Preserved Topic: What is the purpose of this accursed life we lead?

So much pain.So much suffering.Do we really need it all?

Why have we come to this world?Biblically speaking,we were created in the image of God.To be holy,perfect,rightious,kind,and loving(stop me if this sounds too sappy).

But look at us,we are far from what we were meant to be.So much strife,conflict,greed,apathy.What is the true purpose of our existence on this plane we call Earth?I have only seen pain,pain,and more pain caused not only to myself but to the few others whom I deeply care for.I myself cause involuntary pain for which I am ashamed of and wish to stop.Although I know that in our "society",things like this cannot be helped as they are everyday occurances.

Therefore,I propose this question.
Why do we continue living our lives like this and not pursue a better form of life?

On the contrary, I believe we do. I believe I do. And I believe that the actions of the few decide the fate of the masses.

Trying to pursue a better life, that is.

njuice42 Cell # 551
icq 957255

Just out of curiosity, what is this "better form of life" you speak of? Do you mean a better way of living, or are you suggesting that we evolve to a higher life form?

I think he's been watching Stargate. That would explain all his talk of becoming a better form of life. They did an episode on that a while back.

S^abaal ud T'a johtizuc^ult'a Fedaro.

lol,I haven't been able to watch Stargate in a while.
Well when I say a better form of life,I mean emotionally and spiritually.That we might cast aside all the negative and focus on the positive.In essence, become "reborn" to serve humanity,not destroy it.


P.S
(what channel is Stargate on?)

OK, I must admit I'm still a little bit confused. As that seems to be a pretty normal state for me, though, I wouldn't worry too much about it.

Personally, despite my failings, I would like to think that I'm already serving humanity in some way. I'm not sure if that relates to the topic at hand....

That depends on where you live. If you live in Australia, Stargate is on channel 7.

S^abaal ud T'a johtizuc^ult'a Fedaro.

I think the biggest problem in life is people constantly trying to reach this sort of 'negativity free' existence. We *need* the negative to show us the positive. If the negative isn't there, we create it one way or another anyway, because we can never leave well enough alone (which is where much of this strife greead and apathy are generated).

There is no light without darkness.

The only way to avoid suffering is to remove all desire.

~shrug~

have a beer and reflect on the good things.



[This message has been edited by DL-44 (edited 12-01-2002).]

I think a more appropriate question would be, ?What do you consider a, ?better? life?. Better worse, positive negative, it?s all very relative. What I consider a better life for myself and for the rest of humanity might greatly differ from your opinion of moral or spiritual conscience.


..
~Existence is a mere pattern.~

"There is no light without darkness."

I really agree with that statement, DL, not only does it ring true in my head (hindsight is always 20/20, right?) but it's pretty much the most accurate way of putting things.

We're all human, we make mistakes and we make our own troubles and drama in life, and that is what makes us human. Though I think that whether or not we intend to do so is another matter entirely. I for one don't put myself out trying to create drama simply to see the good in life, you see. I see others doing this, and perhaps I'm just being blind to my own actions when I say that I do not.

But therein lies a new question: what constitues good, if we are defining bad? "One man's trash is another's treasure." It holds with this as well, though not in the straight-forward sense, one man's drama can be constrewed as someone else's ideas of good. Look at Holy Wars. They were waged in the name of good, cleansing the world of those that were labelled as evil. But in this cleansing, isn't the action evil in itself?

I think that good and evil are senses held within a person's own beliefs and standards. So, there is no defined good and no defined evil, as everyone has their own opinions on the two sides.

Or maybe I just need to lay off the blackie/shock treatment cocktails for a while. Heh.

njuice42 Cell # 551
icq 957255

playing rpgs - so the differential of the space-time continuum at a given time (the time you're playing) equals that of the wonderful rpg your playing.


...yes, i am more insane than a fraction of time ago

I'm going with the utilitarian arguments here.

