Whenever my mother came home from work, she never rushed straight into the kitchen to grate potatoes for pancakes or starch the bed linen. She would lie down for a twenty-minute nap—and only then get on with the housework. She also fought endlessly against my stubbornness, trying to […]
The human mind shapes our reality. We often think life simply happens to us, but our inner mindset actually guides our day-to-day reality. True manifestation isn’t about magic – it’s about changing how you think, feel, and see yourself on the inside so that your real life begins […]
One of the great Zen masters, Lin Chi, used to tell a story from his youth: “When I was young, I was fascinated by boating. I had a small boat, and whenever I could, I would take it out alone upon the lake. I loved the stillness of […]
There is a story about a man who came upon a cave from which a gentle, fragrant breeze was flowing. It was unlike anything he had ever experienced—cool, pure, and filled with a mysterious sweetness that stirred something deep within him. Overwhelmed by its beauty, he became determined […]
There is an ancient story about a student who longed for enlightenment. Day after day he sat before his teacher, listening to teachings about freedom, truth, and awakening. Yet no matter how much he learned, he remained dissatisfied. “Master,” he would ask repeatedly, “how long will it take […]
Five wise men became lost in a forest. The first said: “I will go to the left. My intuition tells me that is the way.” The second said: “I will go to the right. It is no coincidence that the word right also means correct.” The third said: […]
1. Buy a bicycle. 2. Fall in love. Nothing disciplines the body quite like wanting to be attractive to someone. 3. Stay slim. As we age, we face an unavoidable choice: the face or the body. Keeping the body in shape is possible; preserving the face is much […]
There was a time when people believed that a good life was a simple life. They measured wealth not by the size of their possessions but by the quality of their days. They understood that a shared meal, a meaningful conversation, and a peaceful night’s sleep were treasures […]
There is a part of your mind that cannot be fully controlled. You also cannot willfully turn it off. It functions outside your conscious awareness, influencing you on a daily basis by affecting how you think and make choices. The Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung called this hidden part […]
There was once a prince who had everything the world could offer—luxury, beauty, youth, and power. Yet, beneath the silken robes and palace gardens, something stirred in him—a quiet question, a restlessness not even pleasure could soothe. One morning, while the city still slept, Siddhartha left behind everything […]
There comes a moment—often quiet, sometimes brought on by chaos—when something deep within begins to stir. It might happen while staring up at a starlit sky, feeling small and infinite at once. Or during a long walk, when silence presses in and you begin to hear yourself. It […]
In a world obsessed with growth, speed, and control, Masanobu Fukuoka offered something radically different: stillness, simplicity, and surrender. A farmer, scientist, and philosopher, Fukuoka spent much of his life challenging the assumptions of modern agriculture—and modern life. His approach, called natural farming or the “do-nothing method,” wasn’t […]
Imagine a traditional Japanese tea house, simple and unadorned. There are no extravagant decorations, no excessive furniture—just a Tatami mat, a wooden table, and a single flower arranged in perfect harmony. The space is not empty; rather, it is full of intention, peace, and quiet beauty. This reflects […]
The Cherry tree, adorned with gentle pink and white blossoms, has long been revered across many cultures for its breathtaking beauty and profound spiritual resonance. In particular, its symbolism holds deep roots in both Chinese and Japanese traditions, where it has been cherished for centuries. From glorious festivals […]
Miyamoto Musashi’s precept “The ultimate aim of martial arts is not having to use them” might initially sound paradoxical. Why devote years to mastering techniques you hope never to employ? Yet this principle, echoed in many warrior traditions, underscores that true mastery entails self-restraint, conflict resolution, and a […]
Trees have stood as silent sentinels across the ages, bearing witness to the rise and fall of civilizations. They are nature’s masterpieces, embodying life’s most profound truths: growth, interconnectedness, resilience, and renewal. From ancient mythology to modern science, trees carry a language of their own—a universal code that […]
Miyamoto Musashi was a legendary Japanese swordsman who lived during the late 16th and early 17th centuries. He is celebrated not only for his unmatched prowess in duels, but also for the profound insights he left behind in his writing, especially in his masterwork, The Book of Five […]
