And that's the meaning of life. Preparing for the transition to a new reality

Aristotle

Many people ask themselves, what is the meaning of life? And then they diligently look for the answer to this question, studying a variety of opinions of famous and not so people, which can be found in numerous sources of information. And there are many opinions on this. Someone sees the meaning of life in one, someone in another, and someone in the third. But in this article I will show you, dear readers, that the answer to this age-old question lies on the surface, it is quite simple and obvious and you do not need to look for it anywhere. This answer suggests itself, we only need to take a closer look at our lives, and then we will immediately understand everything. And our life is both simple and complex - it is simple in its design, but complex in terms of the process itself, when a person needs not only to be able to survive in this far from the most friendly world, but also to leave something behind. The only question is - what and why do we need to leave behind and how to do it? That's what I will answer in this article to explain to you, Dear friends what is the meaning of human life.

First of all, I want to tell you right away that a person who wonders about the meaning of life is from my point of view real man, man of sense, a person who can think beyond their animal needs. Animals don't question the meaning of life - they just live. Their task is to survive and leave offspring in order to continue their race. But man is the only creature on this planet who wants to know why he should live, why should he survive, for what, for what purpose? And this is a very good, very correct question. So, friends, thinking about the meaning of life - you confirm your reasonableness.

So, looking at people's lives, as if from the outside and reflecting on it, I came to the conclusion that there is an objective and subjective meaning of life. The objective meaning of life is expressed in the fact that a person needs to continue his race, leaving behind offspring. The instinct of reproduction calls him to this. That is, we need to continue the human race in order to preserve man as a species. In fact, many of our instincts are directed precisely at this, not only the instinct of reproduction, which means that this is the objective meaning of human life. Thus, from the point of view of nature, we, like animals, must survive and reproduce, must continue our race - this is our task. You ask - why should we continue the human race, for what purpose? To be honest, friends, I don’t know this, and no one can know this. But, we can assume that all processes in the Universe occur in order to achieve some ultimate goal, which we cannot know about, because we should not. Our task is to survive. Rather, we must pass on our genes to our descendants, and thus play our part in long history evolution. And for what ultimate goal we [people] need to do this - no one knows. The fact that we live primarily to ensure the immortality of human genes was written by such a famous English scientist as Richard Dawkins, who in his book “The Selfish Gene” very well explained this idea. Dawkins wrote that it is the gene that plays the main role in evolution, and not the individual and not the population, and the main task of the gene is to survive and multiply, in conditions of the most severe competition with other genes. In fact, many people come to this thought, thinking about the meaning of life, because it is quite obvious that regardless of our desires, our instincts push each of us to reproduce. The task of passing on our genes is before each of us. So, again, from this point of view - we are no different from animals - we need to survive and reproduce in order to continue the life of our species.

On the other hand, we still want to know for the sake of what ultimate goal we ensure immortality not only for our genes, but for human genes in general, we want to understand what is the meaning of human life as a whole. After all, as Viktor Frankl wrote in his books - reducing the meaning of life to procreation, we do not answer this eternal question, do not close it completely, but shift it to our descendants. I rather disagree with this point of view than agree, since the ignorance of the ultimate goal of the existence and development of everything in the Universe in general by a person does not leave the question of the meaning of life open. I believe that we humans are intermediaries in some big business, we are part of some design, or perhaps part of an experiment conducted by someone who created the Universe with all its laws. It's possible, agree. Our task is to play our part for a certain period of time in material world, and possibly in the intangible, after which we must provide such an opportunity to other people - our descendants. I would compare us humans to individual frames of a film that have to do their job in just a fraction of a second, but which ultimately make a whole film with meaning. Here you and I are a part of the Universal meaning of life, and this is the objective meaning of our own life. Thus, our genes seek to prolong their immortality, and we must help them in this, in order to allow them to come to where the Universe will eventually come to.

Do we need to know what the Universe is striving for, what is its or the one who created it, the ultimate goal? I don't think we need to know. I think everything has its time. Perhaps we will not know this, but our descendants will know more, they will know the world even better and understand something that we do not understand now. We see, according to the instincts inherent in us by nature, that we need to survive and multiply, and also do everything so that humanity not only survives, but also develops, which means that this is exactly what we need to do, without puzzling over what eventually the existence of mankind will end. This is the meaning of our life, the objective meaning. However, you can think about this topic, because it is very interesting topic. And we will do it.

