An invitation into the greatest of all pursuits
"If at first you do not succeed, destroy all the evidence that you tried."
"The ultimate mystery is one's own self"
Sammy Davis, Jr. Entertainer
"In some sense man is a microcosm of the universe; therefore what man is, is a clue to the universe."
David Bohm Theoretical physicist
In life and in our pursuit of meaning we have many choices. The choices and foundational beliefs we possess will initially have a substantial deterministic role in our sense of happiness. The choices we have made, are making, will unavoidably set us on a trajectory, in not only how we live but how we approach the question of purpose as well. Choices also become a part of a fabric in which our beliefs and initial biases will influence how we investigate and build our internal models and worldviews. For example those with a strong religious orientation may feel compelled to establish and integrate tradition, theology, experiential or spiritual principles into their model for living. Others may put no credence in such notions and may feel compelled to seek the help of science or an atheistic worldview. We all approach the reinforcement of our worldviews in this way, largely on the basis of a point in time in which we chose to identify with a belief or not. In her book The Wisdom to Know the Difference, Eileen Flanagan quotes Hilary Beard who put it this way;
"You need to examine what you believe and choose whether you want to believe that, as opposed to it being automatic," she concludes, "God gave us free will, but most of us don't exercise free will because we're on autopilot, following our childhood beliefs. Making a free choice about what to believe is a key to liberating your spirit."
The Wisdom to Know the Difference p-16
It is my suspicion that an enormous amount of people, perhaps most, are simply not sure one way or the other concerning where to begin in the pursuit of meaning. One way that can alter this state of being stuck is to look at living, whatever we do, work at, engage in as being a part of a process. That is a beginning. From this starting point we should become much more aware of the kind of model that is worthy of our energy and loyalty.
Here is a list that should begin to help how this challenging pursuit may be approached:
"The ultimate mystery is one's own self"
Sammy Davis, Jr. Entertainer
"In some sense man is a microcosm of the universe; therefore what man is, is a clue to the universe."
David Bohm Theoretical physicist
In life and in our pursuit of meaning we have many choices. The choices and foundational beliefs we possess will initially have a substantial deterministic role in our sense of happiness. The choices we have made, are making, will unavoidably set us on a trajectory, in not only how we live but how we approach the question of purpose as well. Choices also become a part of a fabric in which our beliefs and initial biases will influence how we investigate and build our internal models and worldviews. For example those with a strong religious orientation may feel compelled to establish and integrate tradition, theology, experiential or spiritual principles into their model for living. Others may put no credence in such notions and may feel compelled to seek the help of science or an atheistic worldview. We all approach the reinforcement of our worldviews in this way, largely on the basis of a point in time in which we chose to identify with a belief or not. In her book The Wisdom to Know the Difference, Eileen Flanagan quotes Hilary Beard who put it this way;
"You need to examine what you believe and choose whether you want to believe that, as opposed to it being automatic," she concludes, "God gave us free will, but most of us don't exercise free will because we're on autopilot, following our childhood beliefs. Making a free choice about what to believe is a key to liberating your spirit."
The Wisdom to Know the Difference p-16
It is my suspicion that an enormous amount of people, perhaps most, are simply not sure one way or the other concerning where to begin in the pursuit of meaning. One way that can alter this state of being stuck is to look at living, whatever we do, work at, engage in as being a part of a process. That is a beginning. From this starting point we should become much more aware of the kind of model that is worthy of our energy and loyalty.
Here is a list that should begin to help how this challenging pursuit may be approached:
- To discover a model for the pursuit of meaning & purposeful living.
- To pursue an open dialogue concerning the relationship and perceived conflict between long accepted spiritual truths and modern scientific discovery. (see also www.spiritualityscienceandmeaning.com)
- To compare the various models and worldviews pertaining to the pursuit of meaning and purposeful living.
- To reach the point at which our choice is as informed as possible and capable of laying a foundation for the pursuit of meaning.
- To make assessments and suggestions on how to achieve a rational, coherent model for the practical 'art' of living a meaningful life.
