What *is* the purpose to all this suffering?!
I just read that one of my favourite blogosphere cats, Lolo (Lautrec), has died. He'd been ill, but it turns out he was full of cancer. His human is devastated and I feel devastated along with her.
There is no end to suffering. What is the point? What is its purpose?
I don't believe in a personal deity that has a "plan" for humankind, or for all Beings. Many do, and can reason away suffering, can believe in a joyful afterlife to make up for the crap in this reality.
Others say that our suffering leads to spiritual growth, that everything is a lesson, that we progress through spiritual levels until we achieve some sort of enlightenment.
Yeah, I used to feel that way till I bottomed out in clinical depression about 8 or 9 years ago. Now I pretty much think that all of life is meaningless, that when you're dead, you're dead.
Yet I'm not so arrogant as to think I'm correct, that I have the answers to life's mysteries.
Frankly, I find it rather frightening to think that every "spiritual" experience we have can be put down to brain activity. And yes, I know there have been sufficient studies to indicate that all is merely neurons firing. Even (especially) our so-called "near death" experiences.
It's not that I think our egos continue after death--how can they?--or would even want my ego to continue. What, carry around all this mental baggage through other forms of existence?
So what is the point to this suffering?
You can't say that your definition of "god" is right and everyone else is wrong. In other words, all beliefs are equal. So your belief in what an afterlife might be is just as valid as someone else's.
But if there's nothing beyond this existence, then we humans have been given the short shrift, I think. Endless suffering for no damned reason.
I just don't get it.
I'm sorry, I'm probably not making any sense. But it seems that life is so heavy to bear sometimes. And if there's no meaning, if it is all just neurons firing, then what's the point? Why bother?
I have no answers, and I know you don't either. You have your personal beliefs and biases, but no one knows if there is Absolute Truth, and if so, what it is. To say otherwise is to be mired in ego.
I would like to think that joys will outweigh sorrows in this life, but for many, perhaps for most, that is not and will not be the case.
It sure doesn't make sense to me.
There is no end to suffering. What is the point? What is its purpose?
I don't believe in a personal deity that has a "plan" for humankind, or for all Beings. Many do, and can reason away suffering, can believe in a joyful afterlife to make up for the crap in this reality.
Others say that our suffering leads to spiritual growth, that everything is a lesson, that we progress through spiritual levels until we achieve some sort of enlightenment.
Yeah, I used to feel that way till I bottomed out in clinical depression about 8 or 9 years ago. Now I pretty much think that all of life is meaningless, that when you're dead, you're dead.
Yet I'm not so arrogant as to think I'm correct, that I have the answers to life's mysteries.
Frankly, I find it rather frightening to think that every "spiritual" experience we have can be put down to brain activity. And yes, I know there have been sufficient studies to indicate that all is merely neurons firing. Even (especially) our so-called "near death" experiences.
It's not that I think our egos continue after death--how can they?--or would even want my ego to continue. What, carry around all this mental baggage through other forms of existence?
So what is the point to this suffering?
You can't say that your definition of "god" is right and everyone else is wrong. In other words, all beliefs are equal. So your belief in what an afterlife might be is just as valid as someone else's.
But if there's nothing beyond this existence, then we humans have been given the short shrift, I think. Endless suffering for no damned reason.
I just don't get it.
I'm sorry, I'm probably not making any sense. But it seems that life is so heavy to bear sometimes. And if there's no meaning, if it is all just neurons firing, then what's the point? Why bother?
I have no answers, and I know you don't either. You have your personal beliefs and biases, but no one knows if there is Absolute Truth, and if so, what it is. To say otherwise is to be mired in ego.
I would like to think that joys will outweigh sorrows in this life, but for many, perhaps for most, that is not and will not be the case.
It sure doesn't make sense to me.
Comments
Also, I try not to think about death, too much. Chicken, but that's my mechanism and I'm sticking with it.