Now let's talk about something more interesting - about the subjective meaning of our life, that is, about what we ourselves can want to live for. Think about why, for what cause, do you want to live your life? No need to look for the meaning of life - think of the meaning yourself. Decide for yourself what you want to live for. Animals do not have such a choice - their life is tuned exclusively to self-reproduction, for the sake of an objective meaning, that is, for the sake of some final goal that nature, the Universe, and / or the one who created it strive for. But you and I can choose what to devote our lives to, in addition to our main goal - the continuation of our kind. Is not that great? In my opinion, this is simply wonderful, you and I are just lucky - we can live not only for the sake of achieving some unknown goal to which the Universe aspires, but also for the sake of something of our own, which we can call the subjective meaning of our life . And each of us may have our own ideas about what and why we should live. We all have different goals in life too. So, ensuring immortality for our genes and the genes of humanity in general, we can also live for ourselves - by realizing ourselves in some meaningful and interesting business for us, achieving success in something that is important for us, and thus leaving our a name in history, or simply, without any hope of glory, giving humanity something that after our death will benefit it and exist for a very long time. This approach to life makes it terribly interesting. After all, we can make any fairy tale come true, having pleased both ourselves and others.

It is also very important to understand that the life of each person is unique in its own way, just like the person himself. It follows from this that each of us came into this world to play a role, to make our contribution to the history and development of mankind and the Universe. From each of us there is a benefit, the life of each person is priceless and makes sense! Therefore, no matter what choice you make, deciding what to devote your life to, you will in any case make right choice- you will play the role that will contribute to the development of the entire universe. The life story of every person who has ever lived on earth is an invaluable experience for the Universe, we are all part of a single whole, without us the whole cannot be whole. Therefore, your life, in itself, no matter how you live it, has meaning for all of us, since it is a part of us all. Just as a person cannot consist only of bones or only of meat, so the Universe cannot be complete without each of us and cannot develop without the experience of each individual person. So the life of each of you, dear readers, is priceless! Even if you cannot pass on your genes further and achieve nothing in your life, do not create anything significant, your life will not be meaningless. You will still contribute to common history humanity and the history of the Universe, it will just be small, important, necessary, but small. Just do not forget that you can always achieve more, so strive for more, try to be more. significant person both for others and for oneself.

And yet, how to make a choice - what to devote your life to? I think it should be dedicated to something that will last forever and serve humanity. long years. It seems to me that this best option for any person who wants to live their life brightly and interestingly. Make your contribution to our history, give the world something that will make it richer, better, more beautiful, and I assure you, you will feel great satisfaction from your life, you will feel your importance - you will find the meaning of life. Each of us is not so much measured, so every wasted minute is a lost piece of life. Therefore, you do not need to wait for anything - you need to go and do something grandiose and outstanding. Some of us will be able to successfully transfer our genes and thus gain genetic immortality, and someone will do something for humanity that will remind us of it for many years to come. But there are also such people - who will simply burn their lives and sink into oblivion, leaving no offspring, no significant results of their work, no legacy. This is perhaps the most terrible thing for a person - when there is practically no meaning in his life, when he just lives to live his life, so to speak, to serve the number and leave this world forever. But this is not the fate of a person - this is largely his choice. I won’t speak for everyone, situations are different, but many of us have a choice - how to live our lives. We can strive to leave behind a worthy offspring or some results that are significant for humanity, or better, both, it is possible. Or we can just burn through our lives without remembering anything and leaving behind not only worthy, but also no offspring at all.

Above, I wrote that one way or another, we all contribute to the history of mankind and to the development of the Universe, therefore, there is meaning in the life of every person, the life of every person is priceless. But that doesn't mean we shouldn't strive to make our mark on the world. After all, the more we leave behind us, the more good things we manage to do in our lives, the more satisfied we will be with our lives.

So, friends, the choice is yours - decide how and for what you will live. Will the meaning of life be for you to follow the laws of nature, the laws of the universe, or if you like, the laws of God, according to which you need to transfer your genes in the most successful way, thus continuing the human race, and / or you decide to achieve outstanding success in life in what some deed to leave something significant behind for people, for humanity, for all the world. You are quite capable of succeeding in both. Leave behind a worthy offspring and realize yourself in some important business for you and desirable for other people in order to leave your mark in this world, and you will be completely satisfied with your life, because it will really make a lot of sense. I wish you good luck in this!

What is the sense of life? One of the eternal questions that have tormented humanity since the time when our thoughts made room for something else besides “where to get food and how to hide from the weather” was asked on the Quora website. So what is the meaning of life? Why do people work hard all their lives knowing that nothing they have ever done or will ever do will stay with them?

Here are the top 3 most popular answers.