Essential questions concerning what we are striving for
laughingstarphotography.com
Gardens need water - most of it sweat
a saying shared amongst lovers of gardening
“The purposes of a man’s heart are deep waters, but a man of understanding draws them out.” Prov. 20:5
“For we know in part and we prophecy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child. I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; the we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.” I Corinthians 13:9-12
Here are some points to consider before we get deeper into our pursuit. Psychologist, philosophers and scientists are well aware of the problem of beginning with a certain slant, bias, perception or belief system. Almost all of us, as we think about meaning, will inevitably, to varying degrees be swayed by the fabric of our own beliefs and prejudices. Though this is somewhat unavoidable we can at the very least counter some of the problems of biased thinking by simply being aware of this propensity. Once this is accomplished we have at least laid the foundation for dealing with the subversive and more difficult problem of deep seated emotional loyalties.
Here are some examples of questions which are capable of framing the investigation and pursuit of meaning as it begins or develops:
What are my beliefs concerning my place in creation and my relationship to its creator (if there is a justifiable reason to believe in God?)
It should be understood that there is no way of avoiding some questions concerning the pursuit of meaning and purposeful living. There is probably no way of knowing for sure whether or not there is a designer or God who made everything? whether or not there is life after death? However, just as science does not have even a remote explanation for the origin of light (not the light we see with our eyes but the quantum type) we should not completely doubt the existence of a designer or God. We should likewise at the very least consider what should be our response if these questions can be answered in the affirmative?
*************
Rather than invoking the dictation of truth, (or what I or someone else declares is the nature of meaning), lets build an investigation and establish some goals in order to lead examined lives and continue the process of questioning.
As we do so we each of will begin a journey of discovery.
a saying shared amongst lovers of gardening
“The purposes of a man’s heart are deep waters, but a man of understanding draws them out.” Prov. 20:5
“For we know in part and we prophecy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child. I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; the we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.” I Corinthians 13:9-12
Here are some points to consider before we get deeper into our pursuit. Psychologist, philosophers and scientists are well aware of the problem of beginning with a certain slant, bias, perception or belief system. Almost all of us, as we think about meaning, will inevitably, to varying degrees be swayed by the fabric of our own beliefs and prejudices. Though this is somewhat unavoidable we can at the very least counter some of the problems of biased thinking by simply being aware of this propensity. Once this is accomplished we have at least laid the foundation for dealing with the subversive and more difficult problem of deep seated emotional loyalties.
Here are some examples of questions which are capable of framing the investigation and pursuit of meaning as it begins or develops:
- Is there such a thing as meaning - or is it the mere aftermath of some chemical relationships in the brain responding to the stimulus of abstract questioning?
- Can we determine if there is a tangible definition of meaning that transcends culture, time or religion?
- What is the relationship between truth and meaning? Do we have to begin with an accurate model of reality to build a reliable model for the pursuit of meaning?
- Is it possible to exclude the history of those before us and our present circumstances in the pursuit of a definition of meaning?
- Is there a model for the pursuit of a meaningful life (of purpose) that is capable of embracing ancient spiritual truths and modern scientific discovery?
- Is a meaningful life relative or are there at least some universal truths in its pursuit that are unavoidable?
- Can I trust my own heart, intuition, my mind in answering the above question?
- Is creation designed? Is there a designer? Is this designer- super intelligent being at all concerned with humans and our personal affairs? Or do we exist in the mere aftermath of a profoundly unlikely chaotic, evolutionary mishap.
- Can I trust religion, science, a modern common sense approach or myself to a meaningful life with purpose? How willing do I to take someone else’s word for direction or leadership and be a follower thus not have to invest time and effort into seeking out an answer to this challenging pursuit?
What are my beliefs concerning my place in creation and my relationship to its creator (if there is a justifiable reason to believe in God?)
- How do my beliefs concerning my purpose shape my attitude toward my world, my relationships and how I view myself (my personal psychological development)?
- Can I trust my own heart, intuition, my mind in answering the above question?
It should be understood that there is no way of avoiding some questions concerning the pursuit of meaning and purposeful living. There is probably no way of knowing for sure whether or not there is a designer or God who made everything? whether or not there is life after death? However, just as science does not have even a remote explanation for the origin of light (not the light we see with our eyes but the quantum type) we should not completely doubt the existence of a designer or God. We should likewise at the very least consider what should be our response if these questions can be answered in the affirmative?
