The meaning of life is…
Posted by Allison Mack | Filed under Blog
Jendi Says:
August 11th, 2008 at 1:58 amI have a question for you…. what is the meaning of life, now before you roll your eyes let me finish. No matter where in the world you are, what your values/culture/beliefs/religion it is a question we have all I am sure asked ourselves or someone close to us
perhaps that is the answer, that the meaning of life is to ask these questions of our selves, to challenge ourselves to find our own meaning and direction…..
or then theres the concept of freewill????
A note to Allison; don’t take this the wrong way but I am a fan of your thought provoking blogs, have seen your show in glims but enjoy more your challenges and concepts and what I see lies ahead for your career…perhaps some strong historical figure???
I fuckin’ dig you and your fantastically challenging questions, Jendi! I also must say that it warms my heart to know you come to this site for the discussions and ideas.
Don’t get me wrong, I love what I do and I absolutely adore the show that I work on, but I do feel as though there is a lot more to me than the character I play. It has been my intention and my goal to utilize this site as a way to reach out beyond my “Chloe” profile and share a more “depthy” experience with people on the web.
I think I mentioned before that the one thing that moves me most in the world is being a part of a community of people who seek to inspire and create.
I immediately thought that this site could be a meeting ground for people to do just that. The Internet is such an incredible place because it is so intensely far reaching. The amount of people that can be involved in this friendship circle I have developed online can be millions and that is so exciting! So the fact that you have not seen the show, is totally cool, because to me that means that I am able to connect with people in a way that is more real and human, not just based in the fictional character I portray, but more focused on the community I am trying to build! So, thank you for that encouraging remark!
I appreciate it! I am actually looking for ways to reach even more diverse groups of people, so if you do in fact have other ideas of ways to get this site out there, or make it more exciting and interesting, do share share!!
Ok and now to speak to the 2 more philosophical quandaries. I do believe that the meaning of life, the purpose for our existence is to evolve and push our our limits. I love that you posed that the meaning of life is the search for the meaning of life. I think this is a wonderful point and something very significant and true. I also believe the way we effect each other while we are struggling to answer this question is a huge part of our purpose. We are these separate beings who are unable to recognize the direct effects we have on the entire world because of our incapacity to see outside of what is right in front of us.
So we live with very nihilistic viewpoints, because we are human and we can only know what we directly experience, in a world that is inarguably existential.
It’s a very exciting and interesting struggle. We are basically a bunch of self-centered creatures seeking to know and understanding so that we can feel “safe” and “comfortable” forgetting that every pillow I put under my ass is one less for my neighbor to lay his head on. Excuse the crass analogy, but I thought it was a good way to explain what I was getting at.
Now, don’t get me wrong, I love human beings. I think we are the most fascinating and incredible creature out there! But at times, I frustrate myself with my own lack of perspective. And then I focus so much on what I can do to fix whatever immediate problem that stems up in front of me that I forget to recognize that is the day to day interactions I have with my neighbor, my partner, the guy at the gas station, and the homeless man on the corner that really effect the world.
The Dalai Lama says that if you want to change the world you must first change yourself, then the way you relate to your family, your community, your state, your country, and finally the world. If I put as much attention into treating myself and the people I relate to on a daily basis the way I would treat a starving child in a developing nation, I think I would be so much more consistent in my kindness and compassion.
I imagine I would participate in much less violence.
And then if everyone in the world did this? And then on top of that we continue to produce these beautiful, charitable efforts to help people in crisis! Can you imagine the world we would live in? I mean, hypothesize THAT for a minute!
AWESOME!
It almost seems like in a matter of years we wouldn’t have people in crisis anymore, and all that time and energy we spent on putting out fires made by people and their violent behavior would be put towards inspiring and creating!!!!!!
Then the struggle would not be about, how do I save myself from my own species, but it would be about the over abundance of all the ideas and concepts we would have created! Oh to dream about utopia…
Free will can be the topic for tomorrow… hehehe…
xoxo
Allison
Tags: compassion, dalai lama, humanity, meaning of life, peace, Purpose
73 Responses to “The meaning of life is…”
-
viviane Says:
August 12th, 2008 at 7:52 pmAllison good answer!
cool know that you read what the fans write on the blogI love you!
-
David Hayes Says:
August 12th, 2008 at 8:12 pmDo you leave an empty toilet paper roll … or do you replace it?
Maybe it comes down to that.
Do we clean up after ourselves … plus a little more to help clean up after those who can’t clean up after themselves?
Do we leave the coffee pot empty or imagine the next person coming along who could use a cup and doesn’t have the time to start and wait for a pot to brew.
If everyone in the world behaved like you do, would the world be full of litter or clean and conserved and pristine?
I remember the CW’s Smallville message forum back when it was the WB Smallville message forum. Here was a group of people who came together because of a common interest in the noble and idealistic character Superman. Here was a small sampling of the world but a biased sampling in that we should have a lot in common. There were so many people there trying to form a community, yet the fighting escalated. People got banned. I thought, “If we can’t keep peace here, what hope do we have for the world?”
Years ago, I heard that, if a child doesn’t have the nutrition he/she needs in the first few months of life, the child’s brain will NEVER develop in the way it had the potential to at conception. With so much of the world malnourished, the starving minds of today become the irrational adults we’ll have to make peace with in the future. And those of us with an array of food to choose from are eating more and more food that is the result of genetic alterations … for which our bodies serve as the guinea pigs. But in the present, the children of the privileged (for who among us doesn’t enjoy entertainments and luxuries no king before the 20th century even dreamed of?), can not even keep the peace on a message board.
What is the answer? I don’t know. But even if the answer was there and free of charge, would people reach out for it? Or would they demand their right to learn from their own experiences and mistakes.
For myself, I don’t need to worry about the future (even though I do). The future is not mine. I will not be one of the ones living with the consequences of the billions of random decisions being made today. Still, my fondest wish is not to leave any messes behind when I go.
-
arash Says:
August 12th, 2008 at 8:24 pmOkay, I have a huge problem here.
It is so beautiful in words, but the greatest crisis our world is facing today is not caused usually by people you are trying to reach. A few educated rich polticians in power decide two countries in middle east should stay in war for many years to keep the gun market hot. They are familiar with all the concepts on this blog but heeey it’s freewill, they decide to impact the world otherwise. I don’t say we should get rid of our worms in our appartments but a single signature in a beautiful office can kill billions of those worms. I believe we shouldn’t contribute to chaos and I support the idea that we should be a part of the solution.Well, have you ever had a dream when you are scared and try to scream but you have no voice, I feel like that every day.
-
Jendi Says:
August 12th, 2008 at 8:52 pmApologise, I do have a couple of ideas and comments to add Allison but in 3 minutes have to give a marketing presentation that is not nearly as thrilling as this topic!
p.s For the record have seen a handful of your episodes in winter, summers not for indoors:)
but i like to be challenged and my ideas to be challenged, our brain is a muscle, so while I run to keep fit provoking thought keeps my brain fit and it’s important or it will just swrink away:)So your blogs can be my brain gym! But I have to dash, can’t wait for your freewill thoughs and I will try add more later or definitley on freewill tomorrow! Keep up the brain fitness all:)
-
Jendi Says:
August 12th, 2008 at 8:54 pmp.s, I’m from New Zealand so you must be doing something right to grow your own wee dead poets group….Now I’m Late!