"You need to understand that you will not own anything forever"

Jos Buurman, the author of the most popular answer, admits: “Many years ago, my friends car broke down at the most inopportune moment, because the friend’s wife was pregnant at the time. work public transport. During this time, they were able to save up money to buy a decent car.

A couple of years later, a fragile young lady asked me for money for an operation for her sick father. I had doubts, but I did not refuse her. At that time, the operation saved his life. I know this because I met him in good health less than a year later. I also remember one of my friends buying bread and clothes for a homeless man.

Yes, nothing may remain with us, but it will remain with others. Few on our planet are completely alone. Most of us have families and friends, children and grandchildren. You never know who will benefit from your gift.

What is the sense of life? And he is to understand that you will not own anything forever, and generously share with others. You're going to lose it anyway, so why not start today?"

/ Such is the classic number one answer to a question that no religious and philosophical movement at all times could find an answer to. Why classic? Because, in principle, we all agree to be generous and kind, help each other and share with those who need it. So we support the opinion of this user at least with a like, giving him the first place. But in the depths of the soul there remains a worm of doubt, everything seems to be correct, but is something wrong? Or not?/

"The idea of ​​setting goals is doomed to failure"

The user, who preferred to remain anonymous, wrote: "Great question. First, I'll try to explain why the idea of ​​setting goals for achieving happiness is doomed to fail. For example, if you set a goal for yourself "I will be happy if I graduate from college with excellent grades," then you will be happy, but only for a very short period of time.Then you will start to worry about work or further education, then about career development, marriage, children, retirement savings, health, etc.

Is the way out just to go with the flow?

The best thing you can do is enjoy your day and not worry about where you want to go. In other words, BE PRESENT in every moment of your life, here and now. On your way to work, school, or the countryside, take in the beautiful scenery, whether it's a sunset or a whimsical combination of clouds, whatever. After all, few of us will stop at all to enjoy the moment, right?

You can enjoy the most mundane things, even washing dishes. Try it. AT next time When faced with a routine, concentrate all your attention on the task, pay attention to the smallest details and see how happy you feel.

/ Call me a terry and callous skeptic, but it seems to me that the author of these lines enjoys life somewhere under the palm trees in Goa and the process of washing dishes is reduced to brushing the remnants of food right on the sand. Although the thought is correct - to enjoy every moment in life. It's surprising that Quora users gave this answer the second place, because the question was not really about that. Apparently, there were few housewives among the readers, to whom this washing of dishes is already in .... /

The path always ends where it started

Gayatri Kaliyamoorthy shares his thoughts: "I once read an excerpt from the trilogy about Shiva (approx. translator - meaning a series of books by the Indian author Amish Tripathi). I will share it here. This may be the answer to the question.

Let me try to put it differently. I bet you know how it rains in India, right?

Certainly. One of your scientists explained to me. The sun seems to heat up the sea waters, causing them to rise up in the form of gas. Huge masses of this water vapor are combined into clouds carried over the earth by monsoon winds. When these clouds collide with mountains, they make it rain.

Fine. But you're only halfway there. What happens after the rain has passed?

The understanding smile on Shiva's face showed that he began to understand.

Gopal continued, “Water finds its way into streams and then into rivers. And, in the end, the river returns to the sea. Part of the rain is used by people, animals, plants - everyone who needs to survive. But even the water we use ends up returning to rivers and seas.

The path always ends where it began. Can we say that the journey of water was meaningless? What would happen to us if the water decided that it made no sense for it to start a journey that would end where it began?

We would all die."

What answers to the question about the global meaning of life do you have? Share them in the comments to the article - we are very interested to know your opinion!

Is there a clear, definitive answer to the question of the meaning of life? Yes and no. After all, on the one hand, the meaning of life (the meaning of being) is in the niche of eternal philosophical problems. Eternals, which means that never before has any of the ancient philosophers and none of the greatest minds of today been able to give such an answer that would not make you doubt and try to object to this. But the answers are completely different.

From the meaning of life, which consists solely in a person's striving for virtue (after all, virtue is happiness), through the well-known slogan of the Epicureans: "eat, drink, be merry", which means "be content with external parties life”, to a complete denial of any manifestation of the meaning of life.

“Human life is only a manifestation of a certain world will” (A. Schopenhauer).

The pursuit of pleasures, or the pursuit of virtues - everything will ultimately lead to disappointment, satiety and boredom. Look for it, don't look for it... the meaning of life. And maybe then it is worth inventing it? Perhaps there is a true meaning in this fiction?

“Life before we live it is nothing, but it is up to you to give it meaning” (Jean-Paul Sartre).

