Does Life Require Purpose?

[BSM1]

Purpose is required for a healthy life. It does not have to be religion, but it can be.

Life without purpose is misery, I've been there, I don't recommend it.

I was just thinking about your statement about your life was misery without purpose, wouldn't you then have to find some kind of purpose for a happy life? Wouldn't this purpose be whatever you decide it would be? Therefore, wouldn't your purpose be somewhat contrived? Suppose you found no purpose, couldn't you still live a life with out misery if you so choose?

 

[David T]

My reaction to these kind of questions.

 

[Bird123]

There have been a couple of threads created recently asking about purpose. In one, I asked views and opinions about the purpose of our physical existence, and in another a poster asked about the purpose of reincarnation, if it does indeed exist.

It seems to me that many seek some sort of purpose and explanation for things they experience, and it is my opinion that one of reasons for religion is to find a purpose for their existence.

Do you need to believe there must be some purpose for your existence in order to be content? What does your religion teach about the necessity of purpose? Can one just experience without an explanation as to why and be fulfilled?

How about this: In this time-based causal universe, existence creates change. This creates the purpose which is change.

People have purpose even when they do not realize it. If a person can see no purpose, it's because they are not looking with a wide enough view. All the secrets of the universe stare us in the face yet how blind are we to see them? They have been here all the time. How long did mankind watch birds fly before they figured out how?

I have found that Eternity has Purpose.

 

[Quagmire]

Far as I can tell, the purpose of life is to knock you off balance.

The purpose of the living is to not let it.

The purpose of everybody else is to keep score.


Is all this necessary? Beats me, but it probably makes things more interesting.

 

[Enoch07]

I was just thinking about your statement about your life was misery without purpose, wouldn't you then have to find some kind of purpose for a happy life? Wouldn't this purpose be whatever you decide it would be? Therefore, wouldn't your purpose be somewhat contrived? Suppose you found no purpose, couldn't you still live a life with out misery if you so choose?

Ah ok I understand now.

Yes and No.

For yes: You need to find purpose but it needs to be something you genuinely enjoy.

For no: if you force it, yes it will be contrived and not work.

As far as if you couldn't find a purpose? Hmm I don't know, I think everyone can find a purpose. But suppose you couldn't for X reason. I also don't know, perhaps it's possible, but I don't see how. Just based on my personal experience.

Purpose gives you that drive to do something. I find with no purpose you tend to focus on negativity more. Idle hands is the devil's workshop type thing. I could be wrong though.

 

[Stanyon]

Pretty sure, eh? How many animals in the wild have you interviewed personally?

None, but I have seen a lot of human animals who keep themselves pretty confused and bewildered over things that they created for themselves that in the end meant nothing.

 

[Aupmanyav]

So you need to believe there must be some purpose for your existence in order to be content? What does your religion teach about the necessity of purpose? Can one just experience without an explanation as to why and be fulfilled?

There is none. But once we are in it, we have to follow the pattern. Survival, food, sex, babies. The purpose is after we land into it. Most people experience it with wrong explanations. The crux is to get out of the wrong explanations. My religion (Advaita Hinduism), as I understand it, says it is a mirage.

 

[wandering peacefully]

There have been a couple of threads created recently asking about purpose. In one, I asked views and opinions about the purpose of our physical existence, and in another a poster asked about the purpose of reincarnation, if it does indeed exist.

It seems to me that many seek some sort of purpose and explanation for things they experience, and it is my opinion that one of reasons for religion is to find a purpose for their existence.

Do you need to believe there must be some purpose for your existence in order to be content? What does your religion teach about the necessity of purpose? Can one just experience without an explanation as to why and be fulfilled?

No, a belief in a higher power is not necessary for living a content, fulfilling, and purposeful life. At least some people don't need it.

Some people create their own purpose which works for them. It's a matter of understanding there really is no purpose to living other than reproducing the fittest genes .

Treating every day and every experience as something new to be explored and experienced fully as it is, is enough of a purpose for some.

 

[Thief]

it is my opinion that one of reasons for religion is to find a purpose for their existence.

to learn all that we can before we die

that's it
no mystery

the body displays this world to your mind

It can do nothing else....nothing more

 

[BSM1]

Ah ok I understand now.

Yes and No.

For yes: You need to find purpose but it needs to be something you genuinely enjoy.

For no: if you force it, yes it will be contrived and not work.

As far as if you couldn't find a purpose? Hmm I don't know, I think everyone can find a purpose. But suppose you couldn't for X reason. I also don't know, perhaps it's possible, but I don't see how. Just based on my personal experience.

