Hello everyone. Today, I would like to share some thoughts about the meaning of life.
There is a very difficult question that many people, even after growing older, still may not fully understand: what am I living for, and what is the purpose of my life? Many people keep working and working, but at some point, when they look back, they may feel lost in the middle of life.
Some people spend a lot of time seeking enjoyment. Because they do not understand what the meaning of their life is, they spend much of their time on pleasure. After a while, when they look back, they may realize that they have not done what they hoped to do, and they may also feel lost.
For that reason, today I would like to share my personal view of life, with the hope that it may help others live with clearer direction and greater effectiveness. When I understand the meaning of my life, I may become less afraid to face difficulties and may live a more meaningful life.
There are three very difficult questions for us to answer: who am I, where did I come from, and where will I go?
To think about these questions, I can place them in two possibilities. The first is that there is no next life. The second is that there is a next life.
For those who believe there is no next life, then in this life we should live well and become useful people for society, so that even after we die, others may still remember us in a good way.
For those who believe there is a next life, then in this life we should also live kindly and usefully, so that after death we may be born into better conditions.
Therefore, whether there is a next life or not, I think we should still try to live usefully and kindly.
A person living in society is similar to one part of a tree. One may be like the root, the trunk, the leaf, the flower, or the fruit. Each part has its own task.
For example, a leaf has the task of photosynthesis. It receives energy from sunlight to nourish the tree. When it completes that task, the leaf falls. That is the meaning of life for a leaf.
Human beings are similar. Because of many causes and conditions, sometimes called dependent arising, a person may be born into a certain situation and do a certain kind of work to support themselves and their family. That can also be considered one of our tasks in society.
However, just like a leaf, while it is carrying out its task, it may die before completing it for many reasons, such as wind or being broken off by someone.
Human beings are the same. A person may suddenly die because of an accident or disease. Therefore, before fully living and completing one’s task, one may still have to leave this life.
If I understand that everything that happens to me is connected to causes and conditions, and is the result of many factors coming together, I may feel less regret. I may think that I have tried to do what I needed to do in this life, and when the time comes, I can put down the burden without regretting what I have done.
But how can I know what my life’s task is?
Just like a leaf, because of certain conditions, it becomes a leaf. It could also have become a root, a trunk, or a flower. Human beings are similar.
Because of many causes and conditions, such as being born in a certain environment, being guided by parents toward a certain profession, or meeting friends and then becoming interested in a particular path, we become who we are.
The person I am now is the result of many causes and conditions from the past. Many past factors have come together to form my present self.
With this present self, I try to develop my abilities so that I can do well the task that life has arranged for me, do things that are useful for society, and avoid wasting too much time only seeking enjoyment.
Because I do not know when I will die. I may not necessarily die of old age; I could suddenly die because of an accident or illness.
If I suddenly had to leave this world before completing my task, I would feel regret. If I spent too much time seeking pleasure and did not live a useful life, then when my health was gone, I might look back and regret that I had not fulfilled my responsibilities as a child to my parents, as a parent to my children, or in other roles in life.
Each person has their own life and their own task.
Some people complete their tasks well. They devote time and effort to doing those tasks well and become successful in their own lives.
I am the same. I try to complete the task of my own life and not feel jealous of another person’s success, because each person has their own meaning in life.
Therefore, when I understand the meaning of my own life more clearly, it may help me live with better direction and effectiveness, and feel less lost in life.
In the process of living, my life will include many difficulties. But if I always focus on completing my work and doing things that are useful for society, I will be less afraid to face those difficulties.
In that way, I will try to become the best version of myself.
I was born from many causes and conditions in the past, which came together to form the person I am now. From this present self, I will continue developing my abilities to contribute to society and become a useful person.
Thank you for reading.