-
taylor nikole Says:
August 12th, 2008 at 9:05 pmthat totally just knocks my bio teachers whole theory on the meaning of life on its ass…
she says we are only put here to reproduce and die.
Actually I think that is the first thing she said to us when we walked through the door the first day of class, besides “don’t ask to go to the bathroom… i don’t give excuses even for emergencies”…
she should actually have said
“Hi I’m a bitch… I suggest leaving my class now”… but no…
anyways… she did teach me to be a better student and i appreciate it
anyways im ranting….“It almost seems like in a matter of years we wouldn’t have people in crisis anymore, and all that time and energy we spent on putting out fires made by people and their violent behavior would be put towards inspiring and creating!!!!!!”
it seems… but were soo used to problem, and creating problem that its never going to stop?
You can’t stop the person creating the fire?
Nor can you change the person if they do not want to be changed.
and crisis has seemed to be an ongoing thing throughout time…
why start it… why stop it?I think everyone is creative, despite their protestations that they ‘are not’…
I guess thats why we honor and praise people with creativity… with the ability to create something useful…
if everyone showed their creativity then maybe it would no longer be such an admirable trait in a person (although I believe we all have it… in great amounts)I think that was one of the things varun (my friend) and i were discussing… we were thinking of good topics to discuss… even religion, but in a way, we thought getting down to that would offend many people. We were discussing how we should all be free to have our say in religion.. without being given crap about it. What we don’t like about our own religions… what offends us about them.. it was weird.
And then there was discussing capitalism… but thats a whole other story.hmm the meaning of life.
gosh, is there really just one?
I take it this way…
theres not just one… or to me there isn’t, but that just raises other questions in the process, which i will get to.
we all have our own meaning I guess…
Maybe there was something ‘intended’…
that we were supposed to do, maybe that was our meaning, but are we really doing what we were supposed to do?
ehh this is making sense to me, but it might be a little bit gibberish.
People create things….
People destroy things…
People make relationships…
Its weird…Like we create problems for example… and then some people decide that the ‘meaning’ of their life, is to help the people most affected by the problem… or just try to fix the problem in general. So in a way like you were saying.. we first change ourselves.. and set our priorities..
Is there really a meaning to life… that is set for us?…
or do we create meaning for ourselves?I don’t think I know my ‘meaning’ yet…
For now, its to create beautiful art and images and share them… and make people smile…
I love to make people smile, because no one deserves to have a bad day.
kinda like my friend and i were discussing.
“What if the day you died was a shitty day?”
“It wouldn’t be… because everyday has to be the best day… I want to die on a good day (looks at the sunny sky)… today would be a good day to die.. its my mindset”I think its a good theory…
I want to be that sunny sky for someone im feeling a bit optimistic right now
sorry if it sounds a little whackyy
<3 taylor nikole
-
Nathiest Says:
August 12th, 2008 at 9:50 pm42
-
christa link Says:
August 12th, 2008 at 10:32 pmi think that my personal way of helping the world is that i sponser a child. i also have a child of my own and she makes me feel very happy. i feel that those things are the meaning of my life. i like that you like to have discussions on your blog that is why i am on here everyday. it is the only site i go on, and i like that you are intellectual and i appreciate that. i also like that you care about what other people think,that makes me feel good to. i think that i would like to have a discussion about why people judge you before even knowing you. i had a lot of people think that of me because i am overweight. hearing what you think will make me feel better. i really like the way you did your site. dont change a thing its perfect just like you. keep being you always. thankyou you feel like a friend to me.
-
arash Says:
August 12th, 2008 at 10:33 pmI absolutly agree with Nathiest.
-
Billy George Says:
August 12th, 2008 at 10:40 pmGreat Topic Allison, I really liked it. Well, I’m waiting for Free Will. And Arash, I’m sorry 4 you, because I have had that spooky dream, and you feel it everyday… take care all of you. Allison have a nice day. Querer te.
Billy. -
Puffy Says:
August 13th, 2008 at 12:20 am“Life is a sexually transmitted disease.” Guy Bellamy
-
Magie Says:
August 13th, 2008 at 12:31 amI personally think the meaning of life is to live to the fullest and be able to look back and be at least 85% happy with where you are and what you accomplished. Yes it maybe selfish to only consider your happiness, but by providing your own you are giving happiness to others surely. Your parents, your friends, your co-workers, many people take joy in your happiness and you in theirs so I don’t find it selfish at all.
One thing that struck me was when you said if we treat everyone we encoutner like we might a starving child we might be more open to being kind in all aspects. Although great in thought I can’t agree, I mean yes it would be great if we could but some people are just incabable of good. ”Are some people born wicked? Or is wickedness thrust upon them?” Wicked may be the wrong term but I have always wondered if a person I meet or interact with that is unkind or hostile was always that way or they have a legit reason for being the way they are. Working for three years in a home and farm store I have delt with many different individuals, some regulars and some random strangers I am never to see again in my life. With the regulars you understand some have bad days, but when every single time they come to your register and never bother to say a ”thank you” or even berate you for some total or price not sounding right it makes you wonder if they ever leave the sour disposistion or if they just have a disdain for hard working high school students trying to save up for college so they can leave the small town they grew up in and cant’ wait to leave?
So if I treat these people like that of a staving child (which I always treat them with respect and kind words of ”how are you?” ”thank you, have a good day”) would they really change? Are they capable of a mood change? I’d love to think that they are, but untill it is proven to me I can’t believe anything.
I guess in the end it all kind of falls back on the old question of ”nature vs. nurture”. Are people born angry or is there a reason for the emotions they feel? And if we want to blame the parents who do we blame for their actions? It is a never ending game of pointing the blame…
-
Stina Says:
August 13th, 2008 at 1:46 amHello there Allison,
This is the first time i am commenting and you should know i’ve stumbled upon this website by complete accident, but then, without realising,i kept coming back
it’s been almost a year, so i just realised, i am a fan of this website. no, i don’t even watch your show, (emm, it doesn’t air where i live 
), i come here for the thoughts, the openness, and the fact that more often than not, i am going through similar stuff as you are.ANYWAY! to comment on the subject,
i think, indeed, we all search for meaning from time to time, sometimes, asking myself this kind of questions sort of makes me sad if not depressed.i think the best answer i can come up with, is that what gives our life meaning, is love. can we love a stranger that walks by us on the street? well, yeah, i think we can! can we love moody people,who never bother to be nice to us? i think we can…! (the real question though is, will we?can we at least try?)
essentially, i think this is what you are saying as well, Allison, that loving each other is the answer. bc if we love each other, how can we not try and make this world a better place, not just for our sake, but for everyones.
there’s a song by this band called The Editors, ‘the weight of the word’, it says ‘every little thing that you do, will mean something to someone, every little thing that you do, will it mean something to someone?’
in one respect, this sounds a bit self-centered, but in another, it is far from it, bc it makes us realise how important we can be to one another, and how a small action (ie. a smile), can mean a lot.
hey, this can be one of your challenges allison!: can we challenge ourselves to do something that will mean something to someone?
thnx for this website allison, and thanks for having the guts to reach out!
xxx
-
Gaia Says:
August 13th, 2008 at 1:53 amI Like both of you! Your ” Chloe” character and the person who you are in life, you’re awsome! Really, since I’ve find this site I’m growing up thanks to you, you’re my spirite guide! I’m sorry if I seem you exagerate… but it’s true! You’re helping me to find myself in life. According to me the meaning of life is try to be our best, try to help anyone, try to make the world better, like you teached me. You also teached me to trust in me and be always my own, I won’t never ever forget what you’re doing for me!!! Do you belive in spirits guides?