Purpose gives you that drive to do something. I find with no purpose you tend to focus on negativity more. Idle hands is the devil's workshop type thing. I could be wrong though.

It's been my experience that purposefulness is highly overrated. I found that it was impossible to live up to my expectations of my 'purpose'. Once I learned how to live in the now without the self-imposed angst of believing that I (or anyone) needs a reason or a purpose to exist, my life became what I was hoping it would be in the first place.

 

[LuisDantas]

There have been a couple of threads created recently asking about purpose. In one, I asked views and opinions about the purpose of our physical existence, and in another a poster asked about the purpose of reincarnation, if it does indeed exist.

You would not believe how much mileage those questions have in some circles that I know.

I, however, find both rather unconvincing, if not altogether undesirable.

It seems to me that many seek some sort of purpose and explanation for things they experience,

That is probably par of course for most people, for neurological reasons even. It is not really very confortable to have a lack of purpose, and human beings are notorious for a virtual inability to stop seeing purposes and explanations left and right even when there is demonstrably none.

To a significant extent that is an unwelcome distraction. Far too often it results in shallow fantasies.

and it is my opinion that one of reasons for religion is to find a purpose for their existence.

Or to build one, which is arguably a better goal, particularly when it is stated as such.

Do you need to believe there must be some purpose for your existence in order to be content?

That could work, I guess. But I tend to favor built purposes over ready-found ones. They are more honest and far more functional. Besides, they are known to exist, which is a definite advantage.

What does your religion teach about the necessity of purpose?

That I should accept it as something that arises, but not deify it if I can help it.

Can one just experience without an explanation as to why and be fulfilled?

Sure. But there is a definite difference between purposes and explanations, and it is very much advisable not to confuse the two.

 

[Salvador]

There have been a couple of threads created recently asking about purpose. In one, I asked views and opinions about the purpose of our physical existence, and in another a poster asked about the purpose of reincarnation, if it does indeed exist.

It seems to me that many seek some sort of purpose and explanation for things they experience, and it is my opinion that one of reasons for religion is to find a purpose for their existence.

Do you need to believe there must be some purpose for your existence in order to be content? What does your religion teach about the necessity of purpose? Can one just experience without an explanation as to why and be fulfilled?

I'm merely 3 ^ 10 -82 the size of our observable universe. How insignificant and pointless my life must be when I'm merely
0.00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000003 percent the size of our observable universe.

 

[Enoch07]

It's been my experience that purposefulness is highly overrated. I found that it was impossible to live up to my expectations of my 'purpose'. Once I learned how to live in the now with the self-imposed angst of believing that I (or anyone) needs a reason or a purpose to exist, my life became what I was hoping it would be in the first place.

Awesome, well I'm glad someone figured out how to deal with it in a positive way!

 

[tayla]

one of reasons for religion is to find a purpose for their existence.

I don't see how religions which all contradict each other can be said to provide purpose. Also, those who are non-religious can also feel a purpose in life. So, as is usually the case with religion, it doesn't provide a trustworthy source for truth and knowledge but, rather, merely people's opinions.

 

[Hildeburh]

No.

 

[atanu]

.
Individuals can learn how to control their state of mind regardless of external circumstances.

Will not that be the purpose then?

 

[atanu]

I am just guessing here but I am pretty sure there has never been an animal in the wild that has asked themselves that question.

Probably animals cannot see beyond basic needs of eating and sensual gratification/fulfilment.

 

[Samana Johann]

No.

Nyom Hildeburh,

If there would not have been a purpose target at first place, this post would not have came into existence. In the same way life/existance requires a purpose to go on, to become a new.

Sure there are those who develop the view that all phenomenas come by accident or is forced by what ever mystic power. More reasonable is that there is will before any particular action by thought, words and phy. deeds. An will has always a certain, even when such all can be very subtle, purpose. So better to ask whether the current followed purpose makes sense and to make good use of what is act-ually hard to obtain for even more refined and beyound.

 

[atanu]

Far as I can tell, the purpose of life is to knock you off balance.

The purpose of the living is to not let it.

The purpose of everybody else is to keep score.
.

You mean like a Muhammad Ali fight?

 

[Nakosis]

Will not that be the purpose then?

If that is what they choose. Sometimes it is really hard to convince folks of this. I try to tell people that they don't need to be a victim of circumstance. I guess they don't believe me or the idea just doesn't sink in.

Sure, I think it's a good purpose but for whatever reason, one some seem unable to choose.