Meaning?

[ethics]

Can someone explain to me why we, human beings, suffer through disease, poverty, starvation, war, injustices, unfairness in life, through years of it, and in the meantime acquiring great knowledge and wisdom only to die and have it vanish with us?

I am serious here. What is the #@#@ purpose?

[jamming]

That is why we must pass knowledge on to others and listen to those who have gone before.

[ethics]

Originally posted by jamming
That is why we must pass knowledge on to others and listen to those who have gone before.

Is that all, to pass info from one another?

Not directed at you, Jim, just thinking out loud.

[BigDeputyDog]

If we were to live forever, would we be so intent on making advances in medicine, technology, etc?? If you knew that you were invincible, would you be as careful and loving as you are now??

Perhaps we are on this earth to learn and to teach... With every generation comes new discoveries, new horizons crossed...

Perhaps we are on this earth such a short time to give reason and meaning to life...

I don't know... I don't have the answers...

BDD... :{)

[ethics]

Originally posted by BigDeputyDog
If we were to live forever, would we be so intent on making advances in medicine, technology, etc?? If you knew that you were invincible, would you be as careful and loving as you are now??


You know, I've asked this question a million times and no one ever scratched a brilliant point above.

[ShinyTop]

In Heinlein's long life books the Howards adopted relationships knowing they would be temporary (as in decades) because of the inevitability of growth and growing apart.

[Frodo Lives]

Ok, ethics, maybe I can help. This is how I see life. The spirit life, after life, or what ever you want to call it, is like a blank canvas. You make it how you want. However, to do this you need something to build on. That’s what life is, an barrage of infinite random possibilities. You store the memory of these experiences in you sub-conscious mind (or soul, if you will). Every sight, touch, taste, sound, smell, the good and bad, are remembered. The friends, the enemies, the loved ones.

Then when this mortal life is over, you use those memories to create your afterlife. You know what you like and what you don't like from your experiences in life. So like an artist that using a picture or a model, you paint your world.

You will live many times, each time gaining more new experiences to build on. Kind of like an expansion pack for a game. ;)

As for the bad things in life, I am not sure but I guess that the light shines brightest when it is the darkest.

[ethics]

That was beautiful, Frodo.

[Allene]

A difficult question to answer, Leon. If we can stop staring with regret at the door that just shut and, instead, open the other door, we will become stronger and better people. I don't think it all disappears when we die. We leave behind an example that lives on in the memories of our family and friends.

Adversity also teaches us to appreciate the good times in our lives. I remember an especially rough patch in my life when I was about 28 years old. I knew I'd finally recovered from that period while walking down a street in Boston. Suddenly I couldn't believe how beautiful the world looked. The grass was greener than I'd ever seen it in my life, and the flowers were just magnificent! :) About 20 years later, I came across a passage in <I>The Year of Living Dangerously</I> (the book--not the movie) in which the character played by Mel Gibson in the movie had just survived a mob attack on his car. He described the same phenomenon of heightened sensory appreciation for the world around him.

Allene

[jamming]

Originally posted by ethics
Is that all, to pass info from one another?

Not directed at you, Jim, just thinking out loud.

Nope, but it is a major reason and you know what I wonder about what will the future think of this medium we created here as part of this Internet. When data-mining techniques are perfected, will what we say on the Internet now speak to future generations. Look at this place from a Historian's viewpoint, here is a place where people discussed the everyday issues. They can understand them better by what they posted about their personal issues. The Historian of the Future will love this place if it is preserved for them. What we say here could become the foundation for understanding the issues of our time or not.

There are many reasons for life, some are scientific and some are just based upon faith. Life is about the struggle and journey, but the meaning has to be determined by the individual. We can share our own meanings, which is my belief about Christ's Mininstry, but each person decides for themselves. I can not give you a meaning, but I can assure you there is one. What it is, I only know through faith, which is not a gift I can give you.

People talk about belief, if you believe you can't do something, as long as you believe that you cannot. Belief and faith hold power that can change the world for the better, but like any tool it can be used for evil. Faith and Belief are very powerful tools. Most of the time when I talk to people about Christianity, here included they talk about things the Church has done negatively, as it excuses their opinion of the Church.

Most of the people that I see that discuss Christianity on a personal level, realize that a Christian is not the Church. There is a strength in the Christian message, just as other messages from other sources. Don't throw out the Baby, with the Bath Water. I also cannot stomach many of the things a Church says or stands for, but my Christian Faith is not based on anything but a personal relationship between my deity and me.