-
Severine Says:
August 13th, 2008 at 2:29 amHi Allison, Jendi,
First I’d like to thank you Allison for giving us the opportunity to discuss topics like that with people from around the world.
I do watch your show and that’s why I first came here to read what you had to say and I actually had a nice surprise to see that you do have a lot more to say than “I’ll always be there for you Clark” or whatever line in Smallville
I’ve been reading your blogs for a while without making any comments but hey today I feel inspired!
About the meaning of life…don’t get me wrong, I do like to discuss challenging topic like this one but I can’t help wondering if we come up with such questions because we actually feel that something is missing in our lives.
I mean I know a lot of people around me who don’t really care about things like this so is it because they’re selfish? stupid? or just happy?
A bit like you I keep on questioning a lot of things around me and try to find any single new project that would make me happier.
And I have to say that it does work. If I feel down one day I just think of something I haven’t done and that would have brought joy in my life, it can be small or bigger things and very often it has to be with pleasing people around me…
So for me, and at least for now, the meaning of life is to choose to go through a succession of events and experiences that will make me feel good.
I’m sure by doing that I will make people who love me feel better and ideally they would do the same. And as you mentioned, if everybody does it the world would be better!
Let’s talk about freewill tomorrow, like Jendi I’m working in marketing and have a meeting in a couple of minutes to discuss some planning for the end of the year…
Have a nice day all! -
Pospola Says:
August 13th, 2008 at 2:37 amHi Allison…
I just wanna say something…
So I think for the first three seasons of Smallville I was a CHLOE fan… Everything was about Chloe, but than one day I started to care more and more about YOU and I find out, how amazing person you are… And I found this wonderful site… I really love all your ideas and thoughts, and everything what is on this site! (I know, that I don’t write much comments to the topic’s but it’s because I’m not so good in writyng English 
but I’m working on it ) So I just wanna say, that I’m for the last few years an ALLISON fan rather than a Chloe fan…
Your thoughts and ideas really make me think about them and I’m realizing how boring my life is… And I should start to really live So I know, this is a really stupid comment
But I just wanna say that… Have a wonderful day Allie
-
Pospola Says:
August 13th, 2008 at 2:40 amSo I was just trying to say the same thing what Gala above me said
-
Dick B Says:
August 13th, 2008 at 3:49 amThis is not a zero sum game. The number of pillows is
-
Dick B Says:
August 13th, 2008 at 3:56 amThis is not a zero sum game. The number of pillows is only limited by the number we can produce and exchange at a profit. If there is a need for pillows there is a profit on both sides of the transaction and with reinvestment, more pillows will be produced. Both sides are acting selfishly. Thanks for letting me get that off my chest.
Dick Broadie
-
David Hayes Says:
August 13th, 2008 at 4:12 amNathiest and Arash are both mistaken. “42″ fails to consider wind chill and leap year. The exact answer is 14 times pi.
-
George Says:
August 13th, 2008 at 4:33 amMY friend once asked the paper clip on microsoft word what the meaning of life is and it was to build a bookcase and waitress at some hotel in New york. But I can’t ask him again because I don’t have him on my computer.
I couldn’t imagine you as anyone other than Chloe, you look to much like her.
-
The Friday Philosopher Says:
August 13th, 2008 at 4:35 amI’ve been dreading the arrival of this post for a while now. As soon as I saw Jendi’s comments on the 11th, I knew that it wouldn’t be long before the meaning of life came up.
If I’m honest, then I would say that I don’t have a clue. However, I very much liked reading the comments so far! I do think Taylor may have hit the nail on the head though,
“Gosh, is there really just one?”
Maybe there is just one, maybe the meaning of life is as simple as “live”. Then again maybe it is so complex, that we can only ever discover the true meaning of life once we have lived our lives, and made all of our choices. Maybe there isn’t one universal meaning to life, perhaps we each have our own meaning, or maybe we have thousands of meanings each. Maybe like David Hayes has said, the meaning could be contained within every little choice we make. Should we be kind to someone or should we be mean? Maybe the meaning is only discoverable on an individual level; maybe we make our own meaning in life.
I’ve dreaded this topic because there are as many answers as there are people on Earth, maybe all of them are right, and maybe all of them are wrong. I’m not sure I would like to find the right one, if there is a single answer. I would hate to discover that life has no meaning!
Rather a depressing view I know, but considering everything in the universe operates on balance, then if we are to assume that there is a meaning to life, we must also include the possibility that there might not be! I personally would like to think that there is a meaning, considering the complexity of life on this planet; it would be hard to believe that it is all without purpose. If I were to give my own opinion, I would say that we all make our own meaning. Perhaps this can explain why even though we may share some similar traits with other life forms on this planet, The Human race completely unique when compared to every other species. We are even unique when compared to each other. We may have common goals, World peace, an end to poverty and hunger, a free source of non-polluting energy, but we still have our individual goals, which differ depending on the individual.
One thing is certain, we will never unanimously agree on an answer to this question.
Friday
P.S. I think I can safely say Allison, that most of us may have chosen to visit this site because of Chloe Sullivan and Smallville, but I can guarantee that WHO you are and not WHAT you do is the reason we all came back!
Maybe we can talk about this more tomorrow; after all, it could be considered Free Will!
-
Gnome Says:
August 13th, 2008 at 6:03 amWhat?!
No more crisis? violence?
I don’t know if I can live in a world like that!!!
My meaning of life is overcome those things!!! Now, I will have to think in something else to overcome and I hate to think!!! HeheheNow, seriously. We should think better about what we wish. Do we really want a place where everyone is always happy? No hungry, violence, crisis, etc?
We forget that we only know what is good for us when we experience the bad. Its the Yin Yang.
Live through this (good and bad experiences) is what makes unique and unlimited. And the way we live it its what makes us one of the kind.
In fact, I think thats exactly what we want: to be uno.
Maybe we are small fractions of something great trying to find our identities as an unit. And maybe that “unit” is the real meaning of life…….I don’t know…… What a trip…….
