I googled the meaning of life. I need some input.

[Dan.Linehan]

I think the meaning of this life is twofold.

a. Celebrate it.
b. Develop your character.

As above, so below..

[yossarian]

I found myself in a very similar place not long ago. It was maybe 4 years ago I think?

I'm an atheist too and also had sort of lost the will to live.

In hindsight it seems I got through it by hitting a certain rock bottom - I was lying in bed gritting my teeth and kicking the wall and then something snapped and I realized that I didn't have to live for myself, I could live for the whole world. Until that very point - and it was a specific instant - I was looking for some "thing" that I enjoyed that would make me happy and give me purpose, like a job or a goal or something "out there".

What snapped was that I realized I could live for everyone, I could live for the whole world, and somehow this ignited something inside of me. I realized there was no one thing to do or to pursue, there was no "goal" at all, just a general motivation and realization that an altruistic outlook made me want to be alive.

It's not that I actually needed to do anything to help people, just that I needed to resolve to self-sacrifice with the intention of serving humanity, and this resolve alone gave me the energy to get out of bed.

That was a big turning point in my life, although nothing at all happened on the outside. It was purely an internal shift that changed who I am, but may not really be visible to anyone else at all.

I guess it's the kind of thing that words don't really explain at all. It goes beyond thinking and mental ideas. There is a part of you that is beyond thought and that part of you has the answer. The answer won't be found through thinking or ideas or mental concepts it will be found through pure stillness and awareness.

[quarksoup]

I could live for the whole world, and somehow this ignited something inside of me. I realized there was no one thing to do or to pursue, there was no "goal" at all, just a general motivation and realization that an altruistic outlook made me want to be alive.

Brilliant. I totally agree. Just emphasizing how important (IMO) the previous post is.

Besides that, it helps to learn how to be at peace with uncertainty. Knowing answers to the big questions (or any question which looks unanswerable) isn't a prerequisite for happiness.

[littleboy]

Hello,

This is my first post. I will introduce myself in ... "General & introduction forum" later on.

Now, to get back on the subject. Few hours ago I just watched a video on youtube about 'meaning of life'. The editors or whoever decided to ask about 20-30 people this question. Whats their meaning of life.
I think .. two or three of them gave - wrong, IMHO - opinion ... others stayed starring at the camera and looking stupid.
I got a little bit frustrated because of it. I spent 4-5 years thinking about it (i have 23 years now) and the people who had 30-40 years, and older... wasnt able to say a 'word'. However, some guy talked about some balance between emotions, thinking, etc...apparently, he thought about it a little, and built his own subjective thought about the issue or read it somewhere.

Now, to proceed to 'my subjective' thought. I may be redundant, unfortunately. Maybe someone wrote what I will write now.

What is the meaning of life ?
- No one knows, AND - _No one will ever know_.

You will hear a lot of things about the subject. Someone will say the "God" is the meaning of life, while some other people will talk about 'being good, and moral' and **** like that .. which is kinda off topic.
While ... someone said "to be remembered when I die" - which is ultimate fear of dying.

Why I say no one knows ? Because no one knows... really. Some very great minds talked, writed, singed about the issue, and they cant figure it out. I suppose some of you read 'hitchhikers guide to the galaxy' where Adams said the answer is "42" - Because its a wrong question. There is no answer to the question "What is the meaning of life".

Some of the great minds, like Jiddu Krishnamurti said the answer cant be given without a proper question, so if you know a question you know an answer too (Question and answer is linked together like a head/tails on a coin - obviously). Since no one cant respond to the question "What is the meaning of life" - Apparently, it's not a good question. Since what ever you hear, you will hear subjective thought and subjective opinion about it, that made that person 'stop thinking about it'.

Now... why doesnt no one knows the question/answer ?
- Because NO ONE KNOWS what is gonna happen when you die.
Ok, maybe you will go to paradise/hell. Maybe not.
Maybe your conscious will transcend to timeless state, other dimension - some hindu/budhist philosophy and beliefs. Maybe not.
IMHO, its all linked to death. Why should i suffer (and most people suffer, or dont know they are suffering, so they are frustrated, drinking, using drugs, fighting, becoming anxious and depressed) when 'I'll die'... in a 20-30 years or whatever.
Well ... guess what. You'll die whatever you do. You are gifted with a conscious (your human, you have your own decision - you can enjoy, suffer). Jiddu Krishnamurti died, Jesus died... and so will you and me, and other people.
You can be miserable because of it... or you can be happy, and not think about it (you cant do that, i know, i'll get to that later).

A lot of people here wrote that 'something occured' and they don't think about that question anymore. They want to be good, to help people, and so on, but the truth is... it's a defense mechanism.
The mind created 'their truth', since he was unable to find the ultimate truth, which is of course, normal for our state of evolution.
We lost 1800 years anyway... right ? - All of you probably know that if someone asked these kinds of questions 500 years ago, would been killed by the 'ignorant' and 'manipulative' people and organizations.

Me ? No, I don't belive in religion. I dont want to live in a deceit. Im happy without it.
No .. I don't think that Im here to help others, I help others because I think we ALL should help the fellow human being and because Its in my nature. I was born/raised like that. There should be NO REASON for helping. That should be 'default' in the human DNK. That is not the point of living.

