What is the Meaning of Life?

Life refuses to be pinned down. Whatever meaning you want the universe to reflect, it provides.

In medieval Europe, people wanted the universe to reflect their intense belief in the Holy Trinity; at that same period in history, people in India wanted the universe to reflect the cosmic dance of Shiva and his consort Shakti. Wherever Islam held sway, the universe was expected to reflect the will of Allah.

Right now, agnostics expect the universe to reflect their own spiritual confusion and doubt; therefore, the cosmos seems to be a random explosion that began with the Big Bang. Many religious people accept this reality, except on Sunday, when the universe feebly reflects the possibility of a divine maker.

If you try to pin the universe down to one reflection, you pin your own life down at the same time. Reality is like a two-way mirror that shows you yourself as well as what lies on the other side. This mutual effect is mandated because the universe doesn’t possess one set of facts. You the observer bring your version of reality into being.

The meaning of life is everything.

Read more: Spirit, Deepak Chopra's Tips, meaning

Adapted from The Book of Secrets, by Deepak Chopra (Three Rivers Press, 2004). Reprinted by permission of the author.
Adapted from The Book of Secrets, by Deepak Chopra (Three Rivers Press, 2004).

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Terry V.

5:06PM PDT on May 16, 2012

opposite of death.................

send a green star

Jane B.

7:24PM PDT on May 13, 2012

"What is the Meaning of Life?"

I'm amazed at how much money charlatans have scammed out of people by pondering this stupid question. There IS no meaning of life, our lives are ALL FOR NOTHING. We are born, we struggle and we check out, that's it. A few lying thieves have gotten rich off selling false promises of pie heaven and and an "afterlife" that doesn't exist. The Catholic Church is the BIGGEST scam. The "meaning of life" for rich people is keeping the sheeple brainwashed and docile so the money keeps rolling in.

" Right now, agnostics expect the universe to reflect their own spiritual confusion and doubt."

Agnostics are the only ones who AREN'T confused, they know the truth. It's the Catholic Church that's squirming because they have been EXPOSED for their pedophilia, war mongering and stealing from the poor for thousands of years.

What is the impact of the industrial revolution on English poetry anyway?

Dale O.

11:20PM PDT on May 12, 2012

So many philosophies and differing outlooks on what is the meaning of life out there that it would take an eternity to explore them all. Certainly would be fascinating to do.

One could spend a delightful time reading and researching this question as seen from various view points through out the world. Life is often what we make it or how we experience it. Life can be a journey filled with fascinating, frustrating, fulfilling, frightening and many beautiful things. Life can be a waterfall with a tranquil vista or a rocky shoal that we must travel with caution and trepidation. Some life journeys are fraught with peril while others are a relatively smooth sail with some many variations in between.

As long as the food bowl of the sixteen year old blind cat that owns me is filled, my life is often my own to live and share with others.

Veronica C.

6:23PM PDT on May 11, 2012

That article told me nothing.

Nimue P.

10:17PM PDT on Mar 25, 2012

Whatever.

Vicki P.

3:02PM PST on Jan 22, 2012

Thank-you for the article...and interesting responses

Belinda M.

5:39PM PST on Dec 24, 2011

Here is the punctuation I left out of my previous post.

: ? , .

Thank you for waiting.

5:37PM PST on Dec 24, 2011

I wonder if this is how Deepak got through school, bluffing his way through essay questions.

"The meaning of life is everything" OK, Chopra, the next one is "Describe the impact of the industrial revolution on English poetry"

Max O.

11:11PM PDT on Apr 3, 2011

Monty Python makes more sense.

Taina B.

3:19AM PDT on Apr 3, 2011

I agree!