Thoughts on seeing the purpose of life in changing times
SETTING THE SCENE
The intention here is to provoke thought by looking at life afresh. To get beyond the influence of science, religion or lack of belief and reflect on whether there is more to us than our physical presence alone? The big question is … Why am I here? It’s an attempt to view life as it should be and not as it has become.
Are we merely another two-legged animal walking around the planet looking for something to eat, maybe pausing at times to reproduce? That is existence, rather than living. Something we share with the last dinosaurs of 65 million years or so ago. The Tyrannosaurus family of dinosaurs springing to mind, while many of us search for our next cup of coffee as a defining difference.
The question invites thoughts on the importance of spiritual purpose in our lives and its benefit to our nations. It all comes to fruition if we are motivated and guided by selfless, loving cooperation. A way forward that brings a deep contentment and usually involves embracing simplicity and a need for less. This increases our awareness that our lives are far more than the dominant expectation that we are to conform, both as good consumers and as people who increasingly relish screen life.
Sensing a greater purpose enables us to fulfil the true prospects of human evolution. The growth of our individual consciousness through our capacity to love in a selfless spirit that sustains life, both here and beyond.
These thoughts are accompanied by some poems. They are mostly lighthearted, aimed at easing the intensity of mulling over fundamental matters, as well as stimulating discussion.
ORIGINS – CREATION IS FINITE
The transformation of nothing into dust and gas in the many star forming areas of the Universe is outlined by cosmology. It’s a flexible science, dealing with timescales, distances, energies and powers that to most of us are unthinkable. The outcome is matter, that in our case provided the Sun and Solar System. While the Earth’s thin, protective atmosphere enabled our beautiful and varied home to teem with a myriad of life forms.
Existence here is finite. The sun is around halfway through the hydrogen that fuels the nuclear fusion that sustains us. There was a beginning and the end will be when it runs out of gas. Then, there will be absolutely nothing left. All life will be gone. A long time yet of course and it presents us with a huge opportunity to reflect. Prompting thought on how we live and learn, rather than obsessing about material achievement. The growth of our spiritual being and understanding is key, as well as a sense that life continues elsewhere.
ORIGINS - EVOLUTION
The sequences that make up evolution have taken millions of years. As soon as the Earth’s surface temperature settled, water was freely available and the concentration of atmospheric gases became benign. Life then erupted.
After the formation of basic elements, and the role of carbon in establishing organic molecules, came the first micro-organisms. From then on life spread in amazing variety in the seas on land and in the sky. A remarkable array of species, amongst the many we see today are the flowering plants, insects and mammals. The sheer scale of earthly life throughout the geological eras is daunting to contemplate.
From time to time the massive influences of ice ages, volcanic eruptions, surface movements and passing or impacting effects of objects from space, all wrought vast change and will, of course, continue.
Human beings are the present pinnacle of the evolutionary process. Our awareness and consciousness include qualities and capabilities that exceed all others. This is evolution not only of physical form, but of minds and mental function. Logic and intuition play their part as evolution expresses more of the spirit within. This is our growth in consciousness, as more of the subconscious nature is revealed, or should be, every day.
HUMAN NATURE
While history and archaeology reveal the story of human progress as tribes, nations and empires. Civilisations come and go yet man rushes as if there is a solution to this sequence. There is no answer to solve, there is the necessity of learning how to live.
Our gifts and dominant presence come with great responsibility that should be crucial in determining our example. The formidable intellect and standing being reflected in the complexity of the body, mind and spirit.
We speak of the body and mind with relative ease. The spirit is often lost amid vague or religious thought, yet it not only matters, it is the key and defines both our origin and future.
There is a partial analogy of body, mind and spirit when compared with the structure of a computer. The parallel suggests the body is as the hardware, the mind and mental function being similar to the processor. The unseen, but essential, elements of the computer are the apps, the software. They equate to the human spirit or soul. Invisible, essential and untouchable but there and enabling everything. It not only helps us function, it is part of us before we are born and continues when we eventually leave, our character and consciousness or soul intact. Computers communicate through the internet and the spirit communicates through thought.
