Reviewing My Old Articles On Life Purpose

(photo credit)
I am a work in process. And blog is a realtime publishing. I write my truth, as I see it now, and post them here as I flow in life. This is fun, and I hope you are enjoying reading it, but there is also a risk — I may contradict what I wrote before.

With the realization of “The purpose of life is life itself,” I want to review my previous articles on life purpose. If I were only partially true (not because I was dishonest but because my understanding at that time was not as full as it is now), I’d like to give you updates. It’s also fun to see which part of me has stayed the same over the last three years.

It’s probably a rather boring post for you, so please feel free to skip if you must. I’m writing this mainly for my integrity.

Here is the summary of each article and my current thought about them, in chronological order:

True Life Purpose Goes Beyond The Illusion Of Self (March 2008)
Here, I am using the word “self” to mean the individual self, or the ego. And I wrote life purpose is the key to true happiness. I also wrote the true life purpose goes beyond the sense of self and connects us to others. I wrote it’s more than doing what you love, or following your bliss.

These days, I don’t see the line in me. Doing what I love and following my bliss is about connecting with others. Because we are all One. At the time of writing this article, I knew we were one, but my realization was limited. So my understanding was limited — everything I wrote is true, in one perspective, but wasn’t the whole truth.

Also, in this article, I valued the sense of direction life purpose provided. This is true — the sense of no purpose is extremely disturbing and I think many people try to numb this discomfort.

Since I got the “The purpose of life is life itself” and am releasing myself from the specific purpose I previously subscribed for, I do feel a bit disoriented. This is the area I am not completely sure about at this point. I’d like to think I can just sync with the natural flow of life (and I am not talking about Akemi’s life — I’m talking about the One Life that we are all part of) and therefore sync with the natural direction of life.

Having said this, this is a pretty good article. You might like to check it out.

I Have A Dream. . . (April 2008)
This is an article where I expressed my personal dream for the world, that everyone will realize their purposes. And I wrote this will save us from the inner emptiness and insecurities.

I just love how passionate I was about life purpose. I was in the early part of the journey when sincere passion for something mattered. Although my view has changed somewhat — and stayed the same in other aspects — I just love how I was. So I understand that if someone is enthusiastic about finding their purpose, that is great!

Embrace The Big Questions Worth Spending Your Life For (June 2008)
In this article, I first ridiculed the mass tendency to find answers quickly, even answers to big questions like, “What is the meaning of life?” This attitude disempowers you and steals joy and peace from you. The process matters just as much as the answers.

So I carried the question. . .

Living Your Life Purpose (Nov 2008)
Back then, I thought this was the definitive article on life purpose. I wrote, “In the most generalized level, we all come to live in the physical life form for one common purpose: to experience life in this physical world and to learn and grow through the experience.” I don’t believe in the “growing” any more, as I wrote in this article of spiritual growth paradox, but I also know seeking to grow is the phase we go through to realize there is no growth necessary.

The first part of the above statement is exactly what I am saying today. We are here to experience life.

In order for us to have various interesting experiences, each of us are made unique. I mean, think what it would be like if all of us looked the same, thought the same thoughts in the same way, felt the same, and acted the same. How can that help the Source, or the One Life, realize its wholeness and abundance? It’s like no one really exists. So expressing our unique gifts and strengths is another aspect of life purpose.

The article also discusses the life lessons each soul chooses. Life lesson is the core spiritual values we choose to learn prior to our incarnations. As you will see, part of my idea about life lesson has changed. I no longer believe learning the life lessons is the life purpose. Rather, it is like a preparation process so that we can experience life fully — which IS the purpose.

No More Life Lessons In The School Of Life (Feb 2009)
I wrote this article after I found Ascension soul shift. Learning life lessons is a major objective in life, but some of us are completing the old fashioned “learning” process, like graduating from school. This doesn’t mean we quit learning altogether, but it does mean the approach to life changes.

I wrote, “From here, we are completely free and our life purpose is simply to be who we are.” This is basically what I am saying now. Be who you are. Live your authentic self. Life’s purpose is life itself. “Do whatever comes to us naturally and joyously.”

How To Find Your Life Purpose Through Your Life Challenges (Feb 2009)
I wanted to help people find their life lessons. I also wanted them to know there is no need to be bitter about “negative” experiences in life. These were my motivation to write this article, which turned out to be very popular.

Whether the learning experience is a pleasant one or not (what I used to call positive / negative learning experiences), it is, after all, about experience. Our “being” and “doing” are not two separate things. We realize who we are, our being, through experiences, by doing. The two are dynamically connected.

As I wrote above, I no longer think learning the life lessons is the life purpose, but this article is helpful nonetheless if you are having hard time in life.

Soul’s Purpose For Incarnation (Sept 2009)
“ . . . is to enjoy this physical world”, I wrote. In other words, to experience the love and abundance in a tangible way, using our creative power. So it’s also about authentic self expression.

In effect, this is the same with my recent claim of “The purpose of life is life itself.” I guess, however, some people get the hang-up with the word “enjoy”, saying there are unenjoyable experiences in life.

