Growth Online

What Is the Purpose of Life?


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In this interview Roy Posner, president of Growth Online, attempts to brings us a fresh, new perspective on what our purpose in life is; as individuals, as a species. Created March 2001


Growth Online: Welcome again.

RP: Thank you.

Growth Online: So now you are taking on the big questions.

RP: Yes, you are right. Let's give it a try!

(pause) Here's my first thought. The universe's purpose is to experience delight in matter. Just as the Divine itself experiences the original Delight, the universe was created to enable more delight in the multiplicity of matter and life. The Divine willed a universe so that there could be even more delight. 

For the individual the purpose of life is to discover the delight in life, thereby fulfilling the purpose of the creation of the universe. We experience delight when we when we grow and evolve, when we discover our higher nature, when we uncover the spirit in every facet of life.  

So there's a universal purpose and the individual's purpose for existence. 

Growth Online: How did you arrive at such conclusions?

RP:  First let's talk about the creation; that is the cosmos, the universe. At Growth Online site we try to explain the process by which the cosmos, the known universe emerged from the a Divine source, in the first place. This is contained in our Theory of Creation, which is very much influenced by the realizations and insights of the Indian sage and visionary Sri Aurobindo. There we try to explain the purpose of the creation; that is, why the cosmos manifest emerged from a Divine source in the first place. Then we attempt to explain how it actually occurred at the spiritual and subtle planes. Once we know that purpose and under stand the processes that enabled it to occur, we can then perceive our own human purpose of existence, what role we play in the universe, and individually our own individual purpose in being born and living our own unique lives. 

Also, in another article The Course of Human Evolution we plot out in more  scientific and psychological terms how humans evolved from out of the evolution of the universe, what we inherit from the cosmos and our predecessor life forms which enables us to understand what we are fundamentally made up of, and then what's in store for the human race in the future. So this article also helps us understand our own individual purpose.

Together what comes out of these articles is that in the beginning there was the Divine, the original principle, the Absolute from which the cosmos, the creation emerged. Perhaps around 15 billion years ago -- it could be longer, or not even time-bound -- the cosmos, our universe emerged from out of the Divine. The Divine wishing to extend itself for delight and multiplicity of being, through a process of self-conception of a Real Idea extended it's unknowable and unfathomable infinite existence to consciousness and force, from which energy emerged, from which matter evolved when the energy began to move. Up to the point where energy is created out of the Conscious-Force is the involution. From the point where the energy begins to move, enabling matter to develop in the cosmos is in essence begins the evolution. the involution is how matter emerged from spirit, the evolution is how matter evolves from matter to life to mind to spiritual mind and spirit.

We also suggest that what emerged from the Divine was less than perfect. We suggest that the cosmos emerged in division and duality; a mixture of falsehood and truth; consciousness and inconscience. Thus we as humans aer divided, ignorant beings, mirroring the status of the universe.

Why did the cosmos emerge in division and duality? It was in order to create the greatest quantity and thus diversity of forms in the creation. Greater quantity and diversity of forms can only occur through division. If everything were even perfect to begin with, the scope of diversity and possibility of what the forms in the universe would be would be severely limited. There would thus then be less possibility for delight to emerge in the forms of creation. For example, it is only through an evil person that a new type of good person could emerge once that evil person is transformed. The negative enables more type -- whether it be type of plants, animals, people, forms of substance, forms of energies, levels of consciousness, and so forth. Thus this great diversity born of division and duality enables the greatest multiplicity, hence the greatest diversity and possibility of experiencing delight, the very purpose of existence.

Growth Online: So we're doomed to an existence of division, duality,  and conflict?

Well at the point that the essential still Energy began to move and coagulate into the forms of the cosmos, we have the creation, in all its developing perfection and imperfection. Over time the universe, humanity, and ourselves -- through the evolution of each -- eventually move from an original state of ignorance, falsehood, and division to an evolutionary state of knowledge, truth, perfection, harmony, beauty, and joy. 

It is then through our individual human growth, development, and evolution that we overcome our own related dualities, division, and ignorance. Through our personal growth and by utilizing a spiritual Force, we gradually over time overcome the division and duality that we inherited from the creation. 

If the reason that the Divine manifest the creation in the first place was for the delight of existence and being, that purpose is fulfilled through us, we humans. The more we grow and evolve as individuals, the more we discover our higher nature, the more we are in touch with and utilize the spiritual aspect behind all existence, the more we then experience the infinite delight of being and existing, the that we are here in the first place. Our fulfillment then becomes the fulfillment of the very reason the cosmos was created, for the Divine to extend its original status of static Bliss and Delight into a dynamic bliss, joy, and delight in the forms of creation; in matter, in vitality of life, in thought, in consciousness, in being alive.

Growth Online: So when we evolve and discovery our higher nature we fulfill the cosmos' purpose, which must mean that in a way the cosmos must be evolving too!  