In that relationship with my deity I know I am loved as a child is by the best parent which ever existed. Why as a parent and child, it is the closes analogy to the Infinite and the Finite. The infinite loves you and is involved with your daily struggles, that is where my faith comes from and my view of my meaning to life.
Your milage may vary. :angel: ;)

[ethics]

Great answers so far, everyone.

Many have already mentioned the afterlife. What if, if I can be a very sadist cynic, there is no afterlife? I know it's MUCH harder to live believing this, but what if?

And Allene, I used to think about life being that you passed on your legacy, no matter what they were to your kids and family. I agree with that until I realize that everyone in my family who is passed three to four generations back are already forgotten. There are no pictures, videos, or memos. Just... well, just us.

Believe me, my intent is not to depress anyone, but sort of knock a few ideas back and forth.

So far, this is a great thread. :)

[Allene]

Leon,

I think there is an afterlife, but if I'm wrong . . . well it'll be too late to worry about it by then.

You could always start working on your family history. Then future generations will have something by which to remember you and your family. I am the genealogist in my family--a daunting task as they all came from Scotland to Cape Breton Island during the Highland Clearances, well before Scotland started keeping good records.

Here is a quotation that I plan to include in my family history:

<I>Remember me in the family tree--
My name, my days, my strife;
Then I'll ride upon the wings of time
And live an endless life.---Goetsch</I>

[midranger4]

We humans are insignificant little creatures in the grand scheme of things I suspect.

We do however fancy ourselves the center of the universe in many ways. I personally find such a mentality quite humorous.

What is our purpose here? Every individual has been given the gift of life, and has opportunities throughout their life to either *give* or *take*.

It is the choices we make in these situations that define our character. Karma and fate take over at that point :)

Some people actually believe that this life IS hell and is a form of punishment for screwing up in a previous existence.

I'm not so sure I buy into the whole re-incarnation deal. If re-incarnation is a reality and I were the almighty one I would be sure everyone came back as the thing they discriminated against or persecuted the most in their previous life.

That would assure Haywire comes back gay, Ken comes back as an ultra right wing conservative, etc, etc. :)

Me? My guess is I got a lock on coming back as a politician or lawyer because I hate most of them with a passion (Yaz is an obvious exception and the first lawyer I've come to know that I respect.)

I'm unsure if I answered your query in any way but what the hell right?

[Perry Stroika]

To live is not enough?

Many people say life is hell. I think it is heaven which is why we strive for living not dying.

[Steve]

I submit to you that those who "suffer through disease, poverty, starvation, war, injustices, unfairness in life" do not learn anything and acquire no knowledge or wisdom to pass on to anyone. They are, sadly, no better off than the dumb and mute beasts in the fields, doomed to be born, to live short lives, to breed, so that the cycle will repeat.

Only within selected cultures, in certain places, at particular times, are any of us fortunate enough to rise above the level of lowliest of apes. Civilization may be grown upon the backs of the common folk. Its growth is directed, though, by those who have been born into circumstances better than "common".

If there can be said to be any purpose to this, it is only the accidental purpose created by the desire of those "with" to keep what they have and pass it on, even at the expense of those "without".

Put another way, God is not overly concerned with individuals, or even civilizations. We are on our own in most respects.

[-Ken]

Ok Ethics,

Let's assume life is just that, life. There is no afterlife and there is nothing afterward.

Why would there have to be a point? Why does man always assume things are done for a reason? Is there a need for this reassurance?

Then what we define for our goals and aspirations sets the course we choose and for the most part the rewards we receive.

A harder question to answer is what do we as individuals want. What will make us happy? How do we find this critical answer?

We are granted a limited time here. Most of us think the time is too short and will fight like hell to make it longer. This is not right either in my opinion. I am not suggesting giving up but that acceptance of what will be is better that making our last bit of time here a disappointment.

Is there an afterlife? I'll worry about that when I am faced with the challenge. The reality is we need to make this life whatever we think it should be within the boundaries of what we define it to be.

What is wealth without love? Is it more important to acquire a fortune and not have true love in your life? What kind of a life would it be to have the finest food and no ability to taste it? What kind of life would it be to never have to worry about money but never be able to laugh? Each of us must choose what makes us happy.

I wish you all luck!
If I ever find the right combination I will be glad to share it.

Great topic, by the way!

