"The greatest degree of inner tranquility comes from the development of love and compassion, the ultimate success of life." ~Dalai Llama
It sounds so simple, but I had a revelation-what if the true meaning of life is to be/become love? Of course, love has many contexts and definitions, so I'll go with the broadest, simplest definition I've seen: a belief in inherent goodness. When I asked this to a few friends, they all asked "to be love or loved"? "Love," I respond. Our society wants us to think "loved" because then it can sell us things to tell us how we must look to be loved, what materials we need to be loved, what we must do to be loved (people pleasing anyone?). But truly think for a moment, what is it to be love? Not to feel it, or think about it, or try to pursue it, but truly become it. Something we can't check off our to-do list as it can never be mastered. But then life's meaning emerges moment by moment; it is an approach to life, rather than a state of attainment. A choice we make every day, to recommit to, and that might be simple, but certainly is not easy. Hence why the great philosophical leaders e.g. Jesus, Socrates, Dalai Llama, to name a few preached this, but still hundreds of years later, we have not realized their teachings.
If you know me, you'll know historically I've been an incredibly achievement-oriented person who is constantly trying to think "what's next?" These past three years (post resigning as ED from CMC) have been humbling, aka incredibly challenging, not knowing that answer. I thought I was going to move across both coasts of the country for jobs, had found a life partner, and would go on two international trips this year that didn't happen due to circumstances outside my control. Life continues to demonstrate, you can't plan it, and anyone who thinks otherwise is kidding themselves. I still don't know the answer to that question, But if I ascertain that the purpose of life is being love, then "what's next" becomes an irrelevant question. To be love doesn't answer what's my next career step, if I will find my life partner, or where will I be in five years. But it does answer what to focus on (anything that brings love to me/others) and that is what matters in life. It gives a new meaning of what type of knowledge to focus on too-anything that teaches/shows me how to love better, truer, deeper.
Love won't get one rich, or thin, or go through life unscathed, but it will bring joy and if we love at our best, our lives take on as much meaning as possible. Without love, even through the pain, challenges, and loss, life isn't worth living for. Love is being fully human-connecting with others through the tears, the laughs, the strife, all of it. And so here's my challenge, a new way of viewing achievement. Instead of thinking "what's next," I am trying to think of "what's love?"
This revelation was further inspired by what I read in these two articles:
https://uplift.love/dalai-lama-what-is-the-purpose-of-life/
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/fully-human/201809/how-love-brings-meaning-to-life
