The Meaning of Life

In a society focused on consumption and "purchasing power", this text offers a profound reflection on the apparent absurdity of our daily lives. Between studies, career, and family obligations, it is easy to lose sight of the essential. The author invites us to step out of the endless cycle of superfluous desires to focus on our real needs and the satisfaction of the soul.

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Summary: In a society focused on consumption and "purchasing power", this text offers a profound reflection on the apparent absurdity of our daily lives. Between studies, career, and family obligations, it is easy to lose sight of the essential. The author invites us to step out of the endless cycle of superfluous desires to focus on our real needs and the satisfaction of the soul.

By relying on the image of a thread (fundamental harmony) connecting the different stages of our existence, this text explains that the true goal of life is not to "make a living", but to align oneself with a greater purpose. By cultivating lucidity and turning our senses inward through meditation, we can transform our daily lives. This article is a call to individual responsibility, to the balance between rights and duties, and to the discovery of a lasting inner peace, beyond material possessions and the sandcastles of the temporary.

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It is true that the lives of Mankind are often absurd and lack meaning. We notice this as soon as we take a step out of this absurdity, in particular moments of meditation and calm.

In the wealthiest countries, we spend our entire youth studying to learn a trade. We spend forty years practicing one or more professions, not always pleasant or well-paid, to make a living, and then we reach retirement. And then what ? What was the meaning of all that ?

Living to earn enough to live, buying a house, a car, a kitchen equipped with a central island, getting married, having children, raising them, getting divorced, paying for the divorce, selling the house, sharing the proceeds of the sale, preparing for retirement, and taking out a funeral plan... All of this does not truly give meaning to existence. What is the meaning of a life once the children have gone ? We hardly see them anymore, the grandchildren are almost strangers, and society no longer needs us ; we have become a burden. Yes, what is the meaning of life in those moments, if not to wait for death ?

What the Wealthy Dream Of

Furthermore, one cannot live their entire life for their children… It is foolish, because they do not live theirs for their parents. I see an image passing on social media that says : "Complete this sentence : I cannot imagine my life without...". Among the answers, there is one that comes up most often : "My children".

Yet, children leave one day and we are left with our life, but without them. At least in Europe. So ? What meaning does our life have at that moment ? Everyone has their own existence : the children have theirs, we have ours. For a while, we cohabit, but that only lasts for a time.

There is an expression that often comes up in political speeches : "Purchasing power"... As if the meaning of life were to buy ! But, whatever purchasing power one possesses, it is not enough. Poor people can dream that when their situation improves, they will be happier. However, for wealthy people who are not happy, what can fulfill them ? What is the meaning of their life ?

The one who spends their life working to buy happiness is tackling an endless construction site. This is what is absurd and vain. But in truth, life is neither absurd nor vain ; it has a meaning, and this meaning is not to consume... "Sentimental crowd, with a thirst for an ideal..."

There is something greater than existence, something that begins before it and continues after. It is this thing that gives meaning to our passage here below. Existence is like a pearl threaded by a string ; this pearl is part of a set that forms a necklace.

The true "you" goes back much further than your birth and will continue after your death. It is that journey that is important. Not that the existence you are living right now is not important — it is — but the most important thing remains your life through several existences. Each existence is a pearl, the set of these pearls forms the necklace of your lives, and the string that connects them is the essential element.

The String That Runs Through Us

This string that passes through us, through our entire existence and all our existences, I know it and if I had to give it a name, I would say "soul" or "eternal principle" or even : "fundamental harmony".

What I can tell you is that the fundamental principle is not only made to help us pass high school exams, get a master's degree, look for work, then work to accomplish everything I mentioned above. It is good to do all these things, for one must live ! That is not the problem, yet these activities are not the goal of life.

My son is graduating high school this year and wants to go to college to become an English teacher. I am like all parents in the world : I want him to pass his exams, to thrive in his studies, and to succeed in doing what he wants. But I am not fooled ; I know that the goal of his life is not to be an English teacher, to buy a house, to have a girlfriend and children.

Life is so much bigger and more important than all that ! When we live in a country where basic needs are met, we could take an interest in the true meaning of existence. Do you want to invest all your energy and all your hopes in things that are temporary ? Or do you want to invest them in something that transcends existence ?

Do you want to build on the temporary and the fragile, or on the solid ? There are so many people who build their existence like sandcastles, on the wet sand of the low tide, when the sea is not long in coming back up ! Yet, they act as if these sandcastles were meant to last forever.

The Goal of Life

The goal of life is not to "make a living", even if it is indispensable and must be done. The goal of life is to live it as it was intended for us to live it. I mean by this that life was given to us for a specific reason, so that we might accomplish something specific in it. I am not talking about the "life mission" discussed on social media — the one everyone believes they have and which would be different for everyone. I am talking about the reason common to all human beings ; the reason for which life was granted to us.

That which created our life, this "Whole", this "Tao", as some would say, this great primordial equation, did it for a precise purpose. This purpose follows a plan of which we are a part. We have been given free will : the choice to go in its direction or not.

Depending on our decision, our life will be different ; it will have a meaning or it will not. Life wants us to participate in its great game in total freedom. The problem is that today, people think of their rights much more than their duties. They want to take and receive, but not give. They claim their prerogatives and refuse to assume their responsibilities.

Duties and Desires

Whether it be men, women, children, the young or the old, everyone claims their rights, but few want to fulfill their duties. Thus, happiness is impossible, because our rights will never be respected to the level of our demands. This is how the world is made. If you hope to change it, you are wasting your time : you have no power to do so. What you can change, what is within your reach, is yourself.

Seeking the satisfaction of one's desires is an occupation that takes up much of Mankind's time. This search is an endless task, for a satisfied desire does not extinguish the source of desires. The source of desires is vanity. The word vanity designates what is vain, that is to say, useless.

Running after the satisfaction of one's desires is vain, for they are never satiated : "one nail drives out another". Satisfying one's needs is legitimate, but a desire is not a need. To have a roof over one's head is a need, to possess a palace is a desire. To eat is a need, to treat oneself to caviar is a desire.

Learn to distinguish between a need and a desire and, once this learning is done, free yourself from your superfluous cravings. It is already complex enough to satisfy one's needs without seeking to fulfill one's desires ! Happiness begins there... It is the beginning of wisdom. Life is worth more than that.

Satisfaction of the Soul

The satisfaction that Mankind seeks, in truth, is not that of its desires. It is a mistake to believe so. The satisfaction that Mankind truly seeks is that of the soul. But most people are unaware of this because their consciousness is not at the level of the soul, but at that of the senses. Mankind's senses are, most of the time, turned toward the outside. It is not out of ill will, it is simply that he does not know they can be turned toward the inside. This is what the three wise monkeys show, closing their eyes, their ears, and their mouths.

This true satisfaction, Mankind should seek it within himself ! But he seeks it outside without ever finding it, hence a great despair. This despair, he blames on the lack of money and he revolts to earn more ; but it is lost in advance. By the time he realizes it, he is already out of the game ; he is retired and can no longer do anything… Yes, he can finally turn his senses inward to go see, hear, and feel what is happening there. Begin to seek the essential within you : it is perceptible in moments of grace where you feel peace and serenity.

Regularly seek to create such moments by stopping your rushing, by sitting down, by closing your eyes and breathing calmly, by paying attention to the breath, the inhalation and the exhalation. Within it, peace is found. Seek it and surrender to it. Some call this meditation.

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