Yes… perhaps very wise and philosophical. But still, it does not save us from the painful search for the question of the proper meaning of life, especially in a period of hopeless apathy and disappointment.

The meaning of human life from the point of view of religion

So, the meaning of life is the eternal question of philosophy, but what is interesting, along with this, the question of the meaning of life always has a clear and fundamental answer in religion. Of course, there are many religions, but in modern world, in the effect of globalization, we are increasingly limited to the three world religions: Christianity, Islam and Buddhism. So maybe it's worth delving into the religious answer about the meaning of life? At least taking into account the fact that, despite such a diverse nature of world religions, they all look in one direction, answering this most important question in human life.

Revealing the question of the meaning of life from the point of view of religion, we certainly look into the realm of the transcendent. In other words, we can comprehend the meaning of life only by “stepping over”, “going beyond”, “crossing” the boundaries of life itself. But this does not mean at all that one must die in order to know the true meaning of life. Although, from the point of view of religion, there secret meaning eternal question will be revealed to us in its entirety. But, fortunately, even up to this critical point we are able to comprehend the main goal of human life.

Oddly enough, but almost all religions see in human life deep meaning, holy (or better, correct) purpose and important purpose. This goal is essentially the same for all religions, and it is ultimately aimed at a person, and serves a person. So, in Christianity, where, following dogmatic theology, the meaning and purpose of human life lies in becoming like God, inheriting such a life with God that would be eternal and blessed, and therefore in the need for continuous knowledge.

In Islam, the meaning of life lies in the worship of Allah, surrender to the Almighty, obedience to God. In Buddhism, given the denial in this religion of the idea of ​​the root cause or God the Creator, the meaning and main goal of life is to end suffering. At first glance, the meaning of life in Christianity and Islam seem similar. And at the same time, they also seem somehow very remote from what can be directed at a person and serve him, be good for him, and therefore what he sees in his own happiness. After all, inheritance or obedience to God and one's own happiness look like diametrically opposed phenomena. But in Buddhism, it seems that everything really converges. Here, the main meaning is getting rid of suffering, which means gaining some kind of blissful state of the absence of suffering and desires (nirvana).

But if you do not stop at the level of the so-called "first glance", but still start to "dig" deeper and deeper, then it becomes clear that all religions (and even those that are not among the world ones) strive, first of all, for the good for man, to his own happiness and peace. Inheritance of God in Christianity and obedience to Allah in Islam is only an indication of the ways to get rid of suffering, which Buddhism already takes out as the direct meaning of life. The essence of the religious meaning of life lies in striving for the good for a person, delivering him from suffering, in his own happiness. It is only necessary to comprehend the relationship between this happiness and the path to its achievement, and then agree to go through this path.

What is the meaning of life? (modern view)

The authors of the Internet magazine site are well aware that today not everyone understands religious and philosophical statements so we will also give an answer to this complex issue, in somewhat different words for an example. So, what could be the meaning of your life:

• Enjoy the beauty of earthly goods;


• Give life to another person (give birth and raise a child);


• To do something necessary and useful for the future of mankind;


• Feel human emotions (love, fear, hate, happiness, joy, pride, etc.).


• Help other people.

In other words, each of us has a calling to fulfill. It should be remembered that nothing on Earth happens just like that, everything has its own secret plan. Therefore, any events should be able to enjoy and treat indulgently, even bad ones.

Only when you realize that you are living here and now, and only once, only then will you look at your existence with a diametrically opposite look.

A simplified definition of the word "meaning" sounds like "essence in the context of reality." In other words, meaning is the meaning of existence. All our lives we are in search of this meaning. Our plans and deeds are nothing but attempts to justify our place in the universe. On the way to truth, we stumble and fall, get up and move on. How will it all end? According to the results of the life exam, someone will receive “excellent”, and someone will be given “failed”. The truth is that no one will have the opportunity to retake.

The happiness (or misfortune) of a person lies in his ability to think. This gift of evolution moves us, although it keeps us in a state of perpetual unrest. We do not know how to just live, walk the streets, meet, fall in love, be disappointed, look at the raindrops running on the glass, enjoy the sun. We definitely need to know: “What is all this for?”

Mental torment is fueled by doubts, uncertainty, shame, conscience, hope - feelings that manipulate our consciousness and force us to come up with more and more new criteria for the meaning of our existence on Earth. Perhaps that is why humanity has not yet found and will never find the answer to the question "What is the meaning of life?". However, this topic will always excite each of us.

On meaning and purpose

Meaning . The French philosopher and writer Albert Camus once said: “I have seen many people die because life was no longer worth living for them. From this I conclude that the question of the meaning of life is the most pressing.

