JA: If we are spirits, what is our life purpose?
MrOWO: We are special in not only that we are different from all other beings on earth but we have this brilliant faculty of the mind which enables us to perceive the world through our senses and mind. We are able to rationalise and to improve ourselves. We have with us a sense of consciousness of right and wrong.
So we can perceive, conceive and take actions in our lives. Some actions taken are kind while others are selfish. It is obvious that loving kindness actions are the most respected. But all people are not capable of such deeds for most of the time.
It is possible to move closer to that noble and admired state of selflessness. But it takes a lot of awareness, insight and understanding. We have to evolve our consciousness to a higher level. That is our purpose in life. It is a spiritual answer to what might seem to be an earthly question.
We are given the opportunity on earth through our bodies and experiences to evolve our consciousness so that we can move towards a complete revelation of pure consciousness.
JA: Someone once told me that there is no answer to the question of “what is our life purpose” and gave me a response like “It is not for us to question but to just live our life.”
MrOWO: You are endowed with a mind to think and an intellect to rationalise. You would be in dereliction of the duty and responsibility to yourself if you fail to use both the mental faculties and higher intuitions made available to you. Strange that we would spend so much time questioning our daily tasks from work to studies but willingly accept the views of some other as the authority on this all important subject of purpose and meaning of life.
JA: You appear to be right there. Bertrand Russell, a British philosopher once said ” A life unexamined is a life not worth living”. But before you go on, perhaps you can let me know why I should accept your answer to be the more truthful one than the so many which I have heard before. You are after all asking me to question the source and authority of all things said!
MrOWO: I am very happy to hear that. Now you are thinking. Use your intellect to establish if all that you hear makes intuitive sense to you. That the reason or rationale given seem plausible. That whether it asks you to just believe or trust when your further questioning does not reveal any more logical answers. Even if it seems intuitively logical don’t accept it as gospel truth. Always take the opportunity to verify and cross check it whenever the opportunity arises. Ask the wise and read more. For as long as you can’t find something else more satisfactory, adopt the model which seems rational and that you are reasonably satisfied with until something else which is more enlightening comes along.
JA: OK, how then should I live my life?
MrOWO: We are all WIP or ‘Work In Progress”. I say that because it is quite obvious that if we are truthful to ourselves when we examine ourselves I am sure there are many aspects of ourselves which needs to be fixing. We might have our bad temperament, envy, selfishness, etc. All these are negative facets which we have to work at in eliminating from personality. See even the old is none the wiser after having lead a long life. It is as if one had lived a life for something which ultimately has no relevance to the ultimate purpose.
JA: No one is perfect. Why do we really need to be bothered about getting to so called ‘perfection’?
MrOWO: Certainly, to live and die with our own imperfections appears to be a easier thing to do then to strive for perfection. But let me get this clear, I am not asking you to be perfect. I am saying you have to realise yourself. It means seeing beyond the physical body and mind. You can choose to identify with the emotions of your mind but is that going to make you a happy person. You will be riding the roller coaster of emotions. Elated one day and desponded another. Be angry and greedy one day and regretting your inconsiderate actions another day. Ask yourself what is that you will be satisfied with when you finally call it a day of your life here on earth. Start with the end to find out the direction you should be walking today. Why don’t you tell me how you like your ‘In Memoriam’ written and read by others?
JA: Now you want to talk about death!! I thought we were just having a discussion on life and its purpose. I am not exactly an old man yet so death is the last thing on my mind.
MrOWO: All the more reason you should be asking yourself life questions and taking whatever time you have right now to find out the answers. And when you have found some reasonably good answers for your life purpose, use your remaining life to live that purpose. Seek now while you still have the faculties of thought, sight and mobility. So coming back to death, it is an inevitability. We will discuss about death another time. Lets get to the end. You are in your last few breaths. What do you think would be on your mind? Unfinished work at the office? The wealth you have amassed?
JA: You got to be kidding. I will be thinking about my family and if I have still have a few more breaths left, maybe about what I have done with my life.
MrOWO: And these things, will it be about all the fun you had or places you have been? Or will it be about whether you have done good, brought joy to others. It might even be the opposite, the pain and suffering you have caused others. If you are not sure, just guess what your relatives and friends will be thinking at your memorial service. Do you think they will complementing you on your great passion for your collection of stamps, antiques or any other collectibles that you want to keep yourself busy. These are actually great distractions from enabling you to achieve life true purpose.
