I felt compelled to blog this post yesterday after watching the Movie “Overcomer.”
Plato once defined man as ‘A being in search of the Meaning 0f LIFE.’ AS YOGI BERRA, a legendary Yankees baseball player, coach and master of malapropisms, once said, “baseball is 90% mental and the other half is physical.” Managers might need a better grasp of math than Berra.
But they require a similar focus on instilling the right mentality, not just in themselves but in their team. That view is held particularly strongly by three Google executives—Eric Schmidt (a former director of The Economist), Jonathan Rosenberg and Alan Eagle—who have written a book in praise of their mentor, Bill Campbell. Also his influence on Silicon Valley was so profound that they have called the book “Trillion Dollar Coach”.
Akiane Kramarik was born on July 9, 1994, in Mount Morris, Illinois, to a Lithuanian mother and a non-practicing Catholic American father. Kramarik professed she saw the face of Jesus Christ in her visions.
Kramarik is a self-taught painter and claims that Jesus spoke to her when she was four years old, encouraging her to draw and paint her visions. She began to draw at the age of four, was painting at six, and began to write poetry at seven. She painted Jesus at the age of 8 years old. Her first completed self-portrait sold for US$10,000.
Kramarik’s paintings are often allegorical as well as spiritual, involving likenesses of Jesus, children, and animals, as well as self-portraits. She often draws inspiration from magazine pictures. However, according to Kramarik, her main inspiration comes from her visions of Heaven and her religious experiences. By age 12, she had completed sixty large paintings. Some of her works have been purchased by the US Embassy in Singapore.
She has completed over 200 artworks and 800 literary works and has published two best-selling books.
At the age of 10, Kramarik appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show. At the age of 12, she appeared on CNN. She appeared in the 68th episode of The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson in 2005 and the 21st episode of Katie in 2012.
In an interview with KCTS 9, Kramarik described her family’s religious beliefs, saying:
You know, I have to tell you, we went through almost everything.
We went from being Christian to being Catholic, we studied Buddhism… but at this particular point, I think every single one of my siblings, they have their own path, their own spiritual enlightenment they are reaching. I have my own, my parents have theirs, and my brothers have theirs. I can’t say what they believe in or what path they are choosing, but for me, I can say I am the same person I was when I was four years old… I am spiritual.
Akiane said Prince of Peace is one of her most favorite and memorable paintings. At the young age of eight, a mysterious carpenter was introduced to her in the hope that his facial features would inspire Akiane. Thinking that he closely resembled one of her recurrent memories of Jesus from her dreams and visions, she thought it was the perfect moment to start the painting. After 40 long hours of intensive painting, she completed the Prince of Peace. The original painting was then shipped to her agent supposedly for an exhibition, but he stole it and sold it for a low price instead. As of 2018, the original painting is said to be locked in a bank vault, the current owner refusing to return the painting.
At the age of four, Colton Burpo, whose story was featured in the best-selling book Heaven is for real and the film adaptation of the same name, underwent a critical operation after his appendix burst. Although it was not a near-death experience (his heart never stopped), he did claim to have an experience of visiting Heaven and had visions of Jesus. Years later, when he saw Kramarik’s Prince of Peace on TV, he told his father “Dad, that one’s right.
IN My 59 + years on this planet have been a bit confusing. I have learned of many aspects of life from which one can draw meaning — if indeed such meaning can be drawn. I have learned there can be no singular meaning of life to stand for us all, or even any one of us. What I have learned above all is that trying to put words to the meaning of life is a task of absolute absurdity. This is not to be confused with the idea that life has no meaning, for life certainly has meaning.
However, there is no single meaning of life to be defined – life is different for us all. Therefore, rather than define life for an entire planet, I shall try to explain what life means as I perceive it, and why it means so. Life is a complicated twist of suffering, laughing, and learning all merging to tell a great story – or great many stories. Based on this view, “it is not the end goal or outcome of life that gives life meaning. But rather — the quality of the story, the quality with which one lives out and develops his or her role.” At the time, this event seemed rather insignificant and did not merit remembrance.
However, its catastrophic effects on my attitude that day may have helped to mold me into the person I have become.
I learned that suffering through such an event, as disturbing as it was, is quite necessary in any life. Such pains are part of an interminable cycle and only generate balance in one’s ( ‘Life as Suffering’). Despite my horrid time spent that day, the laughter brought since the incident is a worthy tradeoff. The Laughter is a necessary function of life, just as suffering and the wide range of other emotions.
“Some thinkers would emphasize the importance of sophistication in humor, but others would say that laughter itself is what is important.” Whatever the case may be, laughter is an important ingredient in life, and must not be taken for granted nor ignored.
In the Book of Matthew, It is an ALLEGORY teaching the 42 steps in the evolution/ regeneration of consciousness, which is ongoing within every one of us, right here, right now. It shares details why anyone can understand why the number 42 is the right answer, and what it truly means.