For man, unlike other living beings, life is a set of values. To master them, you need:

• define a goal;
• select funds;
• build life routes;
• start moving forward.

Throughout life, people are looking for goals and realize tasks. Their scale is different. For some, the meaning of existence is in acquiring a prestigious car, for some it is important to become the best specialist in their profession, and someone intends to rid mankind of diseases forever.

In all cases, a person has a goal, a guiding beacon, which is called the meaning of life. But it appears in those who do not just mechanically use the skills inherent in it by nature. This is the privilege of beings who think, feel, experience joy, both from the process and from the result.

Thus, the meaning of life can be represented as a set of values ​​for the sake of which a person moves towards goals and to which he subordinates his being.

purpose . If we determine the meaning ourselves, then the destination chooses us. This is a kind of spiritual mission of a person, his true calling. It does not always coincide with the set goals, and sometimes it takes us in a diametrically opposite direction.

Let's give some examples.

The doctor and chemist Alexander Borodin found himself in music - he is known, first of all, as an outstanding Russian composer.

Animator Walt Disney was once fired from the newspaper for his lack of creative thinking, but it was this that allowed him to enter world history.

The popular Spanish performer Julio Iglesias was a football player. However, over time, he realized that his singing gives people more pleasure than playing football.

Many women strive to make a career and achieve some success in this, but having given birth to children, they understand that their main role is motherhood.

A mediocre engineer at work at home becomes a brilliant cook. A successful financier feels at ease only when he plants flowers in own garden. And there is always a demand for a unique shoemaker, despite the fact that he does not have a higher education.

The most amazing thing is that people who have found their destiny do not ask themselves the question “What is the meaning of life?”. Looking for someone who has not yet found. The finder does not ask where to look.

People who believe in higher power life is much easier. Christians rely on Jesus Christ for everything, Muslims rely on Allah. “All the will of God,” say Orthodox believers. And they are not lying at all.

In religion, destiny is God's providence, which the Lord expresses in relation to an individual person or group of people. The belief that He will manage, direct and not let you pass by your place on Earth allows people to live in an absolute sense of the meaningfulness of life.

The simplest advice to those who are looking for a purpose: ask yourself the question, what activity fills my existence with meaning and joy? Do not be afraid to listen to yourself and follow your desires. Experience of many prominent people shows that they found their calling, because they listened to their own “I dream, I want” in time.

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What did they think about the meaning of life in antiquity

Representatives of Greek, Chinese, Indian philosophy were constantly arguing about the place of man in the context of the Cosmos. Each person seemed to them a part, a reflection and even a symbol of the Universe.

Heaven, Earth and the inner world of the individual formed the basis of the universe in Chinese teachings. The man was a part of it all. His life itself had no meaning.

Socrates, the founder of philosophy in general and Greek philosophy in particular, called for self-knowledge and self-improvement. This, in his opinion, allows you to correctly determine the values ​​​​for setting goals.

The scientist called wisdom the highest good. In the pursuit of wisdom, he saw the meaning of human life, as well as in happiness, the main source of which is morality. Not in stock wealth but in virtue, purification and development of one's own soul.

Socrates was also supported by Antisthenes, who believed that those who want to be happy and get a ticket to immortality must lead a righteous and pious life.

Plato believed that a person can be truly happy when his soul goes beyond the body that binds it. Human nature, according to Plato, consists of will, reason and instincts. And a person builds his life depending on which component prevails in him.

Aristotle saw the meaning of life in life "for good", the desire to become a responsible citizen of his state.

Epicurus dreamed of achieving peace and avoiding trouble.

Incidentally, almost all ancient Greek philosophers agreed that the meaning of life should be sought in the present. He is here and now. “Live today, forget the past,” says an ancient Greek proverb. “The great science of living happily is to live only in the present,” Pythagoras confirms the folk wisdom.

What is the meaning of human life - the opinions of Russian philosophers and writers

“A gift in vain, a random gift, Life, why have you been given to me?” Alexander Sergeevich Pushkin thought, turning to himself. He transferred his own feelings and doubts to his hero. Eugene Onegin is one of the brightest examples of spiritual introspection, further self-determination and, finally, moral rebirth.

Pushkin was not the only one among Russian poets who was concerned about the problem of the meaningfulness of their own existence. Alexander Blok believed that the person who understands what the meaning of life is will cease to be an inhabitant and will comprehend a lot.

It is worth noting that the views of our outstanding compatriots on one of the main (if not the main) issues of life concerned, first of all, the spiritual component of human nature. Goals within biology and psychophysics seemed to them devoid of any justification.