The computer analogy fails rather on several points. The most important is our capacity to express the intangible influence that is spiritual love. Not emotionalism or the joys of lust, but real love. It brings opportunities and challenges to assist us to progress in our life’s purpose. The computer has no love nor any purpose until given one.
SPIRIT AND PURPOSE ARE INFINITE
All physical life has an inner spirit. A body of light is a useful image. All around us from fundamental elements to rocks and absolutely everything, all have a spirit. The variety is enormous with the great differences reflecting on the consciousness presented within each form.
We are more aware than most, though we are losing a good deal of our capacity to machines and our compliance to them. Intuition and instincts especially are powerful life forces being increasingly drowned out by logic and material preferences. We need them all to thrive as complete human beings.
Appreciating we are more than physical, and are not born merely to consume and then die, is pivotal. Each incarnation allows our nature, the character with its talents, strengths and weaknesses to be expressed. Every foible is there to share or address.
We see the innocence, as well as the depth within a baby’s eyes as they adjust to their new surroundings. The connection remains strong on arrival, then it wanes, lost in the earthly context. Gradually they learn and find they can express themselves and their individual nature is progressively revealed. Something that is marvellous to behold for those close by.
Why we are here is to refine and enhance our capacity to love selflessly. It means accepting what we are, with the underlying purpose being the growth of our spiritual understanding.
The variation of our individual qualities is massive and the experiences we have as successes, triumphs, failures and traumas are all there to refine our nature. At times life is often viewed as unfair and unjust, yet everything occurs for a reason and it is always to teach. Though it may not be understood until later, or not even in this life. The lessons, if accepted, mean our individual character benefits and the enhancements in our spiritual capacity to love stay with us. When we die and life continues, we too continue with whatever our spirit or soul has acquired by way of greater consciousness. It can be a substantial improvement or no change, perhaps even a retrograde step. All are possible.
Purpose is present in all we do. Seeing it is the challenge. Material achievement is not the same, as that stays here and one day will be gone and forgotten with everything else.
COOPERATION - FREEWILL, EMOTION AND MOTIVE
We have the ability and awareness that grants us the freedom to choose. The gift of freewill is ours, albeit those under the control of dark situations or regimes certainly aren’t. In the natural and free world, we can choose our way. It may mean we prefer to follow the majority on some clear and well-trodden path. Alternatively, we can opt for a free, individual choice or even a guided path. To offer in a selflessly loving manner, with a cooperative spirit being the aim.
Cooperation and mutual service can change the world, and freewill is the gift allowing us the choice in how we proceed.
Emotions provide awareness, that’s all. The purpose of all emotion is to prompt, to make us think about ourselves when we react. It may be a response to good, bad, sad, immensely disturbing moments or it can fire up powerful responses within.
The reactions appear in order to be used, not indulged. If we can sense our response and see clearly what the moment offers, we quickly understand the emotion. Then, with its purpose complete, off it goes. When efforts to overcome fears or to be bold, perhaps stimulated to act occur. They all bring insights to greater self-awareness. This is what emotion provides and it is often powerful. These benefits can be lost if the emotions are allowed to run riot, rather than their purpose being appreciated. At the same time, it is often far easier said than done.
Going forward, as in achieving real progress for humanity, is all determined by ensuring the correct motive. This is our great and very conscious, evolutionary choice as to how we live. Motive is of the sense of self and how we direct it. Are we selflessly loving or self-centred? It’s often a mix of responses dependent on the situation and the choice sets our course. It is why we are here, facing all we see, both close by as individuals and far off in international affairs.
In addition, motivation should be allied to a sense of humility, awe really, towards the spiritual power behind this life. It adds to appreciating all we are and have received.
The alternative is believing we are in control, and that can continue until experiences appear to offer lessons in truth, as we are not.
ON LOSING OUR WAY - THE GREAT BETRAYAL
While in the last century there have been troubles, wars and conflicts. On the whole and for billions of people, though not all, life has seen a steady improvement in both physical comfort and ease. The material benefits have been substantial and sustained under most democratic and autocratic governing regimes.