[bruzzes]

I often wonder why do we dream?
Where do we go when we dream?
How is when a man is an invalid in this life, he dreams of running with reckless abandon, never tiring, forever youthful.

Why are we curious?
Why do we search for answers to questions that explains who we are and why we are here?

Why do we ask, if there is a God,... then why war, old age and disease...?

Who put these questions in our mind?

Why is there Love and why is there Beauty and why is true beauty an inner beauty manifest only to the inner self?

I wonder why we can believe in an abstract when most can relate only to the concrete.

Why are lessons taught and if not heeded, why must those lessons be experianced before we learn?

What is the purpose of these lessons if we take them to our grave and become no more?

Perhaps this life we live is akin to a school house where all manner of children attend regardless of age, religion, color or creed. Each has their special need and it's attainment is flavored by past, present and future perspectives derived by parenting, ideas and past experiances learned and unlearned.

What is common in all mankind?

We have bodies, minds and some say souls...


Many different bodies, many different minds but perhaps really only one soul.

If so, what would be the common attribute of that one soul?

That one soul must encompass all those different minds and bodies and being one cannot be divided for that would lessen it.

Is soul the measure of man?

Many questions to ask and perhaps many answers to be given.
Maybe our purpose IS to ask those questions and search for those answers each in our own way gathering different flavors to blend into a whole.

Maybe that in itself is the purpose of life.

As for an afterlife...look around you, nothing is ever lost. Transformed perhaps but never lost. Oil was once plants and living material, planets may come and go broken into bits and pieces and re-formed to become whole again or converted into a different form of energy. Even mind itself, if James is to be believed, form a huge universal super-conscienceness where ideas may be found.

How awesome is the MIGHT behind all these questions!

Sometimes I wonder if the answers pale into insignificance from the power of the source...

[jamming]

Actually, Stevant I disagree. God is innately concerned with the individual, each one to the number of the hairs on their head. How that concern is understood by us (the finite) is what we don't understand, but to the infinite it all fits together. If even Chaos has a pattern, Chaos Theory, how can it be otherwise?

[btdude]

Originally posted by jamming
That is why we must pass knowledge on to others and listen to those who have gone before.

I second what jamming says. We spend our lives from cradle to grave grasping for knowledge. Some, like myself choose to attain that higher level of knowledge in helping others along the way. Sometimes sharing that knowledge has costs attached to it that a person cannot really see. A person shares with the instinct I think) to help others. I find great benefit in listening and learning from older, wiser people and even animals. I find wisdom in children, becasue they really have no reason to lie, they tell it like it is to them. I am a deeply compassionate guy that tries to see a side of people that is inherantly good. That does not always work out, however, as can be seen in here, and in life. The reward comes along the way before we hit the earth in our final mortal stand. The key is that along that journey, we must stop and look aroud us, and be humble, be thankful, and find peace in the notion that we do not know everything, and that each person can teach us something, if we are willing to listen to them.

[jfcjrus]

Originally posted by ethics
Many have already mentioned the afterlife. What if, if I can be a very sadist cynic, there is no afterlife? I know it's MUCH harder to live believing this, but what if?
I, for one, tend to believe just this.
Sure, I don't KNOW it. I can't prove it.
But, neither have I found anyone that can prove otherwise.
And, I don't think it's MUCH harder living this way, at all.

I try to live life as if this is all there is.
I try to enjoy, and appreciate, the good parts of any relationship.
I marvel at the natural world around me.
I try not to intrude on anyone (anything) else trying to do the same.
I try to ignore the daily pissing contests in the news.

This is not easy;
I voice my opinion...
I sometimes get involved...
I sometimes get rowdy...
But, I often wonder, in this 'question of life', if it's just background noise.

And, I'm having a pretty good time.

Make no mistake. If there's something beyond this, I'd be one happy camper.
But, meanwhile.....

Regards,

[ShinyTop]

What he said. The few times I have wondered if I was about to leave this world I remember the sense of anticipation at finding out what was beyond with hope while really not expecting anything.

There are those that think you must believe in a life after death to remain a decent human. I am glad that those people have their beliefs to hold them in line. I remain what level of decent person I am because I have to look at myself in the mirror and I have to set an example for my children til the day I die.

[Copzilla]

I think there is more to it. I think there has to be, because of just how incredible it all is. To call it all a big cosmic fluke is a bit too much of a stretch for me.

Now how it all plays together, I don't know. I think there's an awful lot more that we don't know than we do. I believe there probably is an afterlife, and a lot like Frodo described.