We can also step out of the philosophal issue and jump to an evolutionary explanation. Maybe its all just a matter of taking care of the Natural Selection.
Help the weaks to achieve their goals. Inspire people to make the good. Lead them to be a better person………Or maybe the real missing puzzle is way more simple: Just live only and fully. Be happy and you happiness will be contagious. Be good and the good you will do to the others is gonna be natural and recipocral. Do not waste your time trying to look for some explanation for the great gift God gave us. Just use it!!! Live it!!
Dito
FinitoNow Im tired, I just thought too much for today………..
-
David Hayes Says:
August 13th, 2008 at 6:03 amFor a fun and short read on the topic of the purpose of human existence, look up the story “The Nine Billion Names of God” by Arthur C. Clarke.
I’m looking forward to tonight’s blog topic – Free Will. I am so glad that Willy has decided to go with the more mature name of Will – less silly. Or perhaps he didn’t pick his new name. Maybe Emily Jubenvill did? I do agree that Will should be free and that he shouldn’t have to worry about ‘good’ Will hunting, but I also think that, since whales in many ways are far more intelligent than we are, we shouldn’t have the right to tell them what their names are! It’s like when Columbus came to America and claims that he discovered if … even though there are people already there – Native Americans. Then Europeans got to call them “Indians.” Do we care that they already have names to call themselves – NO! When Pocahontas arrived in England and was the first Native American to set foot there, did she say, “I have discovered Europe! I will call the people here Mad Cow Eaters!” No, she did not. What she did call them, I can’t repeat, but that is beside the point. So, I say, “YES! Free Will and give him a cut of the gross in any future films made about him! And let him call himself the Whale Formerly Known as Willy if he wants to!” But that’s just my humble opinion on the subject.
-
DEFORT Says:
August 13th, 2008 at 6:09 amSome about freedom.Our goverments try to inspire to us illusion of freedom.Now in Georgia(not state,it is country) people who yesterday think that have a freedom,are compelled to kill a friendly nation,this is not their choice,it choice of his goverment.Nobody of Georgian’s people do not want a war,but nobody asks them about them,And there where live their relatives and friends they shoot at backs of women and children.Today they have burnt a church with peace people inside.The nation which has destroyed fascism In structure of USSR,today behave as fascists!!!That is created in this world!?!Soldiers simply submit to orders and they do not have choice,freedom of a choice.Why solve some people and thousand die?What is freedom?
-
Ron St.Amant Says:
August 13th, 2008 at 6:50 amI don’t think we can totally rid the world of the sorrow or pain that affects so many, but we can still try. And to me that is the meaning of life- facing the impossible, yet never stopping in the struggle.
We are Sisyphus.
The Lama’s point is that by making ourselves as close to perfection we change inalterably, inevitably, those around us and the ripples spread out from that centre.
We search, and hopefully find, the ways in which we can create that ripple.
Some with activism, some with art, some with influence and power, some with the simple tasks of the day.
For me, I change the world by raising my daughters, and preparing them to be the best people they can be in the hopes that they too become a ripple.
Enough ripples can churn an ocean.Thanks Allison (and Jendi), I and my cynicism needed to be reminded of this this morning.
-
Brazilian Girl-Kml Says:
August 13th, 2008 at 7:03 amHey Allison, how are you doing?
I believe that the meaning of life can be a lot of things for each one… and that we won’t never have this question answered… I can’t explain why, it’s weird, but I think that’s because life is like this… We always want answers, we are always looking for them… And you can say if I’m wrong or not, but we only get the answer when we experience something that we were asking about before, right?
I believe that if everyone did just a little thing better each day it could make a difference…. instead I put another pillow under my ass I could share it with somebody and we both sit on it…
So, for me, we are always looking for the utopia, but even we could reach it we wouldn’t feel happy because we are human, that’s a fact, and like you said before “…I love human beings. I think we are the most fascinating and incredible creature out there! But at times, I frustrate myself with my own lack of perspective.”
This “lack of perspective” is what show us that we are not perfects, we are human, and as human we are we would not stand live in a perfect world… like Gnome said “its the yin yang”… we need the dark to see the light, and we need the light to see the dark… we need the evil to see the good, and the good to see the evil…
So, I think we should always go for the utopia, but we won’t never find it… we only should make the best in us each day to live the best day, not perfect day, everyday.
Thanks for your site, it inspires me and helps me have the best day everyday…
Take care…
Brazilian Beijos e abraços!
Camila -
The Friday Philosopher Says:
August 13th, 2008 at 7:39 am“inque tuo sedisti Sisyphe, saxo.”
Orpheus, with a voice so moving, noted as he sang that Sisyphus had sat on his rock.
Sisyphus was condemned for all eternity to roll his rock up a hill only to watch it roll back down again. Ovid wrote that even though he had been condemned to Tartarus, the worst of all of the layers of hell, when Orpheus entered hell to sing for the freedom of Eurydices, it was so beautiful that Sisyphus forgot about his eternal punishment and absorbed the beauty of song!
Maybe this is the meaning to life! Perhaps, if we could forget about the bad just long enough, we might have a chance to realize the real beauty that surrounds us.
Friday
P.S. Thanks for the inspiration Ron St. Amant.
-
Pamela Says:
August 13th, 2008 at 7:42 am“On life’s journey faith is nourishment, virtuous deeds are a shelter, wisdom is the light by day and right mindfullness is the protection by night”- Buddha
Life is a journey we all as seperate human beings undertake. The journey through life is full of ups and downs, sunshine and storms, times of immense happiness and great saddness but this journey is something that unites us all. For me the meaning of life lies in helping make the journey a little easier for those around me. It’s about doing the small things and doing them with a good heart. The difference a kind word, a gentle touch and a cheerful smile can make is immense. Giving of our time is so important. Find your calling in life, something you are passionate about and use it to make even a small difference in the World and people in it.Im in my final year in Uni studying nursing and I feel so fulfilled. I treat every patient how I would want my mother/father to be treated and I think if we did this for everyone we meet there would be much more kindness in the world.
-
Pamela Says:
August 13th, 2008 at 7:49 amHey Allison, this is just a thought for the day.Maybe if we all adopted it, every day would be a happy one
Decide to be happy today, to live with what is yours – your family, your business, your job, your luck. If you can’t have what you like, maybe you can like what you have.
Just for today, be kind, cheerful, agreeable, responsive, caring, and understanding. Be your best, dress your best, talk softly, and look for the bright side of things. Praise people for what they do and do not criticize them for what they cannot do. If someone does something stupid, forgive and forget. After all, it’s just for one day.
Who knows, it might turn out to be a nice day.
-
Lydia Says:
August 13th, 2008 at 7:50 amI think that ‘life’ is the most precious gift we have been given and it is up to us to cherish and honor it every day.
