Og

There's also the good old whitman from dead poets society:

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Vi veri veniversum vivus vici. (By the power of truth, I, while living, have conquered the universe)
The self is not a fixed entity but a dynamic process of relationships
You & I, no distinction. - Tat Tvam Asi
Become Who You Are

jaej

That is such an amazing movie. Although I laughed at the end...

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The An-Jel

Never saw that movie. It might be worth a gander. The universe is such an awesome configuration that I find myself compelled to watch and explore. Earthly pleasures for a human are enticing and if you are an Atheist what the hell you really got nothing better to do than enjoy them.

Why go out with a bang when you can go out with a smile on your face. Thats a bigger bang than any gun can produce.

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"And let there be Light!" said the Blind man.

Life is simple, people make it complicated - Basilisk

Nulli Expugnabilis Hosti - Royal Gibraltar Regiment

jaej

You could go out with a bang and a smile.

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Vinterland

Very well said. Thank you for that!

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And on we walked. Suddenly we heard a voice crying, "This is the sea. This is the deep sea. This is the vast and mighty sea." And when we reached the voice it was a man whose back was turned to the sea, and at his ear he held a shell, listening to its murmur.
And my soul said, "Let us pass on. He is the realist, who turns his back on the whole he cannot grasp, and busies himself with a fragment."
—Gibran Khalil Gibran, “The Greater Sea.”

mister_lister

The meaning of life is pretty simple to me, the purpose of life as well. All life has basic purposes: to be born, to live, to procreate, to die. All living things do those basic things. The more complex the living creature, the more complex the act of living, procreating.

I think as human beings we are capable of introspection and inspection. We ponder things that other creatures do not, or seemingly do not. We have a lot of real estate in our minds, seemingly endless amounts of energy to ponder. Evolution has made us this way. Every culture on earth has come up with answers to the meaning of life BEYOND the basic meaning and purpose.

I spend my time expanding my mind, but I hold on to the basics. I believe in simplicity in almost all things I engage in. My purpose parallels the basic purpose of all life. I am not extravagent or complex. I always search for fundemental and practical ideas. My life is a reflection of my adherence to the basic purpose of all life.

At certain times in my life I was more complex and searching. I am much more content now than at any point in my life prior. For me it took a revolution in my thinking and a total abandonment of my former lifestyle and religion. I have a major mental illness and that grounded me and caused me to deeply reflect and to SIMPLIFY.

At times I think about others and what they hold on to as being the meaning of their life and I wonder what their life would be like if that meaning and purpose was turned completely on it's head. What their reaction would be. I do not think many would survive it because they do not really hold on to primary purpose of life, they are not satisfied with it, they feel their must be more and more, and in fact they go beyond the grave with their purposes and meanings.

Belief is a shifty thing. The best advice I can give anyone, is to believe in those things which contain the greatest amount of evidence that it will prolong your existence and aid you in living with others. I have a lot of faith in science and similar logical pursuits. I find religion to be more of a dividing force than a uniting force. I have no use for Gods or anything spiritual, I have found no evidence of their existence and those that believe in them are usually quite contentious with science and logical pursuits. I think however we will always have mysticism because it is an easier path to follow.

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"The trouble is not with what we don't know, it is with what we think we know that just ain't so". ~ Mark Twain

Geshtinnanna

Meaning of life to me:Get more checks in the happy column then the sad column. Whatever that means to you, do it.

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jaej

I think that life really has no meaning, just what you make it. And I think in every person there lies deep within a profound desire, a need, to matter. I think that's what people want most of all. Religion can give it to them.

And I would say don't believe anything. Know.

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Jellicle Tribe

I rescue cats....strays, special needs, abandons. They have a comfortable life with food and shelter and someone to brush out their coats. They don't dwell on such things as the meaning of life, they just like being full and comfy, and I find purpose in keeping them that way.

Works for me.

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Mike
and the Jellicle Tribe, a gang of
rogue cats of dubious lineage!!!