RP: Yes, the cosmos, the universe is also evolving. It is seeking to overcome its limitations, its divisions and dualities, its falsehoods and inconscience. And we, the human race, are the great instruments for that evolution. It is through our evolution as individual humans and as a species that enables the evolution, progress, and fulfillment of the universe. 

So there is a universal purpose and an individual purpose, of which we are the nexus and intersection. The more we progress, the more we find out higher nature, the more we as individuals evolve, the more the society evolves, the more the cosmos, the universe evolves. Since the universe itself is an extended manifestation of the Divine, we can say that the more we evolve, the more God evolves!

Growth Online: This is fascinating, but on a practical basis how does the unfolding of the universe have to do with my own practical day to day life?

RP: Well when you and I were born we were born of the same ignorance, falsehood, and incapacity that is there in the universe itself. Our limitations are only of a different degree and measure. We are after all made up of the original ignorance and inconscience that was there in matter and life when they emerged in the evolution of the universe. As Carl Sagan says, we are all star stuff. That's true, for better and worse. 

So here I am, an individual with good and not so good qualities that comes from the very dualistic and divided nature that was there in forms, in matter, and which extended positively and negatively in animus, in life. I am a person with the limitations of the cosmos. I have positive physical, vital, and mental attributes that makeup my being. I also have negative, unevolved ones as well. Then my evolution consists of developing my limiting capacities so that I become more developed, evolved, and whole. For example, I can overcome my poor attitudes, bad habits, my limited skills, limited energy, and so forth. Together the positive and the negative traits makeup my overall character that I am trying to make more positive and whole.

As I overcome my limitations of being, overcome my limited capacities and character, and discover my higher nature, I not only accomplish more in life, but the discovery, the journey to higher awareness becomes a never ending experience of joy and delight. It becomes a thrill and intense happiness and joy to be alive. In that way I fulfill the Divine's original purpose in manifesting the universe -- delight of being.

I also fulfill my own soul's purpose. Deep down below the surface of life we can learn to discover our inner being, our personal soul that has taken on this birth so that it can continue its evolutionary progress. When I grow and evolve, when I find my higher nature, when I accomplish and succeed at ever higher levels, when I go within and touch my inner being, I am helping my soul which has piggy-backed a ride on this body to make its own further progress. It will continue its journey in future bodies to make further progress; or if we can learn to become more immortal beings in this life, it can stay with us throughout the duration of our existence.

So we each can make the great effort to improve ourselves. That way we become better citizens, better people. We grow and accomplish more. We become happier and more energized. We fulfill our individual purpose, and our soul's purpose. That in turn enables us to collaborate in humanity's development from out of its own ignorance and division. That in turn is a collaboration with the evolution of the universe and its need to overcome its duality and division, and unite it with the spiritual force that created it in the first place.  

Growth Online: Though it sounds like it's a symphony of connection, it also seems like quite a burden for each of us as individuals.

RP: It definitely is!  Fortunately there is something to help us in this great endeavor. A great tool if you will. Remember I said that the cosmos emerged from the Divine, the Absolute, God if you will. Well when the universe was created that spirit from which the cosmos emerged became hidden. In a universe of division, the spirit disappeared from out of view. Actually it was always there, but it was not until the development of humans that there was the possibility of a conscious being to comprehend and experience it. In our evolution we begin through our minds, hearts, and souls to uncover the hidden spiritual plane, and reunite with this original spiritual principle. We as humans are the first beings to cognize the hidden spirit in the cosmos. Otherwise the spirit in one sense would lay dormant.

But what I am getting at is that we can use this same Force which was instrumental in the creation of the known physical universe, the cosmos, to help in our own personal growth, development, and evolution. We can use this force to grow as people.

Of course evolution also compels us as individual to make our own conscious effort to improve ourselves, but we can also open ourselves to the higher powers, the spirit, this spiritual Force to help and facilitate this process.

And it goes further than that because this Force that was instrumental in the creation  of billions of galaxies, each with billions of stars, has this same infinite potential to work in our own lives! If we learn to use this power, we open ourselves to the very same awesome powers that was instrumental in setting off the creation the cosmos in the first place. By opening to this Force enables us to accomplish, succeed, and be joyful at infinitely greater levels we can conceive of. By comparison, now without this Force, we are functioning at one trillionth of our potential! I mean that literally! 

So this Force that enabled the universe, also has the potential to enables infinite potential in our individual lives. The question is do we experience this force, do we know how to use it, and do we make the effort to use it in our personal growth?

Growth Online: But what about work, family, love, interests, hobbies? Are we just supposed to collaborate in some cosmic destiny? Where is the daily connection to what we are actually doing, what we feel, who we are?

RP: Actually it is through those very things you mention -- work, interests, affections -- that we have the instruments to fulfill our purpose and destiny. It is through these instruments of life that we find our daily meaning; our individual roles and purpose in life.

For example, each person finds the work, the career that is of interest to him. Our lives are focused on the particular areas of work that interests us; be it a scientist, a doctor, a laborer, or a programmer. That satisfies the hunger and craving of our emotions and thoughts. However, greater purpose still is tied into this work. It is not only our individual, ego-sense's purpose and fulfillment that occurs through our work; but it is also the soul's purpose and fulfillment, independent of our individuality.

