No one plans on living a life devoid of meaning and purpose, but it often happens by default.
We’re so busy living life day-to-day; the most important issues often slip right past us. Or we may find that life’s unpredictable circumstances have knocked us off course. More often than not, we don’t understand what meaning and purpose are, so we can’t find them.
In Western society, meaning and purpose are almost exclusively tied to the work we do. It’s assumed that each of us have a special “calling” to do a particular type of work. It may be brain surgery, raising a family, composing music or bussing tables, but we’re taught that we’ll find enduring happiness, meaning and purpose in the correct work. We won’t argue with the fact that a great deal of satisfaction comes from doing work you feel passionate about. However, this particular road has its share of potholes.
A large percentage of the population never discovers what their passion is. Some of us bounce from one thing to the next hoping in vain something will “click.” Circumstances or finances may keep others from exploring their interests or following their dreams. Some do find the work they’re passionate about, but can’t get the education or the “breaks” they need to continue. Others do get to do the work they love only to have illness or catastrophe end their career. If you believe meaning and purpose are tied to your work, it’s common to conclude that you’re nothing without it.
Many feel certain that the true meaning and purpose of life involves service to others. It doesn’t matter whether we dedicate ourselves to helping people, animals or the planet, just so we give of ourselves. We wholeheartedly agree that service is a worthy and satisfying way to use our lives, and there’s certainly no lack of work that needs to be done. The good we do can make a real difference in the lives of those we’re able to help, but even service leaves us with some gritty questions about meaning and purpose.
If a life of service gives meaning and purpose to those who are helping others, what about those who need assistance? Is their 
meaning supposed to be found in receiving, or do they just lose out on meaning and purpose this lifetime? Since service is based on need, someone has to suffer if someone else is going to serve. Are we all supposed to learn something from the interaction? If that’s the case, there are more problems to solve. Most of us have come to accept suffering as a fact of life, but we could help but wonder if life is supposed to be a constant cycle of service and suffering. Are we supposed to find meaning and purpose in suffering?
As we looked at the question, we noticed something odd. Usually our results are in proportion to our efforts, but in the area of service, that doesn’t seem to be the case. Considering the great humanitarian efforts that are being made around the globe, it seems reasonable to think that suffering would eventually decrease. This should especially be true since we have scientific and technological advancements to help us win the war against disease, hunger and poverty. Sadly, it appears that the more effort we throw at problems, the bigger they get or new ones take their place.
We’re certainly not saying that humanitarian efforts aren’t a positive force in the world, but there has to be a reason why they aren’t having more of an impact. Most religions claim they can answer this question. They teach that suffering is part of God’s plan. When humans fell from grace God cursed them with suffering, and our love of God continues to be tested through suffering. Our purpose is to please God with worship and obedience and meaning is found in good works. We feel certain that we’re not the only ones who find this answer unsatisfying. If religionists are right, it means that suffering will continue no matter how hard people work to alleviate it. And ironically, this plan expects us to willingly (and happily) worship and obey the one who causes and allows the suffering!
Meaning and purpose are often tied to life’s big questions: “Why am I here?” and “What is the meaning of life?” Science regularly asks these questions; could we find the answers we’re looking for here? Sadly, science has, if anything, taken meaning a purpose out of life. The theory of evolution tells us that life is random and without purpose. The field of Evolutionary psychology claims that we are little more than “moral animals” that are prisoners of biological drives that originated in prehistoric times. It’s little wonder that a large percentage of the population would rather pursue pleasure than a seemingly hopeless search for meaning and purpose.
In contrast, spiritual masters have taken the questions “Why am I here?” and “What is the meaning of life?” very seriously. As a result, they have a very different view of meaning and purpose. They don’t connect meaning and purpose with anything that’s taking place in the visible world. Like quantum physicists, they realize that life in the material world is a virtual reality, a dream that’s projected from pure consciousness that exists at the quantum level of the universe. They know that we’re not the bodies we pretend to be and the suffering that appears to be taking place is no more real than a nightmare.
Spiritual masters also realize that the misery we project will continue as long as we want to keep dreaming. The virtual world we project is based on our desire to live outside universal oneness. In reality that can’t be done, but we can dream a world where separation and specialness serve as the flawed foundation. In this dualistic system, suffering will continue no matter how many humanitarian efforts are made.
Ultimate Reality allows us to continue projecting virtual reality only because no real harm is taking place. We can continue this charade as long as we want, but the only way to end the cycle of suffering we project is a return to the equality of oneness that exists in reality. For spiritual masters, real meaning can only be found in our natural state as spiritual beings of pure consciousness.
Our current purpose lies in waking up from the dream of virtual reality. Virtual reality can offer us a “sense” of meaning and purpose when we do work we love or serve others, but it’ just a shadow of reality. Fulfilling our current purpose of waking up will return us to our true and satisfying purpose as creators and beings of infinite love. Then we’ll understand the true meaning of life.
Copyright © 2011 Lee and Steven Hager