Vasily Rozanov was the first to openly "swung" in search of meaning. He called one of his philosophical writings “The Purpose of Human Life”. The task of the writer was to find not a far-fetched, but a natural goal of human existence. And Rozanov determined: you need to strive for three things - the knowledge of the truth, the preservation of external and internal freedom and the multiplication of good.

Another Russian philosopher and theologian, Viktor Nesmelov, in his work “The Question of the Meaning of Life in the Teaching of the New Testament Revelation,” inclines towards the Christian view of this issue. Religion explains to man that he does not live for death, but for eternal life in heaven, "in God's kingdom of light and truth."

Nikolai Berdyaev believed that the life of the spirit brings light into the existence of both the body and the soul, and therefore fills life with meaningful content. In imagining his future, a person should strive to fill the spiritual emptiness and come to a truly fulfilling life.

Dostoevsky, almost all of whose heroes rush about in search of truth and sometimes overstep the bounds of what is acceptable Christian morality, I thought that human being meaningful if it is within the limits of moral constraints. Everyone determines the size of these boundaries for himself, but being under the watchful control of the Almighty.

The work "The Meaning of Life" was noted in the history of Russian philosophical thought and one of the Trubetskoy brothers - Evgeny Nikolaevich. His views on this issue have an exclusively religious basis. “The fullness of life and the basic assumption of all life,” the prince considers God. “This is what makes life worth living and without which life would have no value,” writes the philosopher.

According to Count Leo Nikolayevich Tolstoy, the goal and meaning of life should be the self-improvement of the individual. But not everyone, but the one that the Lord indicated to us. This can be achieved through non-resistance to evil by violence and love for people.

Tolstoy, as he himself said, had moments in his life when the question “What then?” became unbearably painful for him. The states when he did not find an answer to it, the writer called "stops of life." He did not know how to live, what to do, he was lost and despondent.

The heroes of Tolstoy each in their own way move to comprehend their being. For example, Pierre Bezukhov, through mistakes and disappointments, comes to an understanding: one must strive for truth, light and dignity.

World religions about the meaning of life

A believing person is to some extent freed from mental turmoil about the meaning of his existence. Firstly, for him, faith in a higher mind already makes sense. Secondly, he knows that life is not finite, and behind earthly death, as after a finished performance, the curtain will not fall. The three major religions have their own views on this subject.

Christianity

The task of every believing Christian, who bears the seal of the sin of Adam and Eve, is to save his soul. The central figure, the pillar of being around which everything else exists, is God. People build their lives with the name of the Lord on their lips, with the Savior in their hearts, with God's commandments in my head. Nothing else is given.

It happens differently. A person turns away from the Creator, violates the commandments, sins, and is in no hurry to repent. His actions are wrong, irrational. Sins - that's what deprives a person's life of meaning from the point of view of Christian teaching.

However, even atheists will agree that there is nothing beautiful in gluttony, depravity, murder, despondency and other sinful manifestations. And everything ugly, devoid of harmony cannot contain a semantic beginning. Return to God, repentance is nothing but a rethinking of one's life.

There are many meanings for humanity in the Christian religion. When Christ created the world, everything was filled with meaning, just as when he rose from the dead. Only after the Resurrection of Christ did life on Earth acquire a new vector. The resurrected Jesus lit the way for each of us with the light of hope for salvation.

Another God's providence: the Lord created us in his own image and likeness. And at that moment our existence gained an additional incentive - to correspond to the idea of ​​the Creator, not to destroy, not to destroy the Divine plan..

AT Orthodox Christianity besides conformity to God, there is another goal - to gain eternal life. “God has no dead - everyone is alive with God,” says the Holy Scripture. The immortality of not only the soul, but also the body is another meaning of being for a believer in Orthodoxy. Hence the tradition, the unspoken law - to bury the deceased in the ground, and not to burn his flesh.

Why are there so many pessimists among atheists? Because their life is filled with small worldly victories and defeats, short dashes from one stage to another, sometimes big ups, but equally big falls. And all this is moving towards a completely obvious finale for them. Bold dot at the end of the path.

Often, feeling the breath of death and looking back, an unbeliever thinks about his life: “What was that? Was everything I did worth coming into the world?” For many, such thoughts become a big and terrible revelation.

A believer does not have a dot at the end - an ellipsis. He has no fear of death, because the earthly world is not finite, and everything can still be corrected. Therefore, the Orthodox, like other Christians, have an incentive to live without losing meaning.

