“Life is without meaning. You bring the meaning to it. The meaning of life is whatever you ascribe it to be. Being alive is the meaning.”
-Joseph Campbell
We all like to throw around ideas about the meaning of life.
When we get more specific, the meaning of life becomes ‘the meaning of these feelings’, ‘the meaning of this job’, ‘the meaning of this relationship’, and ‘the meaning of this situation’.
In this case, specificity really doesn’t help much… 
The problem is that the question is based on a false assumption: that we can logically figure out True meaning.
True Meaning preceeds and transcends human logic!
Can it still be found?
Yes…
But we have to be willing to let go of
- logic/reason/rationality
- the fear of confusion &
- the fear of meaninglessness
(keep in mind that ‘willingness to let go of logic’ is not the same as ‘never behaving logically again’)
On the other side of this lies a deeper logic and the beginning of fearlessness.
There is a calm on the other side of the storm… but we must face the storm… 
It seems paradoxical to think that letting go is the only way we can truly possess anything…
Are you willing to let go in order to find True Meaning?
True Meaning can’t be reduced to words.
All that is came to be as an expression of True Meaning… but you have to be able to see beyond what ‘is’.
We can start to do this with a simple practice.
A Course in Miracles: Day 25
The game for Day 25 is:
I do not know what anything is for.
This one is also very challenging.
This is a step in the direction of recognizing the True purpose of the material world we see.
ACIM also tells us:
Purpose is meaning… Everything is for your own best interests. That is what it is for; that is its purpose; that is what it means.
All that we see is for our best interest. All that we experience is for our best interest. All the pain and suffering we see in this world… or all the joy and happiness… are for our best interests.
- The people you can’t stand.
- The situations you find awkward.
- The ’soul crushing’ job.
It is all for your own best interests.
There is nothing wrong with changing any of this… but you will want to appreciate the purpose before you do. If you don’t recognize the purpose… or if you get attached to it a certain way… you can no longer be open and accepting of your own best interests.
For today’s exercise, you will want to set aside 6 practice periods of about 2 minutes each.
- Start the practice period by slowly repeating “I do not know what anything is for” to yourself several times.
- Then look slowly around your immediate area, and let your glance fall on whatever is there.
- As you look at the object, say out loud “I do not know what this ‘X’ is for” (where X can be your hands, your laptop, the chair, the TV, the wall, or whatever else your gaze falls upon).
- Then move your gaze slowly onto the next object.
- Continue to play the game until the 2 minute session is up
At any moment during the day, when you notice a strong emotional response… recall the idea for today. It doesn’t matter whether the response is ‘negative’ or ‘positive’… remember that you don’t know what that specific emotion or situation is for.
From ACIM:
You perceive the world and everything in it as meaningful in terms of ego goals. These goals have nothing to do with your own best interests, because the ego is not you. This false identification makes you incapable of understanding what anything is for. As a result, you are bound to misuse it. When you believe this, you will try to withdraw the goals you have assigned to the world, instead of attempting to reinforce them.
A Few More Thoughts…
When I really accept this idea…
When I really play this game…
It is a tremendous relief.
There is no need to save the world (though there is nothing wrong with improving it).
Let go of the attachment.
The challenge comes when you start to think that it is supposed to be a certain specific way other than it is now.
Let go of attachment to the current situation as well:
Circumstances Will Always Change!
When you free yourself of attachment, you can recognize that it is there for you.
And as you accept that… you and the world will change.
With no need to maintain or change the current situation… still moving through the world as efficiently as possible… this is a priceless and powerful place of flow…
So I’ll ask you again (as I continue to ask myself rather frequently):
Can you set aside the trappings of the ego long enough to see?
keep smiling,
Ben