To understand the begats of the Gospels is to start to understand the evolutionary process we are all participating in. LIFE is the process of creating the IDEAL HU-MAN, who attains super-consciousness. Super-consciousness is conscious UNITY with the ONE spirit which created the universe (uni-one, verse, song) and understanding the real power in everything we think, say and do.
On the right is the list of the forty two steps of evolution. Confusion in the world arises from miscommunication, from not listening to each other, from not Loving one another and from this confusion. The fear arises and then the ‘need’ for security because we have forgotten how to love our neighbor and the lesson each neighbor embodies for us.
Our illnesses, our dis-eases are SCREAMING at us to change our behavior and become more loving. As we are faithful in the small things shown to us, bigger things are shown as we grow into self response-ability. The old way is degeneration, division, dis-ease and death. The new way is full of Love and an understanding of the process of life. Everything we do has meaning, We taste the harvest of our thoughts, words and deeds and we change our behavior accordingly (we season it, I.E. the seasons of the years). As we do, we find the peace of mind we seek and then seek to share that peace of mind with our other selves, for we are all One. Each of us is the spoken word made flesh.
Let us no more live going round and round in the desert of the sense world, never reaching the level of the Soul/Spirit consciousness. Let us be a succor to one another and take possession of our bodies and heal them. Heal each other. Love each other, for NOW is the time to act, to share what we have learned so that we can make peace, for every single person seeks peace.
The body is the promised land, we are to take possession of the body and raise it from the dead by casting out all the inhabitants, the sicknesses, diseases and every form of destructive behavior.
Every level has its own tone, its own vibration, revealed when someone speaks. Let us listen more closely to each other, let us hear what God is saying through those around us. Let us work to make peace. We have the technology, we understand the benefits, let’s awaken the Love and emotional intelligence within each of us, necessary to reshape the world so that we may all live lives of Joy.
Changes won’t happen until you change things in your life. No one is going to do for you what you won’t do for yourself.
Human life may not have been created with any pre-determined purpose, but this need not mean that it cannot have a purpose, nor that this purpose cannot be just as good as, if not much better than, any pre-determined one. And so the meaning of life, of our life, is that which we choose to give it.
I know I am conscious, and I also know that dogs are aware.
Meaning of \”life as we know it\” – English Language ~ALBERT EINSTEIN
Life in the way which we see/understand it. Or more commonly, as it currently is.
That is the meaning of Life!!!
This sentence is suggesting we do not currently understand something entirely, but have a certain level of understanding. It is giving the context of “life” as it is currently understood. There may be other forms of life we can’t even comprehend, or have just never seen. Similarly the concept of life may change over time.
A more elaborate example.
Life, as we know it, is hard. Maybe one day, humanity will find a way to make it easier. The implication is that life may one day become easier, but right now (the way we understand it) it isn’t. Alternatively it may have previously been harder
Life as we know it is easy, imagine working in a coal mine 200 years ago!
Again this sentence is using “as we know it” to give the context of “as it is now”
The only thing about the meaning of life I learned was that I will never find out what it is (although I will keep searching).
I did, however, learn that what I would truly regret on my deathbed is if I didn’t experience everything the world has to offer.
Take time to get away from your day to day life and spend some time digging through your own brain. Experience what the world has to offer and you’d be surprised at how seeing something majestic can change your mood and perhaps even your outlook on life.
Take the time to ask yourself what it is YOU want out of the time you’ve been given. Books can lead you in a certain direction, however, I think only you can really answer that question.
Try Poe’s “The Conquering Worm” or “The Raven” (poems) once, don’t look at it again for a week, but think about it, then read it again. I would also suggest “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” for, while it is not necessarily philosophical, it is certainly related to Life the Universe and Everything. Furthermore, many Buddhist teachings have been proven to help with depression and would suggest “The Universe in a Single Atom” especially as you have any background in engineering. Milan Kundera – Unbearable Lightness of Being. (Full Movie.) The Conquest of Happiness by Bertrand Russell. Puts a big smile on my face because this guy knows his shit, too. Here is an anthology text assigned for my senior writing seminar. It’s called, not surprisingly, The Meaning of Life. Joseph Campbell and the Myth of the Hero’s Journey!!!! http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0195327306
It contains excerpts from dozens of text that discuss the subject. I for one don’t think you should read the entire work of Aristotle. . .for the one or two sections that you really need. Instead, start here and if you want more info on a specific passage or idea, come back and ask or read the whole text that it was excerpted from. Checkout: “The Wisdom Of Joseph Campbell” audiobook and take a series of long walks. For me it has restored my child like wonder for life and the world around me. Good luck!
So where to start? In my opinion it always depends a lot on your personality. So since you study engineering you might be quite analytic and therefore like to understand things first theoretically (I’m just making assumptions). If that’s the case, I would recommend Walpola Rahula, What The Buddha Taught, for first book to read. If that’s not the case, then a good book to start might be Alan Watts, The Book – On the Taboo Against Knowing Who You Are. In any case, I can also highly recommend both of them, regardless of the reading order. Watts is more entertaining though than the Evolution 0f Consciousness.