Excellence Reporter: Carien, what is the meaning of life? Carien: Most people that ask themselves this question will start to think. When you go deeper into the question you will see that you still look as if you are separate to life. At first this question will seem […]
Excellence Reporter: Drake, what is the meaning of life? Drake Eastburn: I watch my dog licking herself. Over the past couple of years, she has had surgery after surgery after surgery, yet she doesn’t seem to question the fact that she’s been sedated, operated upon, and stitched back […]
And Ego says, ‘Go get serious and write about the meaning of life. Sit in the library until you’re done.’ And Spirit says, ‘What will you find there? Go somewhere that inspires you to live.’ I followed her call to the beach.I’ve always been able to hear her […]
Excellence Reporter: Emily, what is the meaning of life? Emily Maroutian: As a philosopher, I hear this question a lot. I usually follow it up with questions of my own. What do you mean by meaning? Do you mean purpose for existence or the definition of existence? What […]
“All meanings, we know, depend on the key of interpretation.” —George Eliot (Mary Ann Evans) Meditate, listen, trust. I received these words in meditation decades ago and since then, I’ve come to think of them as the three keys to life. Truly. These keys came to me at […]
Excellence Reporter: Angel, what is the meaning of life? Angel Millar: It would seem self-evident that the meaning of life is to live life fully. And to live it without compromise so that we might, sooner or later, embody our true nature and become who we were meant […]
Excellence Reporter: Deep, what is the meaning of life? Deep: I guess the only appropriate way to start out writing an article discussing such an existential question is to also pose a question: Do you feel there is evidence of an inherent meaning or purpose in life objectively; […]
Excellence Reporter: Isabeau, what is the meaning of life? Isabeau Maxwell: We are here for experiences. To say we are here to learn is to suggest our higher self doesn’t know everything already. However, the higher self does not exist in linear time. It already knows the beginning, […]
Excellence Reporter: Richard, what is the meaning of life? Richard Schooping: The question is the answer. We simply don’t know. Source doesn’t know as it has no source. If it did, it could not be a source. So one will search for the meaning of life eternally, only to find […]
“God, to know you is life. To serve You is freedom. To praise you is the soul’s joy and delight.” “The measure of love is to love without measure.” “Do you wish to rise? Begin by descending. You plan a tower that will pierce the clouds? Lay first […]
I have always said that the meaning of life is the aspiration toward God. But to be honest, I didn’t quite know what that meant. First of all, this does not mean suppressing love for your soul. It does not mean wishing harm upon others, harboring envy, or […]
By following the teachings of Master Sha, Dr. Monique Giard is able to combine modern counselling techniques with Tao Hands and spirituality to help people heal. Keeping order in an increasingly disordered world is a challenge we all face. For some, the side effects of trying to maintain spiritual, emotional, […]
What is the meaning of life? Do you ever find yourself pondering this question? It seems like we only come to visit Earth for a very short period of time. We find ourselves working to acquire material wealth and pleasurable experiences, and hopefully leave our children with something […]
This open letter to humanity was written for inclusion in a forthcoming artbook by Aberjhani featuring literary dialogues in the form of letters, poetry, and original artwork reflecting on the COVID-19 pandemic. There is a simple and absolute law that governs everything on this planet: the law of […]
People are starting to lose the ability to distinguish between the digital and the real world. And the more advanced these technologies become, the harder it is to tell them apart. An entire generation has already grown up in the digital world. Unlike us, who used to write […]
“Master Sha has applied his own knowledge to the ancient art of Chinese Calligraphy to create Tao Calligraphy, art beyond art that has a positive effect on anyone in its presence.” Dr & Master Zhi Gang Sha is a world renowned teacher, author, and one of the most […]
Excellence Reporter: Dr. Gerlach, what is the meaning of life? Or the purpose of life if you will… Dr. Derek Gerlach: I believe the purpose of life is to learn, grow, and evolve as spiritual beings. In brief, to find our true selves. To explain why growth gives […]