*************
Rather than invoking the dictation of truth, (or what I or someone else declares is the nature of meaning), lets build an investigation and establish some goals in order to lead examined lives and continue the process of questioning.
As we do so we each of will begin a journey of discovery.
Keeping goals of the pursuit in mind
centerworks.com
"Everyone's life is driven by something. Most dictionaries define the verb drive as "to guide, to control, or to direct.".....Right now you may be driven by a problem, a pressure, or a deadline. you may be driven by a painful memory, a haunting fear, or an unconscious belief. There are hundreds of circumstances, values, and emotions that can drive your life."
Rick Warren The Purpose Driven Life p-27
"What man actually needs is not a tensionless state byt rather the striving and struggling for a worthwhile goal, a freely chosen task."
Viktor E. Frankl Man's Search for Meaning p-105
One of the problems I have discovered in many of the self-help type approaches is a very noticeable lack of truly substantive models for how to attain meaningful goals. In fact, many, though some process of steps or theme and variation of how to approaches, claim to offer happiness, wealth/prosperity, harmonious relationships and even purpose. However, the actual state of success they claim to be offering remains at best ambiguous.
There is a reason for this. It is nearly impossible for one individual to tell another individual what is valuable or emotionally fulfilling and worthy of being pursued. For one person all the promises of happiness, success and prosperity has a certain connotation different from another, just as meaning and purposeful living, may seem very different from one person to another.
This in no way implies that we do not all share in similar struggles and encounter similar obstacles in our pursuit. We all share in a common dilemma of our human nature and the challenges of purposeful living in these times that we co-exist in. These facts imply that we will all have to confront certain unavoidable fundamental truths concerning our choices in life. Very often the modern self-help approach is merely a white washing over a deeply problematic personal crisis a little like taking pain killers for a tooth ache and avoiding an extraction or root canal. Here is a list that may serve as a catalyst for some deeper introspection on where to start:
Rick Warren The Purpose Driven Life p-27
"What man actually needs is not a tensionless state byt rather the striving and struggling for a worthwhile goal, a freely chosen task."
Viktor E. Frankl Man's Search for Meaning p-105
One of the problems I have discovered in many of the self-help type approaches is a very noticeable lack of truly substantive models for how to attain meaningful goals. In fact, many, though some process of steps or theme and variation of how to approaches, claim to offer happiness, wealth/prosperity, harmonious relationships and even purpose. However, the actual state of success they claim to be offering remains at best ambiguous.
There is a reason for this. It is nearly impossible for one individual to tell another individual what is valuable or emotionally fulfilling and worthy of being pursued. For one person all the promises of happiness, success and prosperity has a certain connotation different from another, just as meaning and purposeful living, may seem very different from one person to another.
This in no way implies that we do not all share in similar struggles and encounter similar obstacles in our pursuit. We all share in a common dilemma of our human nature and the challenges of purposeful living in these times that we co-exist in. These facts imply that we will all have to confront certain unavoidable fundamental truths concerning our choices in life. Very often the modern self-help approach is merely a white washing over a deeply problematic personal crisis a little like taking pain killers for a tooth ache and avoiding an extraction or root canal. Here is a list that may serve as a catalyst for some deeper introspection on where to start:
- Consider what role our spirituality, psychology, (emotional predispositions) and worldviews (paradigm) plays in our pursuit of meaning.
- Seek out a detailed definition/explanation of meaning suitable for building or establishing a model for its pursuit. (sounds simple enough but its not)
- Determine how any investigation on the subject of meaning that is relative to modern living must be inclusive of science as well as ancient spiritual wisdom.
- (explored in more detail at spiritualityscienceandmeaning.com)
- Expose the problems of religious relativism & fundamentalism both in its implications personally as well as collectively.
- Evaluate how science and postmodern thinking has and is changing how we build our worldviews and what that implies for our sense of meaning.
