your comments too! It’s nice to know that some of us share this belief in a new way of being. One of the things which persuade me is that it’s so *necessary*. Can you see us struggling on for much longer the way we are? People are concerned – quite rightly – about global warming, but we should also look at the state of mind of humanity.

The Artist – Great to hear from you too. Glad you found this interesting!

Sunflower – I *do* think that God is happy in heaven, just as I am happy on holiday – but that isn’t all I want all the time. What I think is that God is building on that happiness through ‘his’ creations. Thinking of our existence as company for God, as you suggest, is another good way of looking at it, I think. Whether our existence is about company or drama or both, it is all really about introducing interaction, the idea/illusion that there is duality: that there is God and something other than God. The trouble is that here on Earth, this fractured way of being has bred misunderstandings which in turn have bred anger and violence. We need a perspective from which we can see that it is doesn’t have to be this way. We can co-exist with each other because we are all one with God.

As you say, Sunflower, the ultimate Christian goal is to attain heaven, but think of the Lord’s Prayer: ‘They kingdom come, Thy will be done, *In earth* as it is in heaven’. This earthly heaven describes the kind of future I have in mind.

Many thanks to Sunflower and everyone else for your comments! It’s great to have the opportunity to build on these ideas. I’ll respond to your other comments shortly, Sunflower…

I feel I should add the usual caveat that I don’t claim to know the truth about any of this. These are only speculations! In some of them I have a strong instinctive belief, while in others I am only feeling my way. But none of these ideas are cast in stone…

[Simon]

Sunflower – To respond to your second comments: You are right, of course, to pick me up on my sloppy treatment of time. As you say, “God is not bounded by time or space”. So when I talk of god ‘spending his time’, I am once again using the nearest human equivalent to try to describe the indescribable. In eternity, everything actually happens at once. God doesn’t need to read Eckhart Tolle to be in the present moment. It happens automatically! But there is still the question of how he ‘spends’ that present moment.

God, by definition, is indeed all-knowing. He already knows that which he creates. But I would argue that knowing is not the same as experiencing, so there is still a pay-off for God in actually bringing these things into being. This is for our benefit too, of course, but as in my version of the Cosmos, God and ourselves are One, this amounts to the same thing.

I share the idea of hell as being separation from God, though before any atheists who might be reading this complain, I should add that I don’t think this separation is a question of lack of belief so much as being in thrall to the ego: hearing only the voice of the ego and failing to notice the stillness and peace of the moment. Indeed, I believe that the ego has horns and a forked tail! When Christ was tempted in the wilderness, it sounded to me like his ego talking.

I personally believe in universal redemption however. I can understand you wanting your children to be ‘on the right track’ but I do not think that ‘the fires of hell’ are waiting for anyone, whatever they might have done. Eternity is plenty of time for us all to find redemption, for us all to find our way back to God. As we are all a part of God, it could never be otherwise.

Being an argumentative sort of person, I tend to pick up on points of disagreement or divergence as read through these comments. So just to balance this out, I would like to add that when you speak of God wishing to share his love and his creation with us, this rings very true to me. I’m sure that a lot of our apparent differences are due to inadequate understanding of the incomprehensible(!) rather than any real difference in truth.

I too can’t really presume to know what God is thinking and there is something inside me which tells me I shouldn’t even presume to try. But I have a fascination for it, so I just have to ignore that voice! In time, I think, we will all know ‘the mind of God’. But it will come by divine inspiration, not by blog post!

[Virgin Pathoid]

GIVE ME A BREAK!

[gurushabad]

Yes, we are living in a perishable world.The soul in each of us is undying.A good write up.

[Simon]

Hi Virgin - Don't worry, you don't have to ask - you are free to take a break whenever you like!

Hi Surjit - Many thanks for your comment! If only we could all know those words of yours and carry them with us from one moment to the next, we should have heaven on earth, I think. This world is an illusion. It is here for us to enjoy, but if we understood its true nature, we would not cause ourselves and others so much pain about the things that happen here.

[Dual Action Cleanse]

ajmsitfdsfupgmjgf, Dual Action Cleanse, AOHYgXZ, [url=http://dualactioncleanse4u.com/]Dual Action Cleanse[/url], XCfXDPl, http://dualactioncleanse4u.com/ Dual Action Cleanse, GrpibmO.