Bonzer Words!: Does Life Need A Purpose?
"I think it helps to feel that there is a purpose, or a direction, in life, even if such a concept is purely a construct of the human consciousness phenomenon. We are stuck with existence and a necessarily impartial life force and we may as well learn that it is only going to be bearable if we inject compassion into it,'' says Christina Ratcliffe.
Christina writes for Bonzer! magazine. Visit www.bonzer.org.au
I don't pretend to have the answer to the question of purpose, but—does it really matter? We can already envisage the best human being, the one that would be most godlike, making the most beneficial decisions for the whole planet. We can choose to fulfil that potential; it is within our reach. There could be no more sublime purpose than that, and it does not take a God 'out there' to suggest it to us. We know it instinctively. It is the essence of Being, the 'knowing' that mystics seek, and those who find it say it is unselfish.
But since individuals will never totally agree on universal values, we have to live by our individual principles, and these are the result of insight and education and our parents' attitudes. (Have you read Abraham Maslow's The Third Force? He says the people we regard as noble—'good human specimens'—tend to agree on what's important in life.)
I think it helps to feel that there is a purpose, or a direction, in life, even if such a concept is purely a construct of the human consciousness phenomenon. We are stuck with existence and a necessarily impartial life force and we may as well learn that it is only going to be bearable if we inject compassion into it. Life must consume itself in order to go on living, like the snake that eats its tail. We just have to choose the right value for each occasion and decide what we are willing to sacrifice to a higher good, all along the way. There will be constant tests and terrors on the threshold.
It could be that we are willing to sacrifice the self indulgence of war and turn our attention to the betterment of the whole human race, producing and distributing globally and fairly the abundant food that this planet can sustain.
It could be that we sacrifice our time in front of the tv and learn who are our local government representatives and let them know what we expect of them for our votes. And slowly turn the tide of evolution.
Let's get on with the obvious missions and purposes we can see in front of us, "you in your small corner and I in mine". First, love the children. Honour the elders. Believe in our own uniqueness and ability as we do in other's.
That cannot possibly be out of synch with a so-called divine purpose. If there is such a larger purpose for our being born as humans on this planet— or for being any lifeform anywhere if there is a universal plan—it will play itself out sooner or later in the increasingly wise choices we make.
But the litmus test is this: If you can imagine that on your deathbed you might still look back and say "I wish I had done that" then you know what you should be doing right now. Go to it!”
