What is the meaning of life

Everyday we wake up, and we go through the routine of eating, drinking, sleeping, working and trying to enjoy ourselves.  Between our birth and death, these are the activities that we all engage in.  What is the meaning of life?

Sometimes we feel so empty within that we cried out:  What is the meaning of life?

Thousands of years ago, people searched for the meaning of life.  They went through the same routines of life.  Many of them felt the emptiness and asked themselves: What is the meaning of life?

For most people, they did not take further action to find the answer to this question: What is the meaning of life?  They just lived as happily as they could before their death.

For some people, they searched for the meaning of life in the religions.  Some did find the answers and wrote articles about “what is the meaning of life?”.  Some even managed to found a new religion or sect telling others about the meaning of life, and the salvation from miserable existence of life.

Some people from ancient times searched for the meaning of life in the mountains. Some people searched for the meaning of life in their mentors. There were still many ways that people of the past searched for the meaning of life that we do not know of.  We could only glimpsed from the writings that survived to our present times.

Today we are still seeking for the meaning of life in much the same ways. Some people are able to find the meaning of life in the religions. Some of us are able to find the meaning of life in the books. Some of us are able to find the meaning of life in the mountains.

Many of us are still asking ourselves: What is the meaning of life. Many of us hope to live a meaningful life, and leave behind some legacies before it is too late.

Do people in the same family, attending the same place of worship, reading the same book, attending the same school, find the meaning of life from the same source? No, because the meaning of life differs from person to person.  The meaning of life for your mother is not the same as the meaning of life for you.

Happy is the person who knows the meaning of her life. Happy is the person who is fulfilling the purpose and goes to bed every night tired and satisfied.

How do we find the meaning of life? Many of us have explored the religions, read the books, go to the mountains, yet have not found the meaning of life.

In reality, there is no one single meaning of life. Life consists of years, months, days, minutes and seconds. Life consists of interactions between us, them and the world at large.

Life consists of different roles we are constantly assuming. We may be assuming the role of a boss, a teacher, a student, a parent, a spouse, a patient, a passenger and a consumer in any twenty-four hours duration.  So the meaning of life differs from minute to minute, depending on the role that we are assuming at the moment.

As a child of our parents, the meaning of life is to bring happiness to our parents, to love our parents and to communicate our love in different ways. That is the meaning of life at the point when our parents are still alive.

As employees, the meaning of life is to fulfill our roles in the community. A doctor saves life.  The meaning of life for a doctor is to save life, and reduce suffering.  A doctor who kills defeat the meaning of life.

A nurse takes care of patients. The meaning of life for a nurse is to reduce suffering, and brings comfort to the patients.

A teacher teaches. The meaning of life for a teacher is to promote understanding and wisdom in the students.

A farmer provides food for consumers. The meaning of life for a farmer is to grow enough food for the community and his family.

The meaning of life is found in the day to day routines that we are going through.  What is the meaning of life?  It all depends on the role we are assuming at the moment.

A job well done provides satisfaction that sustains us for many, many years. Even when we grow old and retire, we will still remember the deeds we have done. The memory of it will provide satisfaction that we live a meaningful life, that our life on earth is not wasted.

Have you found the meaning of life? My heartfelt congratulations to you if you have found the meaning of life.

If you are still seeking, look no further than the roles you are assuming in any given day. Life is lived on a second by second, minute by minute basis. The meaning of life is hidding in the seconds, minutes and hours that make up the day.  Instead of asking: what is the meaning of life?  Ask: What is the meaning of my life now?

The religions, the books, the people around you can only guide you to find the meaning of life. They cannot live your life for you. They cannot define the meaning of life for you, and to impose their meaning of life on you.

It is up to you to find your own meaning in life. It is up to you to live the life you want.

What is the meaning of life?