Emotions ? No. I said the 'meaning of life' is linked to the death. So, you can love, hate, build a company, be happy... be troubled, and you will still die.. and you will still be thinking about 'why'.
And the problem lies in there.
To be 'happy' you need to overcome the death issue, and overcome the thought about 'end'. There is no end, no death.

You don't need to be sucessful, you don't need any goals... you only need things that you need. If you 'need' a woman, then find one... if you 'need' a two month vacation ... then go. Whatever you need, do it. Listen to the 'inner you'. Fulfil your needs and desires.

It will be a long time (however i think we will destroy ourself first with this false democracy and capitalism and ego and fear) before human beings find the ultimate truth.

Now, regarding your depression. Seek help.
I was depressed .. hmm, when I was 17 it first started... until 22 years. When I finally went to the psychologist who diagnosed me with depression and anxiety. We talked a little(5-6 sessions), he gave me some medications (I was on anti depresant and some **** for anxiety. Xanax.)
I was using these pills for around 3 months, and quit(i was feeling waaaaaay better). I wasnt able to think clearly because of anxiety/depression issues, so you need to deal with that first.
But beware... those are some dangerous drugs.
You can be addicted on Xanax, so if you decide for it... please follow instructions, and use small doses. Like 1mg daily. Your doctor should explain it to you, but dont trust whatever he says.
Anti depressant ... they will make you numb. I suggest to not use it for more then few months and see what happens. I stoped using all that cuz i felt emotionaly empty.
They gaved me false security. Secured mind is a mind in decay. So, keep that in mind, and be smart.

You ask this question, because you are depressed... not because it matters. And your not depressed because you cant find the answer.

You need to get your head straight and 'live' ... and if you like, seek the truth. Try to meditate, try different things.
I recommend reading Jiddu Krishnamurti.
Jiddu Krishnamurti - Quotes, personal remembrances and history

Truly unconditioned mind.

P.S.
I probably went offtopic few times, since it's kinda hard typing all this. Its a complex subject, and we could discuss it for hours... and hours.

[The Coronet]

some wise words there littleboy :-)

[Louise Gilbert]

Stephen said something that rang true - regardless of whether there is life after death, does it make this life more or less important? I think it does not matter either way..energy can only be transformed, not destroyed - will the 'ego' or 'I' be conscious of this beyond the body? If not, you won't know so it won't matter (a bit flippant I know).

If you do survive beyond the physical and are conscious of your experience, what might you find? where might you go? If you are concerned that you won't find yourself in the 'right' place or where the big party is, then look at it as a reflection of where you are now. Are you afraid of where or who you are? Do you see potential that you have not used? When you are at peace with yourself, these questions are no longer important, but oh so fascinating!!

Life and you, are meaningful by its very nature of its existence. We can't help debating these mysteries, and that's how they will remain - otherwise where's the fun!

Our meaning and purpose in life is to come to terms with the condition in which we find ourselves..go deeper, we find nothing...

[12345]

I know, I know . . . everyone will bash me for saying this, but there is indeed life after death. I believe this not only because the bible says this, but because it’s the only thing in this world that genuinely makes any sense to me.

I think we were put on this earth by God to try to live as Godly a life as possible—to attempt to live the life of the one and only perfect human who ever lived or ever will live (Jesus). We will never be perfect on this earth, but if we wholeheartedly follow the bible and God’s guidelines for living a Christian life, we can rest assured that our place in heaven is secured. I am in no way saying that we should do ‘good’ for God in order to receive ‘good’ from God—instead, I am saying that living a Godly life is a reward in itself, and we should naturally *desire* to do this since all of the most admirable things in life are Godly.

I said in my previous post that God did not want us to be robots—that He put us on this earth to willingly choose to love Him. In the same vein, I think that it makes perfect sense that God will remove all evil and make a perfect world (heaven) for those who both truly loved God and who, in effect, willing *desired* to do good. This life is only a test to see whose love for God is genuine, and whose love is empty.

I have noticed that there are many non-believers on this board . . . it’s a free world, and you are free to believe what you want; trust me, I am in no way bashing—I only wish the best for every single person. I do know, however, that a person’s life circumstances often mold them into believing the way they do. I’ve noticed that people whose lives have not been easy tend to be more cynical of God and heaven. My life has been far from easy in certain ways, but I truly believe that it has made me a Godlier person and one capable of doing more good in the world. My difficult life circumstances have humbled me and have made me much more capable of empathizing with people from every possible walk of life. If it hadn’t been for the hard times, I very well could have become conceited and thus unhelpful to both myself and others.

It just amazes me that there are traces of great ideas on this board—like helping others in need and becoming a more forgiving person, but without God as the foundation of these ideas, the ideas become empty. Please do not judge Christianity on the basis of the quack evangelicals that flood the television airwaves day after day; there are sincere believers in this world (though I do admit they are few and far between). I just hope that non-believers can use the many great ideas that God has given them for the greater purpose of serving Him and His children.

To the self-proclaimed psychics, numerologists, and other similar believers on this board, I want to relate a little saying I once read:

Don’t look to the stars, but look to the *maker* of the stars.

God bless each and every single one of you.