- Understand the importance of meaning through the consideration of the difficult questions regardless of which side of the argument it supports or how it makes us feel
I am really not sure (The certainty of uncertainty)
clearlabeling.com
“How the hell do I know what I don’t know”
-Agent K - men in Black III
"There is no such thing as absolute certainty, but there is assurance sufficient for human life."
-John Stuart Mill
“No matter how many plans you make or how much in control you are, life is always winging it.”
― Carroll Bryant
"Cause I still haven't found what I'm looking for"
The rock band U2
"There are known knowns. These are things that we know. There are known unknowns. That is to say, there are things that we know we don't know. But there are also unknown unknowns. There are things we don't know we don't know we don't know."
-Donald Rumsfeld
I am not embarrassed to admit that I do not know everything. Many people out there would like to give you the impression they know a whole lot more than they actually do. This is particularly true in religious circles though arrogance knows no boundaries. The fact of the matter is there is an awful lot of uncertainty and mystery and way too many people who think they have the answers.
Perhaps, the mystery is good. It should keep us humble and hungry to learn, and desirous of pursuing wisdom.
What this implies practically speaking is to have the attitude of learner and be willing to recognize fault or the incompleteness of our beliefs.
There simply is not enough time or resources in life that would enable us to gain a complete perspective of life and its meaning.
Over three thousand years ago King Solomon wrote;
"I applied myself to the understanding of wisdom, and also of madness and folly, but I learned that this, too, is a chasing after wind.
For with much wisdom comes much sorrow; the more knowledge, the more grief.
Ecclesiastes 1:17-18
A more modern, and perhaps simpler way of putting it would be,
"the more we know, the more we know we don't know"
We all must accept that there are personal limitations to our individual intellectual strengths We all need help from experts in their fields of specialization.
Perhaps the biggest trap we can get into is believing that we are smarter than we are or thinking that we are more correct in our worldview than we are.
We should also recognize that the pursuit of meaning is about truth, but it is not really about how much we know. Rather it is very much about the integration of learning that is related to the deep emotional fabric of our being. Meaning does not exclude those who choose simplicity or those who are intellectually challenged in grasping the fullness of its wonder.
Though I cannot be certain of everything, and much mystery abounds, I can go on and grow in my pursuit.
"I (wisdom) love those who love me, and those who seek me find me."
Proverbs 8:17
-Agent K - men in Black III
"There is no such thing as absolute certainty, but there is assurance sufficient for human life."
-John Stuart Mill
“No matter how many plans you make or how much in control you are, life is always winging it.”
― Carroll Bryant
"Cause I still haven't found what I'm looking for"
The rock band U2
"There are known knowns. These are things that we know. There are known unknowns. That is to say, there are things that we know we don't know. But there are also unknown unknowns. There are things we don't know we don't know we don't know."
-Donald Rumsfeld
I am not embarrassed to admit that I do not know everything. Many people out there would like to give you the impression they know a whole lot more than they actually do. This is particularly true in religious circles though arrogance knows no boundaries. The fact of the matter is there is an awful lot of uncertainty and mystery and way too many people who think they have the answers.
Perhaps, the mystery is good. It should keep us humble and hungry to learn, and desirous of pursuing wisdom.
What this implies practically speaking is to have the attitude of learner and be willing to recognize fault or the incompleteness of our beliefs.
There simply is not enough time or resources in life that would enable us to gain a complete perspective of life and its meaning.
Over three thousand years ago King Solomon wrote;
"I applied myself to the understanding of wisdom, and also of madness and folly, but I learned that this, too, is a chasing after wind.
For with much wisdom comes much sorrow; the more knowledge, the more grief.
Ecclesiastes 1:17-18
A more modern, and perhaps simpler way of putting it would be,
"the more we know, the more we know we don't know"
We all must accept that there are personal limitations to our individual intellectual strengths We all need help from experts in their fields of specialization.
Perhaps the biggest trap we can get into is believing that we are smarter than we are or thinking that we are more correct in our worldview than we are.
We should also recognize that the pursuit of meaning is about truth, but it is not really about how much we know. Rather it is very much about the integration of learning that is related to the deep emotional fabric of our being. Meaning does not exclude those who choose simplicity or those who are intellectually challenged in grasping the fullness of its wonder.