What is "good?" That which feels good. That which brings physical, mental, or emotional pleasure.

The term "pleasure" is used here as a term for anything that is inherently desirable, that causes the chemical reactions associated with good feelings. The definition is essentially biological, and thus is not easily subject to philosophical debate. Eating good food, solving difficult problems, requited love -- these things are indisputably pleasurable.

What is the objective of a human being? To bring himself this pleasure.

Therefore, he must first remain alive; then he must remain free of injury, pain, and want; then he must find for himself a style of life that brings him pleasure. From here on, the term "pleasure" indicates first a freedom from negative conditions, and then a search for positive ones.

To harm another in order to obtain pleasure might at first seem logical; but in fact, such actions increase the risk of having that pleasure taken away from you in the long run. Furthermore, in a society where some seek pleasure through violence, no one (even he who rules by violence) can be truly free from fear; and fear is not pleasurable. Therefore, a good society will be free from violence.

Each person must draw a balance between his current pleasure and his future pleasure. Therefore, it is necessary to do productive work, so as to maintain the things that bring or facilitate pleasure. All forms of commerce and construction arise from this premise: that all work is done in order that the workers may experience pleasure.

Education is useful first because it is a prerequisite for some types of work; and second, because education opens the way to more advanced pleasures, particularly those of creation and exploration. These pleasures are to be encouraged, because the rapture of the inventor or scientist can lead to a greater ability of the society as a whole to experience pleasure. (Bear in mind that things like ending poverty and improving industrial output are only useful insofar as they improve the lives of others -- that is, by allowing others to live more pleasurable lives.)

Anyway, there you go. Greatest pleasure for the greatest number, "do unto others," all that business. I'm all in favor of God, but the above statements are more likely to be universally persuasive, even to angsty teens.

Man, it's really getting cold up here. I should move to Brazil, but I don't speak Portuguese.

Malachi is the last book of the Old Testament in the Christian bible.

Is that why you chose that nick and this topic to begin your posting?

Just curious.

Anyway, this is a paradox for the exact reasons PT stated above.
Remember, paradoxes are the path to enlightenment.

chew on that one and all will be clear to you, grasshopper.

Only in silence the word,
only in dark the light,
only in dying life:
bright the hawk's flight
on the empty sky.

--From the Creation of Ea

* good question, one that each has to answer in his own way tho. thought i'd regurgitate one of the more poetic responses i've come across in my time. enjoy.

Haha thanks,I think I might take you up on that beer.And I didn't pick Malaki as my nick because of that(even though I am a christian and know about the bible).I picked it because it just sounds badass.Just say it out loud three times and you'll agree.

Okay,enough of the silliness

I know that we require darkness in order to achieve light,but unfortunately,nobody ever wishes to learn from the dark and try to step into the light and that is why I proposed this question.

What's the point?Why do we even bother?

History has proven it.We never learn from our mistakes(example:world war 2).

We never learn so,why bother?

Combine the survival instinct with the pleasure principle and you'll get to the root of all human endeavor. We all want to live; we all want to have a good time. Both of these urges are hardwired into the human brain and body. See my post above. C'mon, raise a question that's not already answered.

edit: Or dispute my answers, one or the other, but don't treat me like I don't exist.

[This message has been edited by Perfect Thunder (edited 12-03-2002).]

Sorry dude,your reply was just too long and dizzying for me to even try to read.No offence meant

i think you've come to the wrong forum if you aren't willing to read long-winded posts, mal.

Well, if you don't feel like reading it, I forgive you, with no hard feelings; but until you do, you forsake your right to have your question answered. You can't open a discussion if you're unwilling to participate in it. Catch you on the flipside.

Oh, right...only quick and easy answers to questions as trivial as 'what is life about?'.

I think we really need the suffering and pain to help us realize that their truly is no pain. Pain is like cold. It is all based on your perception. Suffering to you may be happiness to someone else.