[Allene]

As I wrote in the other thread on faith, I think there is an afterlife; I feel strongly that there is something else out there beyond our physical world, but I don't pretend to be an expert on it. Shiny Top mentioned that some people think you have to believe in an afterlife to be a decent person. The September 11 hijackers certainly believed in an afterlife, yet their behavior was hardly what most of us would call decent. I don't feel superior to those who don't believe in what I believe in.

Allene

[Misu]

Originally posted by ethics
Can someone explain to me why we, human beings, suffer through disease, poverty, starvation, war, injustices, unfairness in life, through years of it, and in the meantime acquiring great knowledge and wisdom only to die and have it vanish with us?

I am serious here. What is the #@#@ purpose?

Maybe it doesn't vanish. Maybe we don't vanish. Honestly, who really knows what happens when our time comes?

[Paladin]

Why must there be meaning? Why can we not be simply momentary sparks in the blackness of the universe?

I enjoy life. I like to share small joys with others. I help others and others help me. Eventually I will die and make room for others to follow, just as I have followed those who have gone before.

I do not need to think that I am a cog in some God's master plan. IMHO, *that* would make my life meaningless.

[IamZed]

Those who are ignorant of the past are doomed to repeat it. We did not evolve in a world of books. Before them the young gathered around the elderly to gain the knowledge they had gleaned from life, but as importantly to have any history at all. You live thru suffering because you might perchance observe something useful and live to tell the tale. We are not designed to live in the world we live in. Our true purpose is to add to the strength of small tribes that no longer exist.

[ethics]

Originally posted by IamZed
You live thru suffering because Our true purpose is to add to the strength of small tribes that no longer exist. Interesting statemnet. Why would something need strength if it no longer exists. Philosophically speaking, of course.

[ditch]

Originally posted by stevent
I submit to you that those who "suffer through disease, poverty, starvation, war, injustices, unfairness in life" do not learn anything and acquire no knowledge or wisdom to pass on to anyone. They are, sadly, no better off than the dumb and mute beasts in the fields, doomed to be born, to live short lives, to breed, so that the cycle will repeat.

Only within selected cultures, in certain places, at particular times, are any of us fortunate enough to rise above the level of lowliest of apes. Civilization may be grown upon the backs of the common folk. Its growth is directed, though, by those who have been born into circumstances better than "common".

If there can be said to be any purpose to this, it is only the accidental purpose created by the desire of those "with" to keep what they have and pass it on, even at the expense of those "without".

Put another way, God is not overly concerned with individuals, or even civilizations. We are on our own in most respects.


I believe that you summed it up pretty well there Steven. The fact that some civilisations remain unchanged for thousands of years before being "discovered" testifies to the truth of what you say. It's the sort of theory that is unpalatable to some people as it implies superiority to certain cultures and has racial overtones. But stating what is probably true cannot be racism which relies on prejudice for its existence.
So I believe that your question ethics, applies to some cultural groups more than others. Some cultures do advance and learn while others tread water or vanish.

[Jedi Writer]

Originally posted by ethics
<b>(1)</b> Can someone explain to me why we, human beings, suffer through disease, poverty, starvation, war, injustices, unfairness in life, through years of it,

<b>(2)</b> and in the meantime acquiring great knowledge and wisdom only to die and have it vanish with us?

I want to try and answer your question but am not sure I understand it so I broke it down with the numbers.

Number one is clearly a self-explanatory question.

Number two confuses me as I am not sure what exactly you are asking and what its meaning or relevancy is to number one.

Not picking on you. I just want to be clear.

Are you asking one questio or two?

[ethics]

One question.

[Domh]

Originally posted by ethics
Can someone explain to me why we suffer through disease, poverty, starvation, war and injustice - acquiring great knowledge and wisdom only to die and have it vanish with us?

What is the purpose?
Your pain is the breaking of the shell that encloses your understanding.

Even as the stone of the fruit must break, that its heart may stand in the sun, so must you know pain.

And could you keep your heart in wonder at the daily miracles of your life, your pain would not seem less wondrous than your joy;

And you would accept the seasons of your heart, even as you have always accepted the seasons that pass over your fields.

And you would watch with serenity through the winters of your grief.

For what is it to die but to stand naked in the wind and to melt into the sun?

And what is to cease breathing, but to free the breath from its restless tides, that it may rise and expand and seek God unencumbered?