The Dalai Lama once said, “When there is too much stress or worry, look within.” 2020 has been a very tumultuous year so far, with countless individuals experiencing more frequent (and more severe) bouts of anxiety. Although meditation has been practiced for centuries to calm the mind, it has been […]
There was once a monk who was meditating beside the road, and he apparently had been there for many, many years, for his hair had grown out into the ground, birds had made nests in his hair. He was sitting there meditating. All of a sudden he felt […]
Excellence Reporter: Bonny, what is the meaning of life? Bonny Meyer: The meaning of life is to love and what gives meaning to life is love. Love is the essence of our being. We are born lovers. If you don’t believe me, just look at the way a […]
Excellence Reporter: David, what is the meaning of life? David Richards: This seems like such an easy question to answer, in finding a meaning to life. It is the stuff quips are made of; “the meaning of life is to live a life of meaning.” But how? How to […]
Excellence Reporter: Philip, what is the meaning of life? Philip Goldberg: This is a multileveled question. Let’s start with the ultimate level: Is there meaning inherent in life as such? Or, asked another way: Does existence itself have meaning? To this, my answer must be “I don’t know. […]
If you don’t know why you are here. I encourage you to find out what your purpose is here. What is the meaning of your life? What will be different? Have you ever asked yourself that question? And most people go to their graves with their greatness still […]
Spiritual practices offer us a lot of benefits, especially in this time of uncertainty. Encouraging spiritual health will, not only, promote stability in your daily life but it can also offer a sense of purpose often showing people the true meaning of life. When we dive deep into […]
I was asked by Excellence Reporter to answer the question: “What is the meaning of life?” I spent the entire evening and night reflecting on my life—how I have lived, what I have experienced, and what I have found meaningful along the way. To my great surprise, I […]
*** ~AUGUST TURAK is a highly successful entrepreneur, award-winning author, speaker, and contributor for Forbes and the BBC. He is the founder of the educational nonprofit the Self Knowledge Symposium Foundation (SKSF). As a frequent guest, Turak has been living and working alongside the monks of Mepkin Abbey […]
Excellence Reporter: Ping, what is the meaning of life? Ping Fang: This has been the question pondering in my heart since childhood. What is the purpose of being human? Is there any meaning to it? I was born in the time of the Cultural Revolution in China – […]
Excellence Reporter: Zeenat, what is the meaning of life? Zeenat Potia: I see open, receptive palms. Both receiving and offering the gifts of our collective human existence. For me, this may look like hearing my daughter’s laughter, feeling the warm monsoon rains on my face, allowing myself to […]
The paradox is — we want happiness but we get suffering, and that’s the curse of our desire for (instant) happiness. Modern times are the epoch of the search for happiness and that’s perfectly fine, but when it is not based on meaning, our search very soon becomes […]
On Feb. 13, 1987, I was shown, in a vision, what the purpose of life is and the lesson has never left me. It happened while I was driving my car on my way to work in the city of Vancouver, Canada. I was at the time registered […]
Excellence Reporter: Narayan, what is the meaning of life? Narayan Helen Liebenson: A friend once had an awakening experience and went to a master to ask whether this experience meant he was now enlightened. The master asked: “my friend, do you have complete confidence in the indestructible nature […]
Excellence Reporter: Igor, what is the meaning of life? Igor Kufayev: Speaking ultimately, Life, as an expression of Being, is beyond any meaning we can ascribe to it. That does not mean that Life is meaningless, but rather that it has as many meanings as there are levels of […]
Excellence Reporter: Barbara, what is the meaning of life? Barbara Harris Whitfield: I had a near-death experience many years ago in 1975. The highlight was what is called “The Life Review.” There I saw a cloud with thousands of bubbles and in each bubble was an event from […]
Excellence Reporter: T Proctor, what is the meaning of life? T Proctor: The meaning of life is nothing. And from that nothing comes everything. There are still songs to sing, dances to dance and hearts to be touched. There are stars to be born and constellations to be […]
Excellence Reporter: Shaila, what is the meaning of life? Shaila Catherine: Many years ago a friend said to me, ‘It matters what I do today because I am trading a day of my life for it.’ This became a daily inquiry that helped me overcome a lifelong tendency: […]