Though I cannot be certain of everything, and much mystery abounds, I can go on and grow in my pursuit.
"I (wisdom) love those who love me, and those who seek me find me."
Proverbs 8:17
What to avoid
wikipedia.org
"Enlightenment is far easier when we have no preconceived notions of what must be true."
Gerald L. Schroeder The Hidden Face of God p-185
“I am an expert on purposeful living, but you are the expert on your life. If a teacher ever presumes to know more about you than you do, RUN FOR THE DOOR!”
Lillian Eve Moore
Some will see the list below as contradictory. However, when considered carefully, what I am proposing is that we guard our intellect and hearts against those who sincerely or for personal gain will tell us, or dictate to us, how to pursue meaning. In extreme cases they will tell us what the meaning of life is!
Religious belief systems that force us into the rejection of reason, the acceptance of obscure ritualistic or pious practices, or, the blind acceptance of human authority, institution or particular interpretation of a holy book.
Finally, the one that surprises many and that is using caution in the influence of a scientism which denies the reality of human consciousness and the obvious fine-tuned constants of creation for life.
General approaches to avoid concerning our pursuit of meaning
Things to avoid in religious approaches to meaning
What to avoid in atheistic approaches
Gerald L. Schroeder The Hidden Face of God p-185
“I am an expert on purposeful living, but you are the expert on your life. If a teacher ever presumes to know more about you than you do, RUN FOR THE DOOR!”
Lillian Eve Moore
Some will see the list below as contradictory. However, when considered carefully, what I am proposing is that we guard our intellect and hearts against those who sincerely or for personal gain will tell us, or dictate to us, how to pursue meaning. In extreme cases they will tell us what the meaning of life is!
Religious belief systems that force us into the rejection of reason, the acceptance of obscure ritualistic or pious practices, or, the blind acceptance of human authority, institution or particular interpretation of a holy book.
Finally, the one that surprises many and that is using caution in the influence of a scientism which denies the reality of human consciousness and the obvious fine-tuned constants of creation for life.
General approaches to avoid concerning our pursuit of meaning
- People who claim that they can show you how to find happiness or what the meaning of life is. (particularly by buying their book of DVD's or simply doing six steps, or meditation or joining a social entity etc.)
- Placing emphasis on historically obscure religious/spiritual or philosophical notions. (Such as, and not limited to; finding peace & meaning thorough, crystals, meditation, chanting certain words, breathing a certain way, separation from the world in a monastic or other life -style, eating or not eating certain foods, paths to prosperity, power etc, etc,)
- Committing to a belief system that coerces you to sacrifice your intellect or spirituality.
- Making unqualified, vague references without support from experience, (scientific observation, authoritative sources or long held truths by the world's wisdom traditions.)
- Foolish claims that meaning, or living with purpose, is illusory and not worth the effort and to simply live for today and its pleasures is all we can do.
Things to avoid in religious approaches to meaning
- Institutions that claim that they are the only entities possessing the Truth and therefore exclusively capable of describing and giving the gift of meaning.
- Institutions, religions and belief systems that teach and impose a lifestyle or cultural conformity in order to achieve a life meaning. (Examples of this is: having compulsory obedience to obscure rules, praying, meditating, what to eat and not, blind obedience to authority, believing only in one institutions interpretation of a book or sacred teaching, he mandatory giving of income and resources along with a host of other activities that are typical of religions.)
- Making unqualified, vague references without support from observation, experience and authoritative sources such as science.
- Making unqualified, out of context and unnecessary scriptural references no matter how nice they sound.
What to avoid in atheistic approaches
- far-fetched interpretations and applications of scientific theory and discovery that 'prove' there is nothing but what we see and touch
- Arguments that negate the reality of consciousness as equally real as any other process or law in the observable universe.
- Paradigms that ignore the the importance of the characteristics and qualities of human consciousness and avoid the fine-tuned and principled evolution of creation leading to the miracle of life.
- Approaches that identify the great wisdom traditions as nothing more than illusion and reduce man's search for meaning as a mere mis-firing of brain chemistry.