There are at least two possible views on existence. The first is that there is only what we see, or more or less. There is no further meaning than the meaning we attribute to existence, there is no bigger plan. Everything is ruled by coincidence. There is no sense or direction, any evolution there may be is blind.
The second one is kind of the opposite. Existence is governed by laws which transcend coincidence. There is a bigger plan, everything has a reason, and perhaps we may even find out, some day, the mechanics behind it all. There may be other entities, angel like beings guiding us, directing us. There may be former and future lives, strange forces and other dimensions.
So far I have not found definite proof for option two. No proof of any Greater Meaning, other creatures or dimensions. But neither do I see absolute proof that those things are fiction. On the contrary, there is a remarkable similarity in these philosophies and religions the world over.
So what to do then? If I can't know which is true, my idea is to choose for the option that gives me most peace. That is option two. Believing that there is a meaning to all this, that suffering is not useless, that we're not entering a Great Big Nothing when we die, that there is a sequel to this chapter... is more comforting that not believing it. This is of course the objection of the sceptics: that we invent these things because it gives us some peace and makes us able to cope with the futility of existence.
Perhaps, but still I go with option two, as a working hypothesis, and I'll see where it gets me. It is the option that everything has a meaning, and that actually, this planet is a gigantic classroom, this life one class in a great Curriculum. The little Rules Movie makes a bit of those ideas clear, if you're interested. (at the end you can, if you want, subscribe to a newsletter that sends you three positive quotes daily - it is the basis of my positive quotes collection :-)
1 comment:
I am an agnost in most things, meaning that I don't really make up my mind. I can't say "believe" nor "disbelieve". And as long as there isn't any real proof, anything is possible.
Option 1 or 2, both possible for me. O.2 is nice indeed. And being human, I tend to flow from 1 to 1.5, via -1 to 2 and back in random order and granularity :-).
But one thing I do believe, as well as in O. 1 as in 2, suffering matters and lightening it too (upto not breaking any vital learning process or happiness that suffering allows :) )!
(And meaning isn't necessary absent in O.1 either.)
Many times, I think as thus: Suppose we die and go beyond. What, if after a while one becomes "used to" everything again, just like we did since our birth in this world, would we start to hope for an über O.2?
That's why I say to myself very often:
Let's float from here and sail this sea, if a bird flies near, I'll know what I see.
( Like my fresh cooked rhyme? I am so proud :-p )
O.2 loverboy (gni gni, just kiddin, hé!), I believe you are a real light in this world, T!!! I hope I can ever sail as really selflessly servingly as you..
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