I have always wanted to help people and do something good in the world. I wanted to become a police officer (to protect and serve) but I wasn’t cut out for the job and I ended up being a Red Cross volunteer for 7 years. Ever since I quit the Red Cross (because of a little burn-out and a promotion to Management Assistant at the office), I have been looking for ways to make myself useful and to make a difference. So far, I haven’t been able to find volunteer work that is invaluable to the world but I do my best to be a genuinely good person and to help out family and friends and make them happy. It is not worldwide breaking news but I hope that acting as a good human being will inspire the people around me to live with kindness and compassion too.
About the circle of friends… Your thoughtful and personal blogs have inspired and encouraged me to open up and connect with people. I have become friends with some amazing women and I hope we will be lifelong friends. It is such an incredible gift, I thought I could only dream of.
And on top of that, I’m about to meet one of these wonderful women when I’m on holiday in Vancouver, in September. Isn’t that incredibly awesome!You have given me my smile back and the desire to truly live life. I want to continue to grow and I am definitely pushing my limits (Vancouver).
I’m living proof that you really make a difference. I believe I’m not the only one whose heart you have touched and whose life you have changed. Your website reaches out to many people, of all ages and from all over the world.
On a completely different note. You look gorgeous.
How do you manage to eat smart (that is, not grab a quick junk food bite, not give into cravings, not turn to food for comfort) and to fit in daily exercise while living such a busy and hectic life and still look fresh-faced and energized (instead of looking pale, too skinny and exhausted)?
I would appreciate it if you could you tell us about your health-minded lifestyle. Thank you. -
Aubrey Says:
August 13th, 2008 at 8:00 amI loved your answer Allison, and I love this topic as well.
In my point of view, life is a learning experience. We are here to evolve; be the change you wish to see in the world. Of course, this seems easier said than done, but it is actually much harder. But still, I think we should all do our best and push our limits and be the best we can be. Now before we do all of this, we must first change and improve ourselves. If we can all be consistent with kindness and compassion — just like you said, Allison — the world would be a much better place, almost perfect! Imagine if everyone made the action to do this. The world as we know it would be completely transformed. How beautiful! This just shows you how much all of our actions affect the world, which brings us as to why we have to change ourselves.
This will take so many years and generations to accomplish. We will keep evolving until we reach that stage of perfection, when we become one with God.
This is why I admire heroes like Gandhi, The Dalai Lama, Mother Theresa, and other peacemakers that have made such an effort to change the world.
-
Aubrey Says:
August 13th, 2008 at 8:13 amOh, Allison!
I just wanted to share this amazing video of Randy Pausch, an amazing lecturer that sadly passed away to cancer a few weeks ago, reprising his last lecture on Oprah.
You must take 12 minutes to watch it. It’s amazing!
-
Robin Hebert Says:
August 13th, 2008 at 8:46 amHi Allison. I love your thought provoking blogs and how you are really really wanting to live with meaning, not just exist.
I want to start with a quote:
“meaningless, meaningless said the preacher”……
that was actually in the Bible!
And it was spoken by a guy who wrote the most existential book in the Bible….ecclesiastes ? sp?….until he came to the realization that there is a God and that his life was meaningless without a relationship with that God. It’s a very trippy book because the guy was Solomon and he had all wisdom and money and everything that the world offered at the time. He didnt have a cell phone however, and that is why I think he was in despair….just kidding just kidding….but nevertheless, he tried it all and done it all, and sang with Peggy Lee, “is that all there is?”.
He finally realized that God was the answer to the emptiness in his life.
I truly believe that all the truisms and good things we know about come from the God of love….the reason that religion has a bad name is people misrepresent LOVE in the name of Jesus or whomever they believe in…..LOVE was always and is always the final answer. How we treat each other, and how we see ourselves are our plumb lines to how we approach everything else in life. That’s my take on it. Robin -
Eddie Says:
August 13th, 2008 at 8:59 amWow that was a fucking deep blog. I like the fact that you try and remind everybody that this is allison. This is who you are and it’s not about your character on smallville. Thank you for each day you blog and share a piece of the real you with us. It’s refreshing to know that there are good people in the world that do what to make a difference. You made my day. Again thank you.
“Do not try and bend the spoon. That’s impossible. Instead… only try to realize the truth. There is no spoon” ~ The Matrix
-
Vegas911 Says:
August 13th, 2008 at 9:01 amI think the meaning of life is simply to live it….why do we have to search for this greater meaning, why does there HAVE to be meaning to everything….sometimes and apple is just that, an apple….there is no meaning, it is here simply for the sake of being here….I like to ponder on these things also, but maybe sometimes we should stop focusing on the why/how/when and where of life and appreiciate and live it, because we only have one go round….so I don’t want to waste this one way trip on wondering why it is, and just appreciate that it is.
-
Nikk Says:
August 13th, 2008 at 9:04 amI’m a nihilist, so there is no meaning to life for me. I’m also never dissapointed, because nothing really shocks me or bothers me.
-
Amanda Says:
August 13th, 2008 at 9:14 amAh, Utopia. In theory, it works. In the real world, not so much. Not that I’m cynical or anything. But really, how are we going to sit down and have an enlightening conversation with terrorists and drug dealers. With people who would rather kill than co-exist? How do you get through to those people? How do you get to corrupt governments who would rather let food rot on the docks than give to their people who are starving? As long as evil exists, and I’m conviced it does, there will never be perfect peace and harmony.
So, what is the meaning of life? As much as I believe in evil, I believe in good. I’ve seen both. Life will always be a struggle between the two. We have the ability to rise above any circumstance if we choose. So I guess life is a choice and you find meaning in the path you choose.
-
Starie Says:
August 13th, 2008 at 10:41 amPeace, love and human equality are beautiful ideals to strive towards but without pain, and strife we’d lose sight of how important the positive sides of life are. We can’t forget that all things have balance and without evil we wouldn’t know good. Still, it’s wonderful to hear someone strive for the very best in life in such an inspiring manner. Makes the rest of us smile just a little bit brighter.
-
arash Says:
August 13th, 2008 at 12:28 pmwe occationally discuss God and religion. I respect everyone’s personal and private believes but I am questioned sometimes on that subject. Once a lady was criticizing me for not performing all the rituals, I said, sorry I think I am not as close to my God as you are to yours, I guess I shouldn’t have aimed so high.