Excellence Reporter: Sarah, what is the meaning of life? Sarah Taylor: What is the meaning of life? We could go at this from all sorts of angles, most of which won’t really matter unless they resonate and help you move through the world with presence, heart, and the […]
“As soon as you look at the world through an ideology you are finished. No reality fits an ideology. Life is beyond that. That is why people are always searching for a meaning to life… Meaning is only found when you go beyond meaning. Life only makes sense […]
Excellence Reporter: Dirk, what is the meaning of life? Dirk Oellibrandt: We humans often first look for the meaning of life in order to become aware of what life really is. This will lead us first to self-consciousness. We need meaning if we miss direct experience. As soon […]
Before we can ponder the meaning of life, we must first recognize that life is not outside of us, or something happening to us. We are life. The life we live and the life we are, are not two separate existences. When we obstruct this union, we look […]
Excellence Reporter: Bhante G, what is the meaning of life? Bhante Gunaratana: In my view the meaning of life is understanding life as it actually is and liberate oneself from repetition of birth and death. One must understand that between birth and death there are moments of pleasure. […]
Excellence Reporter: Mark, what is the meaning of life? Mark Van Buren: This question has produced billions of answers over the many years of human existence, which makes one think, could there be an inherent ONE meaning everyone can align with? I’ll be honest, I’m not going to […]
Excellence Reporter: Annette, what is the meaning of life? Annette Kaiser: The meaning of life is to become a conscious human being, that loves, what is. At the core this is a way of living, understanding the essence of human existence: “Love says, I am all, Wisdom says, […]
Excellence Reporter: Leonard, what is the meaning of life? Leonard Jacobson: There are many levels to my answering this question. At the most superficial level, I would say there is no meaning to life. We are born. We live our life and remain unconscious for most of it. […]
Excellence Reporter: Mary, what is the meaning of life? Mary Reed: It would be easy to answer this question by saying that the only meaning of life is that which we give it. But as a mystic, the question feels a little like asking, “Does your mother know […]
Excellence Reporter: Karsten, what is the meaning of life? Karsten Ramser: The meaning of life is connected to our state of consciousness, therefore it is an individual expression. There does not exist an objective meaning of life. It is senseless, useless and a waste of time to discuss […]
Excellence Reporter: Andreas, what is the meaning of life? Andreas Müller: There is no answer to that question, because there is no one who could answer it. And there is no answer to that question, because there is no such thing as “life” in the first place. All […]
Excellence Reporter: Fred, what is the meaning of life? Fred Davis: The meaning of life is whatever you assign to it. Your life purpose at this moment is to read this sentence. Meaning and purpose both beg the question, “To who?” Life has no inherent meaning or purpose. […]
Excellence Reporter: Rebekah, what is the meaning of life? Rebekah Maroon: My first thought is, what does that question even mean? We automatically think that this question is valid, that there is actually some kind of conceptual meaning that we can find, and then kind of stamp it […]
The meaning and essence of life is to live with Truth, Freedom, Creativity and Happiness! Is to unfold our potential in all aspects of our existence, to create inner harmony and reach a higher state of consciousness; to explore life, learn from experiences, develop our capacities (physical, emotional, […]
Knowing oneself fills our lives with meaning, so when we ask ourselves, “where do we come from?” we respond — to ourselves; and when we ask, “where are we going?” we respond — to ourselves. When answering the “meaning of life” question we can answer in a thousand […]
“Just one more moment, a single moment of rest in the wind… and another woman will conceive me” >> Khalil Gibran, “The Prophet” << What is life? Every human being, at one time or another in his or her existence, raises this question. But do you have an […]
Excellence Reporter: Gilbert, what is the meaning of life? Gilbert Schultz: What is the meaning of life, other than this immediate self aware presence, this unmitigated livingness? Life is spontaneous. The word spontaneous means uncaused. The question ‘What is the meaning of life?’ is based upon an assumption […]
Excellence Reporter: Paul, what is the meaning of life? Paul Hague: The meaning of Life, in my experience, is to realize the exquisite sense of mystical Wholeness, which is the True Nature of all of us. I have come to this realization through the creative power of Life, […]