The pattern of enhancing the physical quality of human life has quietly changed. Influence from the silently appealing power of materialism arrived and has grown relentlessly. Initially there was some benefit, encouragement even, prior to it turning into a take-over of minds. The sense of self has been swayed from a selfless to a more self-centred motivation. The expectation is that having more will continue and on it goes, driving everything. Not necessarily excessive greed for the majority, more an underlying presumption that more will keep coming.
Materialism has been able to take control and it is a dark force. Obsession with economic growth, greater value and monetary principles rather than mutual service, has led us to overwhelm the resources of the planet. We need an economy to serve our needs through trade, rather than to follow financial market principles. The outcome has been that the appropriate expression of human nature became neglected and responsibility for the Earth’s resilience routinely deferred.
While there has been some cooperation, the greater tide is materialistic. The sense of self and of wanting more of the same dominates and it is unsustainable. We have left the natural, destined path for the evolution of human consciousness, lured by material priorities. The seeking of more brings consequences that are accelerating as the folly continues. It’s as if we are moving from theory to practice as deeper changes have begun.
The planet’s physical responses will adjust the climate independent of human desires. It is far more than a need for green energy that is required. At the same time, as we watch principles of service and aspects of behaviour alter, we contemplate on the fate of harmonious living.
Those who govern or seek to, end up facing the dilemma of sustaining populist appeal or choosing visionary reality. Initial, often well intended promises become compromises.
It is as a betrayal of the fundamentals of human life as the elusive spiritual cooperation and selfless-love can be lost in the quest for more. The changes already building are difficult to halt and a pandemic of consequences will be largely untouched by well-meant green agendas. They offer too little, too late as the challenges become visible on many fronts.
A stark symptom of the well-being of humanity and the nations are the causes of death. Not longevity, but how most lives now end. Countries following the Western industrial economic model record that the great majority of their people die of the so called ‘life-style’ diseases. Literally, conditions caused by the way we live. An indictment that is a list including; heart disease, strokes, hypertension, cancers, diabetes type 2, dementia and more. Yes, we live longer, but mostly because we are kept alive by advances in medical care and nutrition compared with the patterns of death years ago. Life then was not necessarily easier, but the intensity of existence was far less. Studies on simpler ways of life, that have changed to follow the modern way, show a clear shift from their original, very different causes of death. Comparisons with the remaining remote communities of the world illustrate this as well.
Live with a sense of spiritual fulfilment for ease, rather than disease, is the thought.
The fatal error has been believing we are in charge. The laws that govern nature, unlike our legal system, are immutable and any disturbance or damage inflicted means that consequences, serious ones, are inevitable. Similarly, the fulfilment of the true role of human life is also unavoidable and can only be delayed. As things stand, we are squandering our inheritance and allowing nothing to replace it but destruction and loss.
RISE ABOVE TRADITION – SEE BEYOND
Seeing the broad purpose of humanity as offering a thoughtful, mutually supportive, dominant presence, lovingly cooperative and highly responsible is a simple principle. To change present commitments, as in realign governments, big business and large organisations when they are obsessed with financial motives, technology and the continuation of the status quo, is immensely difficult. Seemingly impossible. It has though, to be addressed, as we begin to feel the responses from the natural world and our states of mind.
Science, remarkable as it is, only reveals further knowledge of the processes of physical life. It is not overly welcoming of spiritual matters, as they cannot normally be tested by repeatable experiment. Researchers are proud when they find new facts and processes that help our understanding. Acknowledgement that they only find that which is already known by all behind the design of creation, is elusive. Technology makes life quicker, sometimes easier and allows immense control. It needs to be used for its true advantages and not to dilute the function of essential facets of our minds. There is a need for immense caution to ensure its benefits are used without great distraction or further loss of our humanity.