:-)
I think that's why sometimes too I wish I could understand physics. I watch all these wonderful progammes where physicists try and explain the universe and they are constantly stumped, amazed, profoundly changed and star-stuck. Literally! They realise humans are mere specks in the vastness beyond! But specks that are part of the equation keeping the universe tickety boo and existing. :-)
Oh my brain hurts!!!
p.s Sweet Lautrec... :-(
Take care
x
But it would be better for my own peace of mind if I just could live in the moment and not try to make sense of the senseless. :-)
Sliding into Heaven
Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body,
But rather to skid in sideways,
chocolate in one hand, wine in the other, body thoroughly used up,
totally worn out and screaming
"WOO HOO what a ride!"
Being a Christian, I do believe in an afterlife, however, my beliefs don't diminish the nature of suffering in the here and now. What happens tomorrow is irrelevant because I'm only getting to experience the now.
I have found community to be helpful in my suffering. Pain from loss is overwhelming for me, having others to share some of that weight is a great blessing. The CB offers me some of that great community, although at times it overwhelms me.
i was a Buddhist until my mother died, firmly believing in karma and reincarnation. I don't know what stopped that thought train as my mother's death was expected and peaceful.... I also felt I could not believe in a god/God but after many years of addictive thinking found a Higher Power could help me through. I have no idea what He/She/It is or even if it is God. But something kept me going.
Also, as a physicist who had a 'hey wow' moment when I finally understood a really tricky bit of quantum stuff in a lecture many years ago - it wasn't logical, it wasn't anything that could be explained in words but the maths in front of me actually defied language and that was incredible. But it didn't take away an ounce of suffering.
I look at the main reason I have for getting out of the bed each day - my 14 felines. I dread anything happening and look with fear at the other blogs and cry loads when cats die. I have been upset all day about Lautrec, and it makes me feel closer to my 14 fluffballs. I know I will have to face the pain of losing them sometime, but to me the point of life is the pleasure that they give me.
I suffer badly from depression too, but feel incredibly lucky that I can have times when I am not depressed and they do outweigh the bad stuff. I've ignored it, fought it, bargained with it and battled for about 20 years. Even if there isn't a blinding light at the end of the tunnel saying 'it was worth it and depression will go away' there is a warmish glow that makes me carry on.
I don't know if, when I am dead, that's it, I'm dead. I don't know that if my wonderful cats die, they go somewhere, or they are dead. Maybe it's a comfort to me that I think there's a Rainbow Bridge and they'll all be playing there. Maybe I need that. Dare I think I could be there too ? Dunno. I guess like Trish, I try not to think about death too much.
There has to be a reason for this suffering, somehow. And then I guess it's back to this Buddhism stuff so my argument has come full circle, and probably been pointless - like life. But the fact that you and many other people are there (the blogosphere, friends etc) makes it worth doing.
I just believe...and my only goal is to do something to make a difference in the lives of cats. (and the people they are with.) Working with the local humane society...and I really want to be the next Jackson Galaxy ;)
I guess...day by day....and if I learn something to better my life one day, and feel like a crappy bloated cow the next...at least learning to embrace how I truly feel each day. I'm still learning. :)
Losing them still hurts. Especially that in two cases, they were hurting.
We tried so hard to save them - perhaps too hard.
I do believe in an afterlife. I 'saw' my Grandad after he died (I was on the other side of the world and had not been told of his death) I 'saw' one of my cats just last week. She is a frequent visitor. There has been other stuff too. I know that is pretty weird... :-)
But, for what it is worth - your life matters to me. XO
we should make an effort in making the good days memorable, not everyday should be lived as it is the last one, that would be silly and exhausting, but really, to challenge ourselves with small things regularly, bigger ones now and then, to enjoy the small blessings (i say that as an atheist:) etc
i got such a nice list from a friend the other day, dealing with life, great stuff and advice we already know, but it's always good to be reminded. i've printed it out for myself to look at when i need to challenge myself. i'll email it to you!