Islam

In the Muslim religion, ideas about the destiny of man, his role and functions in the universe coincide with the Christian worldview. “There is no God but Allah…”, says the shahada, evidence of faith in the One God and the mission of his prophet Muhammad.

According to the Holy Quran, it is impossible to know Allah if you do not worship Him. And the worship of the Almighty in Islam means the creation of good and refraining from evil deeds.

In the main Book of Muslims there is an indication of the goal towards which a person should strive. Allah says that He created life and death in order to check which of the people does good deeds. This is the meaning of human earthly existence - to do good.

The Qur'an gives one instructive example, told by the Prophet Muhammad. When a person dies, "three will follow the deceased: relatives, property and his affairs." The first will return, and the cases will remain with him. No wonder they say: a person is judged by deeds, not by words.

The Muslim religion, so to speak, sneers at the meanings of atheistic existence. People who do not know Allah, as a rule, are motivated for material achievements - money, profitable work, a prestigious car. Sometimes they want health for relatives and friends, a prosperous family, happiness, etc.

All this has the right to exist, if not for the finiteness of the world. At the end of life, a person does not need anything, everything gained loses its meaning. We will make a reservation - for non-believers.

The Quran calls all of the above aspirations a useless game. “Know that the life of this world is fun, empty decoration, arrogance and the desire to increase one over the other your property and the number of children. In the future shelter there is real life,” the Holy Book explains.

Thus, the purpose and meaning of the life of a Muslim is approaching Allah, being according to his laws, salvation and eternal life.

Buddhism

Unlike Christianity and Islam, in Buddhism there is no higher mind - God, and also the belief in the immortal existence of the human soul is not cultivated. What is the meaning of life for Buddhists?

As the Buddha, the founder and ideologist of religion, taught, there is a lot of suffering in a person's life that arises because of human desires. Get rid of suffering - every Buddhist. This can only be achieved by immersing yourself in a special state of enlightenment, bliss - nirvana.

Being in nirvana, a person ceases to need anything. All desires and the suffering caused by them fade into the background and no longer affect his current life, do not disturb or disturb him.

Nirvana can be achieved by passing from another state - samsara. This is a kind of rebirth, the transition from one body to another. The movement is carried out under the control of "spiritual memory", karma. Your bad deeds, as well as your good ones, will follow you, causing bad or good influence for your life.

The movement from suffering through rebirth to a state of supreme bliss is the goal and meaning of people who profess Buddhism.

Why is life different for everyone?

Thinking about what role is assigned to him in this world, a person tries to answer three main questions:

1. What is the value of life?
2. What is the ultimate purpose of my existence?
3. Why should I live?

It will not be possible to find answers immediately or in a short period. It will be a long time before young man ideas about the meaning of life. They will depend on various factors. Such as:

• social status;
• upbringing;
• religious affiliation;
• habitat;
• Lifestyle.

According to the totality of these factors, people with certain semantic preferences can be divided into four groups.

1. Hedonists

They live in enjoyment and pleasure. This is their life system of beliefs and principles. They choose different means to promote their goals. Hedonists may feel satisfaction from the benefits that he brings to society and people by his participation. But often they prefer traditional values ​​to pleasures that violate the norms of morality and morality. Food, alcohol, sex, shopping, work, recognition, spiritual practices, the company of friends, family, hobbies, travel, etc. help to bring pleasure from life to hedonists.

2. Ascetics

Asceticism involves the denial of all desires. In fact, this is the ideology of Buddhism. Ascetics strive to achieve a higher state of mind, renunciation of earthly pleasures, passions, worries and attachments. They do not need fame, wealth, or money.

They agree to live alone outside of civilization. At the same time, ascetics pay much attention to bodily training and improve the discipline of the mind. It also enters into their idea of ​​the meaning of life.

Asceticism, with a certain self-regulation, opens up great opportunities for spiritual growth and internal improvement.

3. Contemplators

These people experience satisfaction from the process of observing, examining, contemplating everything that surrounds them. They perceive the world passively, without directly influencing it in any way. A visual object for a contemplator is the sphere of application of his mind, thoughts, talents, desires, intentions.

This way of life is called active inaction. A person lives in progressive motion, does not rush, does not plunge into fuss, does not forget about the main thing. His goals and, ultimately, the meaning of life - in the performance of high duty, and not the pursuit of material wealth.

Contemplation is actively used - it fills them with creative creative energy. A contemplative person feels the world more subtle and, as a rule, is not exchanged for momentary meanings.

4. Doers

These people do not live for themselves, but for the sake of the common good. AT Marxist philosophy, which promotes such a way of life, claims that by living for others, one can become "truly perfect and great."