Religions offer a common theme of love, all stemming from their visionary teachers, most of whom lived long ago. If, after those remarkable teachers left, the followers who led each new religion had come together and cooperated with a spirit of love prevailing. A clearer, fuller picture about life would have emerged from the common ground they all share. Billions of people, all over the world, have benefitted from the sound basic principles each religion offers.
Sadly, the ways forward over the centuries, that should have opened up a shared cooperative path, were lost. The preference was for separation not cooperation, as well as self-importance and this ensured the subsequent divided approaches. All this is alien to the original efforts of remarkable, inspirational leaders especially Jesus together with Moses, Mohammad and the Buddha, who together with many others ensured that valuable teaching was given to culturally diverse parts of the world. The people and nations all had a worldly awareness that was befitting of their times.
The chosen route of the spiritual leaders that emerged tended to be power in the name of religion. People complied and often minor differences grew into doctrinal arguments for division and very separate ways. It has meant the various words for God bringing both clarity and a source of confusion.
Acknowledgement of the precious truths in each religious persuasion now comes tainted by the damage that continues. While the historical records of conflict make dismal reading. The thought is rise above the differences. Look back to the original teaching of those gifted prophets and inordinately special people. See the essence of what they intended to leave as true spiritual leaders. It all came from the same source behind all of life. Savour what appeals, and dismiss the turbulence from the excesses of the umpteen interpretations and translations.
The world of politics adds complexity that is mostly unnecessary. It is a social replacement of spiritual principle. The various approaches, left, right and centre often avoid the essence of our humanity. When attitudes to life are addressed with spiritually cooperative, light thought. Then the need for politics fades, its role superseded by the use of cooperation in addressing all that challenges. For now, it continues as each party seeks to appeal and govern.
CONSEQUENCES, THE FUTURE AND NEW BEGINNINGS
Many people have insights and feelings regarding what is unfolding at the moment. I have seen much in powerful dreams and experiences. Nothing on this scale has faced human life on Earth before, given the size of the world population, its knowledge and material sophistication.
Returning to the intended evolutionary path for humanity will happen. Our only option is to delay it. The reacquisition of a sense of humility towards the source of our creation and the continuity that is our spiritual nature, both before we arrive and after we die, matters. How we are living can be ignored or deferred but ultimately has to be addressed. It is a new spiritual world order, an appreciation of the fullness of human life that is necessary. It appears likely that it will be chaotic for some years as the familiar ways of comfort and ease, will be replaced by turbulence and a lack of clarity on many fronts. The alteration of established patterns is usually slow to change, especially as the retention of control by human consciousness and not AI, or AGI in the future, is essential.
The guiding principle for practical living is all about less. Less of everything. Look again and live simply. Ditch the materialistic illusion of more, and endless leisure and wealth with computers and the corporations that run them in control. There needs to be a wholesale redirection of thought and priorities away from present trends to those of spiritual intent. New practice offers great benefits, especially in having truly contented lives. Our spiritual purpose is fulfilled when we turn to a cooperative, selflessly loving approach.
For clarity’s sake this is not a soft ‘in your dreams’ type of option, it requires serious intent and great protection as well.
The resurrection of the spiritual nature is key. Embrace it individually is the thought and come together with like-minded people as change begins with embryonic groups. This is not an attempt to establish yet another organisation or religion. It is a call to stop and think, then set a local example. Ask questions of all you sense, both around and within. Allow yourself to be guided in a light, positive and confident way, as there is great purpose in why you are here at this time of life on Earth.
POSTSCRIPT
Peace and settled days need peace and settled ways, not endless growth, desire and expectation of ever more.
It is a time of change as we leave the era of comfort and ease. This is a sequence, not a chance but a natural response. It’s good in prospect as eventually humanity will focus on real rather than superficial needs, but it will involve turbulence.
Those who accept nature and the ways of love and gentleness will face tests that are unacceptable to them, as they fail to receive the teaching given long ago.
Those of faith will find their faith deserts them and they too will be lost.
For those preferring denial, the outcomes and time will allow the truth.
To understand why this is unfolding allows the example of how to live and survive in different environments.