Acceptance Is The Key To Peace And Joy (Nov 2010)

This is where I got the “secret” of unwavering peace and joy from my spirit guides. If peace and joy are important to you, and yet eluding to you, please check it out. The secret is acceptance — to accept all experiences without judgment.

Summing up
Life purpose is not about your job. Your job is included in the purpose, but they are not connected with equation mark. Nor is it about volunteer work or hobby. Again, they are included in the purpose, but not THE purpose.

When you are clear with who you are (and you are not your ego, who always want to attach meanings, stories, etc.), the purpose is really simple. It is in the Now.

My previous articles all point to the same direction, but “The purpose of life is life itself” is the simplest, and the most comprehensive truth I can think of now.

The Purpose Of Life Is Life Itself

When was the last time you did something just for the joy of it? Or not even for the joy, but just because?

Doing things for the benefits

I’ve noticed we do so many things for the benefits that are supposed to come with doing it. For instance, some people run because they want to lose weight or because they think running is good for health. Same with eating healthy. How many people drink green smoothie just because they love the taste and the feeling within them when they drink it? How many people run just because?

And many of us work to get the paychecks and the benefits, not because they like what they do.

This way of living is so ingrained in our mindset that we hardly stop and question it. And we constantly compare and evaluate things and people for the benefits they are supposed to bring.

Even enlightenment

Some people even approach enlightenment for the supposed benefits of it, like bliss (or the right to boast about their spiritual development).

This is absurd. At least when you define enlightenment as clear seeing, as seeing and accepting things as they are. How can this kind of clear seeing prevent people from having so-called negative emotions such as anger or sorrow? Judging something as “negative” is the very thing that left with enlightenment.

Of course, events that bother us keep happening with or without enlightenment. I mean, if it’s something that is caused by your judgments and distorted worldview, then you won’t have that any more with enlightenment. But enlightenment doesn’t prevent your spouse to cheat. Your kids may still get into trouble. Your loved one might die. And you yourself will still do silly things, small or large.

The only difference is, with enlightenment, you are kinda “okay” with everything. It’s a feeling that is hard to nail down with words. How can a spouse cheating on you is okay? Because you quit judging something as good or bad. So you recognize the event as “it just is”. He (or she) did such and such. That is what is happening, and you don’t repress your feelings nor attach stories around it, like “I should have been nicer to him,’” or “He is such a jerk, I wasted my time with him” or “Cheating is morally wrong.”

It just is. Period.

What’s wrong with the benefits?

Enough about enlightenment. As I wrote in the linked article, I don’t particularly like discussing enlightenment because there are way too many misbeliefs and (ironically) ego investment there. (Like, who is more enlightened, or what is the best way to get enlightened, kind of discussions.)

My point is we are so conditioned to seek benefits in all areas of our life that even enlightenment has become the means to an end.

And what’s wrong with the benefits, you may ask? Nothing is wrong with benefits themselves or receiving benefits. The problem is our attitude, or the mindset, of doing things as a way to get benefits.

Here are some of the issues when you live to get benefits:

1. We devalue the life experience
When we do things as a way to get benefits, we devalue the experience itself. When you run for the benefits of weight loss, the experience of running is devalued. You see it as a means to an end. It could really be any other form of exercise, and your heart is not in it.

When you work for the paychecks and benefits, you devalue your work. The work experience, in such a case, doesn’t matter. It really doesn’t have to be that job.

2. We forget the love for the experience
And when you devalue your life experience, you forget the love you may have had for it. It’s possible you actually love running — but got so overwhelmed with all the information of the various benefits of running that now you see running as a means to the end.

When you forget (or never had) the love for the doing, life’s unique experiences are treated like commodities, something you can comparison shop or trade.

3. We devalue the Now
And what do you plan to do with all the benefits you collect? See, when you live this way, your attention is not in the Now but in some future time. When we are focused on getting benefits, we devalue the Now and live in our mind, the fantasy land of the future.

4. The benefits may be a lie anyway
And, of course, in many cases, we don’t receive the benefits anyway. Many benefits are only mind constructs or sales strategies.

The purpose of life

It’s time we realize the unhappy nature of this approach. Do things, anything, just because. Quit doing things for the benefits.

This brings us back to the experience of doing, in the Now. For the sake of experience itself. And when you do that, you notice a simple truth: Life’s purpose is life itself.

It’s so simple and self-evident. Life is not a means to an end. The “end” includes some nice-sounding “purpose”. Nay, the meaning of life is living it. I’m afraid so many people are in the search of life purpose because they think it comes with nice benefits. Turn around — what you have been looking for is right here.

Life’s purpose is life itself. In other words, life’s purpose is Now. Whatever you are doing. Whatever you are experiencing.

Why I am writing this

So you know why I am writing this blog? Because I love writing and sharing. If I am not blogging, I am writing basically the same things in my journal. That’s fine, but I also like sharing. It’s fun to get some feedback.

But if reading is not your thing, please feel free to close the computer. I don’t say this in a mean way. I myself have reduced the amount of time I spend on reading blogs and books these days. I still like reading, but I like doing other things, too. I want to read only when I feel like reading, and read only what I enjoy reading.