I also think we need all this pain and suffering to help remind us that there are spaces after coma's, periods, and question marks.

spaces after "comas", Gilbert? Or "commas"...

I don't know about you, but if I was in a coma, I might like a space or two after it, depending entirely on how long I'd been out!

(sorry for the aside guys - I couldn't resist!)

Bodhi - Cell 617

[This message has been edited by bodhi23 (edited 12-03-2002).]

I can't decide what has me laughing harder, Malaki's unwillingness to read an answer to his very own question or GN's comas!!! This is too much... someone please make it stop!.. I'm dying here!!!

I have begun to pronounce Malaki's name as "Malarky." No offense meant, dude.

yea.comma's.thats what I meant.With Webshaman gone,someone had to say it.

WhereEver did WS go anyway... I hadn't realized until now that I hadn't seen him around. Did he say something and I just missed it?

GrythusDraconis
I admire a man who can budget his life around his pint of Guinness and I envy a man who's wife will let him. ME, inspired by Suho1004 here.

He's on vacation. Don't worry, he'll be back.

RR, dont worry be happy....

or just RR

almsot forgot the origianl Q

"What is the purpose of this accursed life we lead? "

evolution........ we are insignificant.. the species continutation is paramount....

VogenPoet - I looked at that... laughed... looked again... and sat there and thought about it... That isn't really that outrageous a comment. I mean most of our lives are spent trying to find a way to save ourselves right? Not ourselves me , you , him.... but ourselves humans. It sort of makes sense in the scheme of things. Humans are more important than people. Who cares about this person or that group of people when humankind is at stake? No one really. Acceptable losses is a term tossed around for that in wars. That or collateral damage.

'We'll lose some people along the way but in the end we'll be stronger as a species.'

Maybe that's the problem....

GrythusDraconis
I admire a man who can budget his life around his pint of Guinness and I envy a man who's wife will let him. ME, inspired by Suho1004 here.

This question is...well, premature, really. We don't have enough information, yet...my opinon, of course. I tend to take the long view...seen over vast periods of time, or 'windows' (yech!), one sees that there is a balance (DL-44, you said it well, and best...no light, without darkness...kudos).

The reason(s) for existance? Depends on how you see it...the bigger picture does have a meaning...and direction. If all you see is pain, Malaki, then pain is all that you understand. Maybe you should broaden your...view. Pain does seem to be 'brighter' in memory, because it is part of the survival mechanism, but that doesn't mean that it is pre-dominant. The stone doesn't notice, now does it?

We are all children of the stars...and will return there, as well.

huh you dont like it?
ok rule 1
dont inflicate pain to other people...dont hypocrite about them...
rule 2
shave your head and become a monk
rule 3
go to china or japan or whatever and join monestery, good luck!!!

here you go, you can get a diffrent life now

Okay guys I did read all your replys and I'm sorry about that stupid coment.All your replys made sense and no,I don't focus just on pain.I think positive most of the time(or at least try to).So I guess we may never really know the answer to my question,but all those answers made sense and in many cases,are probably true.By the way,thanks for that lighthearted moment ruski.I might just consider it.(by the way,you'll never guess who this is)

Are you U.S. Senator Paul Sarbanes (D-MD)?

Or possibly SpongeBob SquarePants?

Or Xenu, the alien prince whose galactic army was destroyed in orbit over earth millions of years ago, and whose fragmentary souls still infest the normal spiritual lifeforce of humanity to this day, requiring you to give tens of thousands of dollars to the Church of Scientology in order to truly be free?

Enh, never mind... he said we'd never guess. I personally think I'm on to something, though.

Bugs, man, you're killing me! Hahaha....*wipes tears from eyes*

*collapses giggling, heels drumming on floor*

Well I'm not Janet Reno or Bill Gates. I can tell you that.

you think I dont know you...BWAHAHAHAHAHHAHHAAHAHhahahahahheheheh....*sight*