Only when you drink from the river of silence shall you indeed sing.

;)

[Steve]

Domhain, please tell us where you got that from. And if it's original, please refer us to some of the works you've authored!

[Domh]

Heheh - Im relieved its obvious that I have neither the talent nor the latent wisdom for such brilliance.

It is the work of Kahlil Gibran, from his text 'The Prophet', which is by far the most important book in my life, and in my opinion is the greatest single text in history.

It is the 'bible' to which I turn.

The sections above are quotes from Gibrans chapters on pain and on death.

For those of you who are unfamiliar, do yourself a favor and read it, then buy a copy and keep it near.

The entire text is online here:
http://www.cc.columbia.edu/~gm84/gibtable.html

;)

[Steve]

I have that book, and am sorry now I've only browsed through it. I will open it tonight and read through it. Thanks!

[IamZed]

Originally posted by ethics
Interesting statemnet. Why would something need strength if it no longer exists. Philosophically speaking, of course. We do as designed. The design changes slowly to adapt us to our surroundings. Slowly being the key word. Society is riding a rocket now and we will never be able to keep up genetically with a world of our creation. We will forever be fit for the past only.

[jfcjrus]

Originally posted by Domhain
Your pain is the breaking of the shell that encloses your understanding.

Even as the stone of the fruit must break, that its heart may stand in the sun, so must you know pain.

And could you keep your heart in wonder at the daily miracles of your life, your pain would not seem less wondrous than your joy;

And you would accept the seasons of your heart, even as you have always accepted the seasons that pass over your fields.

And you would watch with serenity through the winters of your grief.

For what is it to die but to stand naked in the wind and to melt into the sun?

And what is to cease breathing, but to free the breath from its restless tides, that it may rise and expand and seek God unencumbered?

Only when you drink from the river of silence shall you indeed sing.

;)
OK, here's where I make a total ass of myself.
I really loved this post.
I loved the poetic, philosophical nature of the quotes.
It gave me pause to contemplate the meaning of life & death.

But, having done so, I now have to ask you folks, that consider these words meaningful;
What the heck is he talking about?

I must know pain to understand joy?
(no big revelation there)
I must die (cease breathing) to expand, and seek God? (to rise above this life?) A bit relying on blind faith, eh?

I ask, exactly how would my reading this wonderful prose convince me that there is something beyond this life? It sounds like a good book for those that already believe. Is it definative enough to convince me?

Just a question. No offense meant.
I already mentioned that I'm an ass.
But, I truly do seek the enlightnment, that many of you seem to have embraced.
I just haven't found it yet.

Regards,

[Steve]

Interesting points. I see where you're coming from, but I disagree.

We mastered our physical environment long ago. The need to evolve for survival no longer plays a significant role in our development as a species, although evolution will continue.

The changes you so aptly characterize as "riding a rocket" have all been brought about, ultimately, by the power of our mind, our intelligence. Anything we can create with our minds, we can adapt to, using that same tool.

As an example, I offer up the mundane task of driving an automobile. We clearly did not evolve with the necessary skills and instincts to travel at 70 mph in a sitting position. Yet, our brains are powerful enough that we quite readily adapt to that very situation, at relatively young ages, too.

The danger as I see it is not that we won't be able to adapt, but that perhaps we will adapt inadequately or too slowly, resulting in a huge reduction in population.

[IamZed]

Cars we adapt to our limitations. We didn’t evolve the talent to drive at 70 mph. We do only that that we can. We had the same mental power a thousand years ago we have today. That’s why we are where we are at now. Better living conditions have made us healthier and taller but if you go back a thousand years and grab a baby and return it will grow taller than it’s parents, be healthy, and live as long as you or I and be capable of driving a car or being an astronaut.
We don’t build apparatus that require more limbs than we have to operate. If we did it would take a million years to use one. We design only what our bodies can use today. No miracles, and no adaptation of body have accrued lately.
If it were possible to change ourselves at will we would. It is not. We are fit for the past.

[HaYwIrE]

Why is it so hard for some people to grasp the concept that their is, perhaps, no meaning to life?

Why can we not be but a single atom or molecule of an atom within trillions of decillions of other atoms or molecules that make up the whole a vast entity so large it is beyond human comprehension? How do we know that atoms and molecules within our bodies are not asking the same question you and I are?

We are, in my opinion, nothing more than a small grain of sand in a universe teaming with life. When I say "we", I am refering to humanity as a whole and not just each individual.