Then some further reading. Generally I would recommend also other works by Allan Watts, they are relatively easy to read and understand. You can also find Watts’s lectures on youtube, I highly recommend them. He is charismatic, relaxed, funny and I love his laugh and his voice in general.
Then there is is Jiddu Krishnamurti. He’s an Indian speaker whose ideas are worth listening to, although it might not always be easy to understand what he is saying. At least wasn’t’ for me (I mean it was sometimes hard for me to understand what he means, not what he says). Listen His conversations with Allan W. Anderson here. There are 18 parts in total.
You may be interested in the existential philosophers. Contrary to popular belief, existentialism is not synonymous with nihilism. In fact, much existential literature is concerned with how to find meaning in life and what makes life worth living.
Try The Myth of Sisyphus by Camus for a start. It is one of his most famous works, so there are plenty of online resources to turn to if parts are difficult to understand. I found Descartes refreshingly easy to read, both in terms of the concepts and the style of writing (especially considering how long ago it was written).
Jupiter’s Travel by Ted Simon It’s all about the journey dude! :p)
You would of course have to throw into this mix One Hundred Years of Solitude, Catch-22, The Lord of the Rings. Also Tao Te Ching an a variety of other great works and hippy nonsense ( The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test is always fun it also touches on some interesting theories of ‘fate’ with the whole ‘are you on the bus?!’ aspect.
I’m going to throw a curve ball here and suggest that you should listen, not read! An excellent way to learn a lot about different philosophical concepts is to listen to the philosophy bites podcast.
Adrian and Nigel have done a wonderful job in discussing everything from the philosophy to the big questions of life, the universe and everything.
Philosophical Investigations by Ludwig Wittgenstein. This book is amazing. It suggests a radically different way of looking at “big questions,” like the kind it sounds like you’re facing. I actually thought about turning to philosophy for answers after having read the Wikipedia page about Wittgenstein. Is it a book that someone with almost no real knowledge in philosophy can follow?What gave me really new and fresh perspective: Nishida Kitaro – “An Inquiry Into the Good” More about Nishida: HERE
http://www.amazon.com/Only-Forward-Michael-Marshall-Smith/dp/0553579703
Sometimes you need to feel the answer instead of being taught it like a student. 🙂
Mans Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl. for a very brief yet informative intro, I suggest Plato and a Platypus walk into a bar.
Not much for the meaning of life, and don’t know if its already been mentioned, but the book gives a good coverage of philosophy and gives jokes as a medium for understanding. that is if you’re looking to get some philosophical grounding. as far as an intro book Sophies World does sound like a good place to start, or possibly begin with some short works by the ancients (plato, socrates, aristotle, etc) these are harder to read but they provide a very fast “drop” into the world of philosophy. I’m surprised no one mentioned this, but definitely check out “Meaning in Life and Why It Matters” by Susan Wolf. It was published only a couple years ago so the contemporary context should improve readability. I really enjoyed The Death of God and the Meaning of Life.
It gives a concise overview of about a dozen different philosophers and their ideas on what we should strive towards a particular view. What about: Meditations by Marcus Aurelius? Want to know what it takes to be a good man and live a worthy life? This bro will explain it to you. http://transfinite.thought.org/philosophy/marcus/index.html
Life and Meaning: A Philosophical Reader Oswald Hanfling, 1991
See a 1999 piece by Richard Taylor The Meaning of Life (III).
There is also an unpublished formula from Keith Campbell that a meaningful life, or just a life lived well, is achieve through “the exercise of your faculties in the pursuit of self-chosen projects”.
If we are to believe Aristotle, our telos (or destination) as humans is to attain happiness, having lived a good life. If we are to believe Nietzsche, it is our lot in life to suffer. If we are to believe Will Ferguson’s novel, Happiness™, it is quite possible to do both. http://mostlyfiction.com/humor/ferguson.htm
Camus’ Myth of Sisyphus really made me think about the meaning of life in a new way. “There is no fate that cannot be surmounted by scorn.” “Sometimes, if you stand on the bottom rail of a bridge and lean over to watch the river slipping slowly away beneath you, you will suddenly know everything there is to be known.” – A.A. Milne
Peter Kreeft – “The Best Things in Life.”
Why are you looking to other people for the meaning of YOUR life? It’s your life. Look within, get to really know yourself. Understand what you want, not what your environment deems you should want. Books are great, they’re more like gateways or guidelines for one to be able to define himself. That’s all well & good, but in the end it’s up to the individual. And what is right in the books might not be right for the individual. “I believe in one thing—that that only a life lived for others is a life worth living.” -Albert Einstein
Why do you have such hard-and-fast beliefs if you are feeling depressed? Certainly your current set of conceptual glasses aren’t giving you a fulfilling picture of the world . . . and you’re looking for a sharper view. I’m no ophthalmologist, but I’d prescribe the Bible.
If you find it unsatisfying, what have you lost? For such a crucial journey, you need patience – no one here will grant you the key to truth, beauty, or happiness with one recommendation. The Ernest Bell Library公開グループ