-
morgan Says:
August 13th, 2008 at 1:07 pmallison, you are one the most inspiring people i have ever heard of!
when i started watching “smallville” you inspired me to become an actress, then when i started reading your blog, you inspired me to be a better person. i don’t think you realize what you mean to me and lots of other young people, so thank you.p.s.
i did start reading your blog because i thought it would mostly be about smallville and we would get all that juicy gossip and shit that happens behind the scenes, but i was pleasantly surprised when i realized you were actually an amazing person and your views on things can realy inspire other people, so thats the reason i, and many other people come back and visit everyday like it’s a religion. -
Brittany Says:
August 13th, 2008 at 1:21 pmHey Allison, I wanted to let you know that I came on this site to know you better, not Chloe! You play you character with such potential and skill that I wanted to learn about that wonderful person behind this really cool character! First time I came on here, I was like Whoa! This girl is amazing, she’s creative and has wonderful insight and thoughts about our world and her life! I was definetly pulled to this site because I wanted to support with all my heart, your ideas and opinions, and maybe uncover the great life of Allsion mack! You do not know how much you mean to me! You are my role model and you seriously make me reflect on my life and how I can make myself feel better and help the ones around me! And appreciate what I have! I really liked the topic “The Meaning of Life!” to me the meaning of life is to do what your good at and to make everything you do into wonderful things and to interact with wonderful amazing people like you! Everything we do reflects on who we are. The meaning of life is a way to find our destiny and follow our own path and to make our life our own journey! You do not know how much you’ve changed my opinions on things and how now I really do appreciate everything I have and more! THANK YOU! Have a wonderful day and thank you again for such a deep topic to share with us. Your words fill my head and make me think really hard on the subjects, and help me understand what I can do better! Much love, support and encouragement, be here forever and for always, Brittany
-
Brittany Says:
August 13th, 2008 at 1:23 pmOh here’s that Carrie Hryniw I was talking about. Here’s one of her new songs: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mpLpqLF5Ix0
-
Carol UK Says:
August 13th, 2008 at 1:36 pmThe meaning of life… It’s so interesting reading everyone’s thoughts on this. I’m one of those who can’t possibly discuss this without mentioning God but I think it is important to emphasise that, although I believe in absolute truth, I still respect the right of others to have their own philosophies on life. We Christians have to be careful that we don’t come across as arrogant or smug. I guess that beliefs will inevitably come into our freewill discussion too!
I believe that we were created to be in relationship – with God and with each other – to love and be loved and to look after the world in which God has placed us. I believe that we are meant to make a difference, to make the world a better place, wherever we can and in as many ways as we can.
You must all know the story of the starfish on the beach? I’ll tell it briefly in case you don’t. There are thousands of starfish washed up on a beach, stranded and dying. A man walking on the beach sees a lone figure carefully picking up the starfish one by one and taking them back to the sea. The man out for a walk says to the other, “What’s the point? There are thousands here – you can’t save them all. What difference can you possibly make?”
The other man smiles and says, “No, I can’t save them all.” Then picking up another starfish and putting it gently into the sea he says, “But I can make a difference to this one.”
I believe that we are here to love God and be loved by him and to make as much of a positive difference to his world as we can.
Carol x -
Maria Says:
August 13th, 2008 at 2:13 pm^^I was going to write but then I read Carol’s post and That is exactly what I was going to say, I couldn’t have said it better myself!
XoXo
Maria
-
Eric Wilson Says:
August 13th, 2008 at 2:22 pmWow! nice back up… Allison, I not sure where to go from here i’ve been dealing with a lot of struggles here and there and everywhere i go i wish the world was better, cleaner, friendly and i wish all the wars,crimes have stop and i wish to have more friends like you Allison and also wish there was a real Superman in our lives who could save millions from suffering from bad things that are happening to every single person out there just like us… and as for me i am born with Treacher Collins-Syndrome in which i’m half deaf have been having hard times hearing once in while and just wish i could be able to find a job around where i live is very small doesn’t have a lot of job and or hiring.
As a young child i wanted to become an actor but my dream seemed to out of the picture after i got hit by a car , so now these days i’m still thinking about acting and i know for i could act as an actor…. my parents don’t even want me to do someting like that i’ve been living with my parents for a long time now and i had money, and car i could just move out i’am going to be 30 years old and need to do something my parents still won’t help me out my parents and i are poor and wish well my dad he has job but me and my mom don’t so thats even hard to live with out job, and money.
I wish i lived in california or Canada that way my life wouldn’t be so hard on me.
Eric Wilson
-
andrea AM Says:
August 13th, 2008 at 2:26 pm“No matter how your herat is grieving
If you keep on believing
The dream that you wish will come true” -
mar1013 Says:
August 13th, 2008 at 3:26 pmI think life has no meaning, as some people before me have said. We don’t need to know the meaning of all the things. We need to live life, to do as best as we can and live our lives.
-
Robin Says:
August 13th, 2008 at 3:28 pmHi All,
This is without question The question of questions to ponder, as we can all read from everyones longer than normal posts.
I’d like to think that the meaning of life is just FINDING our own happiness and spreading happiness to those that we encounter in each of our lives…a fairytale maybe but you got to dream, right?
Part of being human is finding a meaning or a reason for everything we experience in our lives be it through religion, science, art…or even on this site!
-
Robin Says:
August 13th, 2008 at 3:53 pmPart II
The question of “the meaning of life” leads to other questions, so lets ask ourselves…
Why are we here?
How long do I have with my life?
What does it mean to be human?
Do we control our emotions or are we led by them?
Just thought i’d throw some of my random crazy thoughts out there…
-
arash Says:
August 13th, 2008 at 4:35 pmFor those who think life has no meaning, I have a question;
Are you ready to die tonight?
If your answer is NOOOOO,
then I guess it means something. -
taylor nikole Says:
August 13th, 2008 at 5:22 pmhmm i was just thinking…
(there i go again)have you ever found yourself…
thinking or watching people and wondering if you are the only person with complex thoughts in the world…
i mean… like good god the world doesn’t revolve around you… sure… but does everyone else think? or are you alone there?
its like trying to ‘put youself in someone else’s shoes’ mentally… and not being able too.
haha
weird random thoughtkinda switching it around here… not just the meaning of a persons life… but every person has meaning to their life…
i’ll admit, i’ve found myself wishing in desperate times that i could be at my fathers funeral just having a feeling or relief…
but then i feel guilty
thinking about whether his life has meaning…
or any less meaning than i think mine does…
cause despite everything hes done, he still is human… he still has thoughts…
and his life has meaning…hahah now whats the meaning of his life i find myself wondering?
usually my mind veers to ‘ruining mine’
but im still not sure..
bahhoww my head hurts now :-/
-
Confucius Says:
August 13th, 2008 at 5:53 pmHe who goes to bed with itchy bum…
Wake up with smelly finger.
-
Jackie Says:
August 13th, 2008 at 6:00 pmI so agree with you Allison!!!
I mean just think about it. We can be so self-centered sometimes and i mean humans do that but think about what the world could be like if we just do whats right!! If we help out just a little bit more and not just shrug it off as if it were nothing. People need our help and I’m slowly realizing the significant importance of service. If we just sit and think about it. Think about what’s right and the things God wants us to do, we can change everything. There could be no more violence, no more wars, no more hurt feelings, no more anger…the list goes on and on.
So to me, the meaning of life is….
To help others, find who you are inside, and figure out your purpose. : ) -
Kris Says:
August 13th, 2008 at 6:22 pmrash Says:
August 13th, 2008 at 4:35 pm
For those who think life has no meaning, I have a question;
Are you ready to die tonight?
If your answer is NOOOOO,
then I guess it means something.Perfectly stated, Arash. Thank you.
