“If we find ourselves with a desire that nothing in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that we were made for another world.” ― C.S. Lewis
It’s one of those questions that’s hard to get hold of.
Why are we here?
Does it matter?
It’s not like we had a choice.
Isn’t that enough?
I suppose the real issue is what we do with this one, precious life.
Ah, don’t be stupid. That would be too easy. No, what we do is traverse first one mountain and then the next, looking for something worthy of our attention — e.g. money, success, fame and a life-defining moment — which we can dine out on for the rest of our natural lives.
But it’s so exhausting.
What’s wrong with life?
You might (immediately) jump to the “…there’s only this…moment” paradigm but that’s churlish. Or is it? Not really when most people end up living out of their thoughts, never experiencing this moment, good, bad, indifferent.
What am I really trying to say?
It’s this. We don’t need any reason to be here. We’re here, and that’s enough. If we need to contend with anything it’s our narcissistic tendencies and unwillingness to just be. (As Sri Ramana Maharshi said, “That’s the highest form of meditation.”)
But of course, I’m not expecting you to take my word for it, or anything else. You’ve to experience this for yourself, which is bloody hard given our social and societal conditioning. I mean, even sitting still for an hour without distraction is nigh on impossible. Aim for something much longer or to live in hermitage for a few weeks, i.e. live with silence, and most people would think that utterly ridiculous. We need it though, not just to restore our sanity but to ask a more beautiful question than “What’s next?” which is the prevailing wind across so much of the developed world.
Of course, what I’m suggesting — i.e. you’re here to be nothing, do nothing and achieve nothing…other than to be — is so counterintuitive to be boarding on lunacy. And it’s not that it’s diametrically opposed to the personal development movement but it’s anti everything we hold dear.
And perhaps that’s also why it’s so right.