Enjoy your life today. Live just because.
(Photo Credit)

Acceptance Is The Key To Peace And Joy

(Photo credit)
Let me ask you a really simple question: What do you want in life?

We often complicate things too much, I’m afraid. And sure, there are many nice things in life. But what do you really want?

Here is my take:

Unwavering peace and joy

So now, let’s examine how I may have this.

What won’t bring peace and joy

Money won’t do it. Money may solve some of life’s problems and bring temporary reliefs, or even joy, but then it brings other types of concerns, such as fear of losing the money.

I guess the people who think money brings happiness are the most happy people who never really had much money. I’ve had the life of famous brand dresses and dinners at five star restaurants. How was it, you may ask? A great tasting dinner is just stuffing after I swallow it, no different from cheap candy bars. Same with any other luxuries. Huh, I still have some of the silk scarfs just as reminders.

Some people go for power and fame. Do they bring peace and joy? Um, I just don’t think so. They bring more headaches and bothersome. (Worldly power comes with responsibilities to others. Do I really want to be so responsible for other people’s wellness? And fame? Do I want to be noticed when I go grocery shopping?)

Relationships and sex don’t do it, either. Sure, it’s nice to have someone to share and be close to. (Friendships are great, and if things allow, why not throw in some sexual pleasures?) Lots of peace and joy there. And then you notice the peace and joy came with a hidden concern — of loss. It takes a lot of inner strength to just enjoy what I have now and never to be attached. It doesn’t matter if the partner is committed or not. (If you are really honest, you know you yourself aren’t solid in anything.)

This doesn’t mean I don’t want relationships — just as I intend to have reasonable amount of money to have comfortable earthly life, I appreciate good companies — but it does mean relationships are not what bring the kind of peace and joy I want.

I read somewhere that there are only three fundamental things in life anyone can wish for: health, wealth, and relationships. So what about health? I have long believed health is the most essential ingredients in life, basis of all others. But does health bring consistent peace and joy?

It helps, but no, it doesn’t guarantee it. Moreover, the fixation on achieving and staying in health can cause a lot of fear, ironically. When I think of health, I notice there are so many judgments — what is supposed to be good for health and what not. So I am constantly required to make decisions, which is very tiring.

Dualism

All judgements, whether it’s about health or whatever, causes stress. Every time I judge something is good, and therefore make others bad, I sense part of me falling off. Sooner or later the ignored part will come back to me with vengeance. This is the problem of dualism.

How about balancing the good and the bad? Well, balance is possible only momentarily. And again, it’s very tiring.

(This doesn’t mean I intend to eat junk food in favor of “healthy” foods. But it does mean there is an inherent tension in deeming certain foods or lifestyle as “healthy” even when that judgment is scientifically correct. The ironical increase of health problems in recent years, as we gain more and more knowledge of healthy lifestyle, is a proof of this, I think.)

Is this even possible then?

So I gather none of the things outside of me can bring the kind of stable peace and joy I want. Well, this is self-evident, actually. I want unwavering peace and joy. The unshakable, absolutely stable peace and joy cannot be dependent on something outside of me, which by nature comes and goes.

At this point, I’m starting to wonder if this is even possible. But then, here is the thing: I don’t believe I can want something I don’t know about. If I don’t know what unshakable peace and joy may be, how could I come up with the wish to have them?

The nature of “wanting”

My wise spirit guides advised me to take a step back. Why do I want unwavering peace and joy?

“Well, they are good qualities, aren’t they? And I don’t like the uneasy feeling that wells up in me from time to time. I don’t like the tension in my stomach. I want to be in the good feeling of peace and joy. . .”

What are the opposite of peace and joy? Fear, unease, tension, difficulty, jealousy, upset, feeling of unworthiness, “suffering” of life. . .

My spirit guides: So, by wanting peace and joy, you are directing your attention to identifying what you find to be peace and joy, therefore making others as non-peace and non-joy, mentally rejecting them. Remember what you just figured out about dualism?

More of spirit guides: I understand you’d prefer what is pleasant for you. Nothing wrong about that. But when you “want” peace and joy, you are resisting what you don’t find to be peace and joy, and that resistance causes a lot of pain, perhaps far more than the original disruption.

That original discomfort would pass pretty quickly if you don’t resist.

Loving all there is

So I am better off if I accept everything as they are? Love what is? (Hey, isn’t this the title of Byron Katie — which I haven’t read)

By loving all there is as they are, with no judging, no resisting, no running around to fix it, no preventing it, and so on — everything becomes more or less okay and I end up in peace and joy. And the peace and joy are unaffected by the happenings in my life so they are stable.

When I get what I like, that is great.
When I don’t get what I like, I’m still okay.
When I get what irritates my feelings — ah, how interesting. (Hey, peace doesn’t have to be boring and monotonous!)

Or even better, just quiet my mind and don’t even notice what I am “getting”. Just accept what they are.

I’m going to try this nondualism approach to see how it fits me.

Next Page »