[HaYwIrE]

Originally posted by stevent
We mastered our physical environment long ago. The need to evolve for survival no longer plays a significant role in our development as a species, although evolution will continue.C'mon Stevent... That one is so full of holes it's almost laughable.

We, by no means, have mastered our own environment, my friend. We are destroying it at an increasingly exponential rate. We strive for more technology to appease us and our comfort while ignoring the fact that we are killing off hundreds of other species at the rate of hundreds per day. We haven't even scratched the surface of the ocean floors and other species that exist. New ones are found every single day.

We certainly do need to evolve much more than we have for our own survival. Many of us just don't see the tragedies lying ahead of us due to our own greed and lust for that comfort I spoke of.

We are but embroys in the universe of life. We've been around for what... 60,000 years? What is that?? And you think we're masters of <b>ANY</b>thing?? :huh:

The masters of our own destruction perhaps. But absolutely nothing more than that.

PS: I've gotta get the Hell outa this forum. I'm almost starting to sound like a... a... a L... L... Lib... Liber... <small>(GOD THIS HURTS)</small> a <b>LIBERAL!</b> :cry:

[Steve]

The fact that we're capable of destroying our environment seems proof enough to me that we've mastered it.

[HaYwIrE]

Then we see that differently. I consider something to be mastered when one achieves productive results with any given subject and harnesses it's capabilities...

... <b>without</b> destroying it.

[Steve]

That is one meaning of the word "mastered", yes.

[Violet1966]

Wow this one got deep. I tend to be a very spiritual person myself but don't take the spiritual route in answering this. I think it's all logical. We have to evolve as a species. We learn things like how to make fire. We learn down the line that fire burns. We learn down the line how to heal the wounds from fire, the best we can. We're just evolving as a species and the pain and all that is involved, is a learning process.

Now about why this happens and then we die? Well an old partying friend once said something very wise to me in my early teens and it still forever sticks in my mind. "Life's a bitch and then you die". It's as simple as that ;)

<small><strike>see my sig.</strike> (Oops edit...not sig but the usertitle. LOL Carpe diem.) I live by it. I am sure there's something else other then this plane we live on, but while I'm here I'm worrying about here. When I get there, I'll give it more thought ;) LOL </small>

[bruzzes]

I first read the Prophet over 30 years ago. One naturally gravitates to the books that bring them farther on the road they are traveling. Before I could understand the higher meaning behind the words, I had to learn the lessons that preceded them. One of the most important pre-requisite is a belief in a higher power. Not an external power but the realization that we ourselves are a small part of that power. The power of God himself resides in us all. Of course, to reach that power within one must remove the layers that block the radiance. Those layers can be called by various names, ego, personality, desire, needs and wants, etc.

Not many people are willing to take this arduous step and therefore remain non-believers. For some it is a choice, for others they have yet to learn the preceding lessons necessary to comprehend it's meaning. We all learn incrementally.

An analogy could be the knowledge learned to put together a working computer. Each lesson must build upon the preceding lesson. To comprehend a chemistry book, one must start from the first page. To pick up a book and open it to the middle and expect to skip the basic progression is sheer folly.

So it is with poetry and parables.

For those of a Christian background the parables of Christ have hidden meanings.

For those who can understand only the simple concept as stated will receive only the simple concept. Take the Prodigal son parable.

It seems simple enough as stated. A son gets mad at his father and goes his own way, learning in the process the trials and tribulations that life is heir too. Remembering the warm fire and great food at his fathers table, his ego finaly "refined" returns home to his father a wiser man.

Is there a "hidden" secret in that parable? Let us see...

Picture the father as God and the wandering son as the soul. The father did not drive the soul out. The soul seperated itself from God as the son seperated himself from the father. The soul, thinking itself better than the whole must go through the trials and tribulations of life to "learn" how the distance (layers) have diminished him. Finally the way becomes clear to him. All he must do is to return to his father to become whole again.

Can we see how this is like life itself? We search for fame, desire and success and yet find obstacles littered in our path. Sometimes we actually get what we desire in all it's fullness only to get sated and realize it's importance is lacking in fullfillment.
After many starts and stops we slowly realize that in all our self-important individuality the the most precious of all gifts can only be attained by releasing all those desires and return to the source.

Life is full of these little lessons.
To know joy one must know despair. For without those two values, neither one would exist.

This is how I see life. Is it the only way to see life?
Of course not. As the hindus say as many paths are the paths to God.