PS–I think that he meaning of life is to gracefully transition from a state of youth where we think we know everything to a state of maturity where we figure out we didn’t know a damn thing after all. Some people succeed;some don’t. Some people get there faster than others.
-
Vegas911 Says:
August 13th, 2008 at 6:26 pmArash,
We are not saying that life has no meaning, just that instead of wasting time trying to lable something that means so many different things (depending on who you talk to) is impossible. Just enjoy and soak up all the wonderful things around you while you have the time. Of course I am not ready to die tonight, noone is…but if it does happen I want to have expierienced as much as I could before it happens, instead of sitting on the sidelines of my life contemplating on the why of it instead of experiencing it . -
AnnK Says:
August 13th, 2008 at 6:36 pmI don’t think we think alike, but that is ok, because it’s great to have diversity otherwise this world would be boring. And I still love reading your thoughts because although I don’t always agree I AM interested. Thanks for your diversity!
-
me Rachel Says:
August 13th, 2008 at 6:40 pmIt’s perty AWESOME. Really easy too.
-
Kyle Says:
August 13th, 2008 at 7:12 pmWow, what a topic. This has been debated for centuries so I don’t think we will all agree what really is the meaning of life. I wanted to try something different and list some things the meaning of life is not (or is depending on who you are) and hopefully what is left leads to the answer.
It is not about selfish pursuits
It is not about money
It is not about war
It is not about pleasing everyone
It is not about food (darn!)
It is about… -
Bouroux Says:
August 13th, 2008 at 7:24 pmHi Allison.
It is a superb summary of the objectives of the site. I think we like to be reassured.
” I love what I do and I absolutely adore the show that I work on.” This comment is a source of joy.
What is the meaning of life?
I think we should live and not just survive. We must appreciate all the aspects of our lives.
Plus our ability to adapt is great, the less there are episode of survival (cruise control) and our life is more rewarding.
Life can seem terribly unfair that you think well. Health is a gift not given to everyone. The children’s hospitals are full of examples.
Even if everyone was nice, perfect world will never exist. Crises are great sources of creativity. Nobody would be interested to watch a movie where everything goes well.
your blogs are forcing us to think about different things. You encourages us to change our habit to think that us.
To increase your audience on the blog. Quite simply be known. The tool. You’re one of the best actresses.
Thanks to share with us your inspirations.
ByeClaude.
-
Lori Bennett Says:
August 13th, 2008 at 7:24 pmhey allison, love that u think by everyone doing good that the world would cease to be evil. i’m one who tries to c good in everyone-in return i get taken advantage of, and often disappointed. everyone comes into this world a sinner (due to the fall of Adam and Eve) they don’t call it sinful nature 4 nothing. people that don’t even go to church or believe in God or higher power still refer to the moral fiber of sin or sinful nature. the world is corrupt and though there r many good people like you, me, jendi, & countless others the fact that there are 2.3-2.6 billion people in the world the evil that exists over flows into everything. i refer to myself as a lifehouse (tiny glimmer of light in a dark world) that someone trying to find their way through may see the way by the light i have through Christ. i’m not perfect by no means, but w/ Him i have faith that keeps me on the right track. the meaning of life is complicated & most brush it off cause they don’t understand or want to get into it. it’s no more than living each day to tell others of Christ. that is what God had created us for (in His image) that we could live and experience life. thus-free will, that Eve demonstrated & Adam followed that we all live w/ the consequences. free will is not man made-God gave us free will so we could choose ourselves what we wanted to believe or not to believe. He wants us to love Him b/c we choose to not b/c He forces us too. to those who are nonbelievers or have no say either way i leave you w/ this: each life question you have or dialemia u have going wrong in your life if u take the time to read it(Bible) it literally tells u how to get passed it, or shows u. My challenge to you is if u’d actually take a bet and try to prove me wrong.
-
Tom Says:
August 13th, 2008 at 7:25 pmInteresting that the free will and the meaning of life are pooled into the same question, because I believe they are eternally linked together. I know that one of the purposes of life is to see how we use our free will. Life is a quasi-probationary test to see what we do with our free will…hopefully, as you mentioned, we use that free will to lift up others. My favorite definition of success if by my main man R.W. Emerson. He said if we can make one person’s day better…just one of their very breaths easier, we will have succeeded!
-
TARALYN Says:
August 13th, 2008 at 8:56 pmOK FIRST GRAMMAR WAS NOT MY SUBJECT IN SCHOOL AT ALL!!!! HUM VERY GOOD QUESTION!!!!!! I BELIEVE THE MEANING OF LIFE IS LEARNING WHAT QUALITY OF LIFE WE WISH TO HAVE. LEARNING AND GROWING WITH THE CHOICES WE HAVE MADE OR WILL MAKE. LEARING HOW TO RESPECT OTHER’S AND OUR PLANET PLAYS A BIG PART ALSO. LEARING TO BE ABLE TO LOOK AT OURSELVES AND SEE WHAT NEEDS TO BE FIXED AND THEN TRYING TO FIX IT. I LIKE CHALLENGING MY MIND ON THESE ISSUES. I MAY NOT BE ABLE TO EXPRESS WITH WORDS HOW I MAY FEEL BUT I HAVE A VOICE!!!!!!!!!
-
Aqgalaxy Says:
August 13th, 2008 at 9:10 pmAllison,
I love you girl, but I just don’t see it happening that way. You described a Utopia, a world of peace and prosperity, a world of similarities and very few differences. Honestly one could say you just described a socialist society. Well seems like it to me. Not saying you are, it’s just I disagree. You reflect off people, you change who you are, and what if someone disagrees with you because you changed who you are? They’re beliefs spread to others and then you gain factions, meaning conflicts and crisis. So regardless of how we change the world, a Utopia cannot happen when free-will is in play. It just cannot.
The meaning of life, to me isn’t general. There is no general meaning to it. It’s yours to define alone. You are finding a meaning in your own life. Yes I agree we are self centered but who is to judge your life then yourself? Who’ll be able to judge your experience fairly and understand the experience, if not yourself? Allison, and others reading this. No one can judge your life then yourself. You find the meaning. Some say the meaning comes when you are on your death bed, and you see your family around you. And it’s that final Epiphany that makes your life so clear, and that’s the meaning of it. The meaning of life, at least to me, is what does your life mean to you? Did you enjoy your life, are you happy with yourself? Did you aspire to be more then you are? All of these are aspects to that meaning. Was your life fulfilling? When you look back, would you change anything? That’s the meaning of life. What did it mean to you, are you happy, content with it? Do you think you are dying too soon?
Now there are countless of interpretations, for all we know there is no meaning but a purpose. What is the purpose of life? Life and free-will is connected, so what? Did you feel you served a purpose? Why are we here? Life, what is it good for? Stuff like that.
“The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” answers the question. What is the answer to the Ultimate Question about life, the universe, everything?
42.
I like that answer, short and sweet.
-
skahahoo Says:
August 13th, 2008 at 9:27 pmHey…this is a very cool site! I stumbled upon here via an internet trail that started from the Girls by Design blog, which is itself very cool, but you already know that since you have a link to it on your home page.