The meaning of the existence of actors is determined by the contribution that they make to the public cause. Personal achievements satisfy them to a much lesser extent.

Are you still unable to find the meaning of life? Then visit us for useful tips!

Greetings to our dear readers of a successful site! 🙂

You are constantly tormented by the question: “What is meaning of life? It is probably very difficult for each of us to accurately give a detailed answer to this question, as well as to other questions: “What is love?”, “What do you understand by the word happiness?” etc.

Many psychologists agree that when a person begins to often talk and think about the meaning of life, this is a clear sign that things are going badly for him!

By the way, it is precisely because a person thinks and analyzes a lot that he is completely different from animals - he is not interested in living just for the pleasure of his physical instincts!

From this it turns out that it was because of this that people of different times and peoples were looking for that very magical meaning of life.

And those who have lost the meaning of life and still cannot understand their destiny are doomed to be unhappy!

Meaning of life. What is it?

Perhaps you will tell me that not all people are constantly looking for meaning of life, here the majority cope without it, they just don’t think about it!

I will argue with you, because I believe that this is not so.

You know, after a while a person begins to think about why he lives in this wide world, and then he gives himself an answer to this question that satisfies him, perhaps for a while or for life ... that's how we live ...

Let's take a look at most people's responses to question asked Perhaps you will find your answer in this list.

1. My meaning of life is to raise a child, plant a tree and buy a house!

Meaning of life– always be beautiful and healthy!

Go in for sports, not grow old, take care of yourself, stay “forever” young;

Meaning of life– to get as much as possible and to the maximum of pleasant impressions and emotions!

Life is given to us only once, so why can't we spend this life in pleasure?

It may sound selfish on my part, but still ... this is my life!

My meaning is in self-realization of myself as a person!

I dream of achieving success, becoming an independent and respected person;

Meaning of life- leave a trace of memory!

To be remembered with kind words and thanked for the work done;

The meaning of life is to serve your family and friends.

To live for the sake of their own children, or for the sake of a husband (wife), for the sake of their parents;

My meaning is in pleasant memories!

I want to look back and understand for myself that I do not regret a bit about how I lived my life!

2. Oh, and my meaning of life, probably, is in life itself (in my opinion, this is nonsense);
3. Meaning of life- to prove to all the people around me, as well as to myself, that I can achieve everything that I want, which others could not do;
4. There is no meaning to life... just live and don't torture yourself with this meaningless question!

See how many meanings of life I gave you as an example! Choose! But…

You probably need to understand for yourself whether I really chose the right one. meaning of life Am I ready to live for him?

And will it lose its taste at some point in my life?

Let's take our studies at school or at university as an example.

You just won’t memorize a paragraph from a book, right?

Since you are teaching it, then you know why you are doing it, right?

You will be able to get an excellent mark, you will acquire additional knowledge, you will eventually receive a test.

Under any circumstances - you get the result of your action!

And you can only evaluate the meaning of your action by the result when you are on the last step, for example, at the exam.

What is the last step of our life?

Of course, death.

Someone managed to do more in their life, someone lived it in kindness, and someone in anger, someone completely devoted himself to children, and someone managed to try EVERYTHING - we will all be the same before death!

For me personally, the meaning of life is self-development!

Planet Earth can be compared to a college or an institute, where everyone must constantly learn new things, gain knowledge and hone their skills in practice!

My life goal is to reveal my human potential and realize it on my life path.

Meaning of life that when I turn my last life page, while looking back, I can confidently say to myself:

“If I had the opportunity to return to the past and live it from the very beginning, I probably would have lived it like that without changing anything! I myself chose how I want to live my life, I and only I am the mistress of my life and my choice! It doesn't matter whether I acted correctly in any situations or not - but I chose how to behave myself, and in those situations - for me it was the best choice ... my choice! I don't regret a single bit! I lived my happy life with dignity!”

I advise you to read a useful article: - these tips will help you decide in life, as well as analyze a lot!

(Someone will recognize themselves in the main character, and someone will be able to find some answers 🙂)

An excerpt from Dale Carnegie's How to Stop Worrying and Start Living:

“Be your best.

If you can't be a pine on a hilltop

Be a tree in the valley, but just be

The best tree near the spring;

Be a bush if you can't be a tree.

If you can't be a bush, be a grass

And make the road happier;

If you can't be a pike, just be a perch -

But be the most beautiful perch in the lake!

If you can't be a path, be a path

If you can't be the sun, be the star;

Win or lose, it doesn't matter

Bring out the best in you!

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