That person, with the unique activities and situation that he meets, through his skill, his work, his job and occupation, is confronted with the limitations of his individual being, not to mention the limitations of those individuals and social forces around him. His soul has entered that body with the hope that that individual will evolve; evolve b by overcoming the limitations in his character as he interacts in his chosen field, in his work, in his interaction with others.

Growth Online: I don't know but this seems to put a damper on life, on all the things we enjoy. If it's only to fulfill our soul, then our enjoyments seem rather futile.

RP: The joys we feel now are linked to our own individuality, our ego-sense, to that which makes us feel like we are and fulfilled as individuals. To feel and experience our own individuality through these experiences is a significant development in the evolution of the human species. At one point in human history we were merely part of the heard; sublimating our individual interests to that of the collective. Recently in human history we have learned to develop our sense of self, our individuality. That is the point to which humanity has so far evolved. 

However the joys that fulfill our ego-sense, what we have in the past identified as our uniqueness and individuality, are ephemeral and short lived, or change from one extreme to the other -- from pleasure leading to pain; desire to indifference, and so forth. 

Gradually we learn deeper joys, such as the joy of our personal values. These deeper joys, such as being more open and tolerant to others, goodness, being innovative, being socially conscious, and dozens of other key values give deeper, longer lasting joy. These joys are less connected to our ego-sense. They are joys closer to our soul's will and fulfillment. 

And knowing and feeling our soul's will, that is the individual spirit within us, brings us in touch with the greater Spirit that is all around us, that us everywhere, that is the Divine. At this level joy is constant, never-ending, blissful, eternal.

So each of us has attained a different level of development relative to others. Each of us has a growth path that is unique to the needs of our unique souls. Each person has his own potential ascending curve. By following this curve and taking the road that goes toward further evolution, we further our soul's interests and evolution. If not, if we don't follow our individual ascending path, and through it develop our capacities and character, then the soul waits for another body, another life to fulfill its needs. 

But why talk of such things when we can gain great fulfillment in our work, our interest, our connections with others by committing ourselves to our own personal growth and development. There is no happier person than one who has overcome his own personal limitations in his or her work or interest, and has seen that work or interest flourish as a result. If one can learn to not only grow beyond our limiting attitudes, capacities, and character, and in addition are able to utilize the spiritual Force in our lives, then we can live a life of an unending, intense daily happiness and joy. When we utilize this spiritual force we open the doors to infinite success and accomplishment. Who wouldn't be intensely happy and joyous when things begin to go so astoundingly right in our lives!

Growth Online: Any final thoughts?

Yes, if I may sum up.

So we can say that for us the starting point in our lives is our work, our interests, our interactions with people and situation around us. This is the clay from which we shape our lives. We then have a choice of how to live our lives. We can live a life at the ego-centric level, where we live unconsciously and stay at the same level we came into this world. There is a kind of limited purpose in living such a life.

On the other hand, we can consciously follow and pursue our own unique individual arc of personal growth. In addition, we are secretly we are also following the need of our individual soul. If we take this path of growth, then we open ourselves to far greater success, accomplishment, and joy in life. to a far richer life, with greater purpose and meaning.

At a higher level still we can consciously make the effort to get in touch with our soul, including our soul's true desire, and connect to the Divine spirit and force around us. At this level we open to the realm of infinite possibilities; infinite accomplishment, infinite success, and endless and eternal joy and bliss. At this level of functioning in life, the level of spiritual evolution, we have great fulfillment and purpose in life.

Be taking the paths of personal evolution of spiritual evolution, we effect life around us. We uplift those individuals we interact with, the institutions we partake in, which in effect uplifts society, humanity itself. 

When we as individuals and society as a whole evolves, humanity is then collaborating in the fulfillment of the cosmos' ultimate destiny and purpose -- which is to experience the joy and delight of existence; and to connect back to the spiritual plane, the Divine spirit from which it first emerged.

Growth Online: Thank you Roy.

RP: Thank you! I hope this sheds a little light on our purpose in life.

 

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Related Topics:

  • To review Growth Online's Theory of Creation, where we try to explain the purpose of the creation; why the creation was manifest from the One in the first place, as well as how it occurred. click here.

  • To review Growth Online's description of human evolution, where we plot out in more  scientific terms how humans evolved, what humans are fundamentally made up of, and what human evolution holds in store for us in the future, click here.

  • To learn about how society evolved, and where it is heading, click here.

  • To learn about the Force in greater detail, including its role in the purpose of our own lives, as well as its purpose in the destiny of the cosmos, click here.

  • To learn about the spiritual plane of life, click here.

  • To learn the keys to accomplishment in life, click here.

  • To learn about a big key to happiness in life, click here.

  • To learn how to utilize personal values in life, click here.

  • To get an answer to a problem you are having in life, click here.

 

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