As for the mega-deep question…lol…I equate “meaning” to “purpose” and “purpose” to “motivation.” So in trying to answer “What is the meaning of life?” I ask myself, “What is the motivation behind my behavior?” Obviously, I can only answer for myself, but my life experience thus far has led me to believe that life is ultimately a selfish quest for significance. And I don’t mean “selfish” in a negative sense. I only mean it in the sense of serving one’s own ego, not in the sense of greed to the point of neglecting others. In the end, I suspect that most people want to leave this world feeling as though their lives mattered…to leave their mark in some way. I realize that this might seem to be a cynical view, but I don’t think of it that way because, for me at least, I am working to leave my mark by effecting positive change – as many have noted here…to leave the world a better place. Others feel significant when they are able to realize other things – whether that be fame, power, spiritual enlightenment, children they can be proud of, etc. But if I am to be honest with myself, I know that ultimately, I do good because by doing good, not only do I feel good, but I also feel like I’m living a life that is worthwhile. Similarly, I do my best not to behave in a way that hurts others because I feel really crappy afterwards, and that’s not how I want to be remembered. Whatever the case may be, it boils down to how I want myself and others to regard me, which in my opinion, is a selfish pursuit.
I’d also like to say that I really enjoyed reading everyone’s thoughts. It’s terrific to see all the different viewpoints, and at the same time, the commonality among us.
If I may put in a request for a future topic…since a number of responses here brought up this idea and it’s something that has often occupied my brain space…what do you think of good and evil? Do you think such entities exist? This topic reminds me of a quote I read a long time ago: “Nobody ever does anything deliberately in the interests of evil, for the sake of evil. Everybody acts in the interests of good, as he understands it. But everybody understands it in a different way.” Gurdjieff (1873-1949)
-
Drew Sulc Says:
August 13th, 2008 at 11:05 pmI think the meaning of life is in the simple fact of participation in it. Many cultures talk about being parts of One. Or God expressing itself into a physical reallity. God being all that there is has no room for growth so the Logos or spirit mind fractilzes in to smaller aspects of its self and in a sence a hologram where all the small parts are sums and have information of the whole, experiencing and bringing that to the One. Hence the issue of Monotheistic and Polytheistic systems. Mother Earth Father Sky ect… well in a sence they both apply. Like trees and how they branch from stump all the way to the leaves. In a way, like the leaves as we die we bring life back to the whole system. Great movies on this like ” What the bleep” and the new one “Leap” and of coures the “Secret” which for me is a bit like a infomercial but I gives a day by day understanding of the effects you place on the outside world. Take care
Drew -
Josh Says:
August 14th, 2008 at 12:02 amAhh, the meaning of life, definetely an old and interesting. But what it seems some people don’t realize is that if we are by evolutionary causes, then we don’t have a purpose or meaning to our existence. Evolution is without consciousness, intelligence or set structure of any kind. To ask for meaning you have to acknowledge that either a god or gods exist. Since you cannot get a purpose or comissioning without an actual person, then at the very least to have meaning you must look to someone. That thought outrages many people, but why would you want a world without meaning? We might as well kill ourselves right now, it would make no real difference, in the end we all die anyways, right? I have found meaning in Jesus Christ, my question is will you do so too, or choose to ignore him? It’s all up to you.
-
Philip Jay Says:
August 14th, 2008 at 8:51 amThe meaning of life is
to live, to love, to know truth. -
John Roe Says:
August 14th, 2008 at 2:48 pmYou raised my eyebrow with this:
“I imagine I would participate in much less violence.”So I thought, is Allison in fight club?
That’s ok, you don’t have to talk about fight club.
(never read the book or seen the movie)
-
ningauble3020 Says:
August 17th, 2008 at 10:03 amOne definition that I find instructive for purpose in life is this:
Activities & thoughts which after you engage in them bring a positive emotion and a sense of meaning.
I think purpose is a bi-product of experience. I also believe that purpose reveals itself more than we actively create it. A meaningful life is recollected in hindsight. Goals help develop purpose, but I think only in retrospect do we apply a judgment to experience and derive a sense of meaning.
-
Diana Says:
August 20th, 2008 at 9:06 pmAllison, and online team! Greeting!
I have decided to post comments to Aly’s blogs, she’s so amazing isn’t she? What is the meaning of life? Why do people live, why do they die, and what possibly could be for them to be reborn? Why are people around me active during the daytime but a death-like silence envelopes them when darkness falls?’ This was what a goal-less fellow, a traveler without a destination, had once asked Lord Buddha, the founder of Buddhism. Buddha had replied lovingly, ‘Young friend! As you have been so curious as to ponder on this seemingly unanswerable question and have given me the kind opportunity to answer it, hear my answer patiently: there is no meaning of all this. Man, always in need and want of something or the other performs deeds, good or bad. Due to these deeds, he is reborn again and again. If man is able to destroy his desires, he will surely come out of the cycle of birth and death and be a free bird having attained ‘moksha’ or freedom from the cycle of birth and death.’
The above speech of Buddha summarizes his teachings. What his teachings meant can be known from this simple conversation. That was the time when people used to ponder on such things as life and death, need and ‘moksha’, but do we hear of it today? Can we think of a man today, without desires and needs?
It is need that has propelled man to great inventions in science. Without needs where would be science today? If all people followed what Buddha preached, life would have come to a standstill with no development, progress or advancement. And what would have happened if all people succeeded in destroying their needs? It would have led to the extinction of mankind: all having attained freedom from need, birth, death and the earth?
Yet if one meditates on the meaning of life now, one feels as mystified as the goal-less fellow mentioned in the beginning. Besotted with the myriad problems of life today even a normal person may feel demoralized. He can not escape from the urges to commit suicide after reflecting on the meaninglessness of his life.
Suicide? No, no… It is not the freedom from life and death. Suicide is a path adopted by an utter coward who is unable to cope with the highs and lows of life. If people are looking up to suicide as the best way of freedom from frustration, need, life, death and the problems of life, it is the greatest mistake of one’s life.
If one takes up the way of ending one’s worries and get freedom from the earth, one will return again and again to suffer on the earth.
According to me, the best way to be free from suffering is the afore-mentioned ‘moksha’, just take the good path, do good deeds, don’t hurt others physically or mentally and most importantly meditate everyday for some time and you will not feel the need of anything else in the world. Try repeating this as many times as you want for a few minute to relax ” Nam Myoho Renge Kio ” You will enjoy life and will leave no space in your heart for suffering.
It works for me….. ………. …………….……………….
-
Diana Says:
August 20th, 2008 at 9:10 pmOne of my friends is Buddhist… I just thought you should know.. I’m very into it because I feel completely different in a good way, just a little bit closer to my destination in life. …. That’s another story…
-
Javid Says:
August 22nd, 2008 at 1:37 pmi was pondering upon the meaning of life and this is what came to my mind..
The meaning of life IS LIFE….For Life has many meanings.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