All events in life are shaped according to the divine plan. What is bound to happen will happen. What is not to happen cannot be brought about by any human effort. On this point Ramana was quite categoric. When Deva Raja Mudaliar questioned him as to whether only important […]
Excellence Reporter: Swaha, what is the meaning of life? Vasant Swaha: The ultimate meaning of life is to realize that you are an expression of God’s love, peace, light. Therefore, be a light in the world. To live as consciously as you can in every moment, and that will […]
Excellence Reporter: Prajnaparamita, what is the meaning of life? Prajnaparamita: This question contains an assumption: life has meaning, we just need to figure out what that is. But does life even have a meaning? Life just lives. It is neutral in itself, expressing itself as it does, in […]
Transforming Difficulties Into Triumphs and How I Came to Create a Self-Help Workbook to Help Others Discover Their Unique Life Meaning and Purpose In 2012 I attended an introductory course in Logotherapy at the University of South Africa. There I met the course leader Teria Shantall and I […]
Excellence Reporter: Dr. Whitney, what is the meaning of life? Leanne Whitney: When the living is in the moment to moment of the body, the fullness of the body and its presence is known. Here. Now. In a world where our musculature and nervous system interacts invisibly with […]
“You’ve got to turn around, Bodhi,” the woman said with a chuckle to her dog. Bodhi was stuck in place, his leash wrapped around a pole. Yet he continued to pull forward anyway. In this situation, even the smartest dogs can’t seem to grasp that continuing in the […]
Excellence Reporter: Regina, what is the meaning of life? Regina Dawn Akers: The meaning of life seems to vary by individual, since each person gives her own meaning to the events and circumstances in her life. Yet, if we look deeper, I think each person ultimately wants the […]
*** ~Allan Morelock My birth took place January 7, 1949 on a small rural farm in East Tennessee, and somehow the pure memory of my spiritual nature was retained as the process of incarnating into human form unfolded. As a child, I remembered myself being free from the […]
This is a question that has come to me many times in different ways. What is the meaning of this life? Or rather, what gives this life meaning? In my early twenties, I met my first spiritual teacher Eunice. She spoke of “being a soul in continuous life […]
Excellence Reporter: Zahir, what is the meaning of life? Zahir Khan: To know thyself is the meaning of life I would say. We can get caught up in so many of the dramas and stories of life that we don’t stop, even for an instant to contemplate or […]
Prior to inquiring into this question, let us first acknowledge that it is impossible to discern or describe the totality of the meaning of life in conceptual terms, from the standpoint of Mind, regardless of the length, depth or breadth of our expose. The best one might do, […]
Excellence Reporter: Andrew, what is the meaning of life? Andrew Cohen: The meaning we give to life is entirely dependent upon the self we understand ourselves to be. All the thoughts that I share here about the meaning of life are given in the context of the different […]
Except in the narrowest sense, the question, “What is the meaning of life?” is ludicrous. That is unless you can clearly define “life.” Is life biological? Social, spiritual, political? Is it all of these? None of these? You see? When we finally define life for ourselves, does our […]
We are born. We eat sweet potatoes. Then we die. ~Easter Island proverb What if we fully faced the fact we are going to die. That there is a physical end to this life we are living. And what if we embraced the profound uncertainty of not knowing […]
“And she lifted her head, looking out the window. The Sun shone directly into her eye with just a slight angle and she chose not to waver in the face of the strong light, but to let the suns rays penetrate her vision and give her Eyes for […]
Excellence Reporter: J.Jaye, what is the meaning of life? J. Jaye Gold: Questions of this nature can really only be explored, not answered. For this inquiry, let’s explore the purpose of an individual human life. It is fruitful to examine human life as a “process,” rather than a “product,” […]
Excellence Reporter: Dorothy, what is the meaning of life? Dorothy Rowe: Life is the spark of Divine essence within all things, the Source of creation, simultaneously manifest and unmanifest. This spark of life is self illuminating. As such it appears as the phenomenal forms of the world. We […]
What is the meaning of life? I silently laughed as I read the question. Where was Socrates when I needed him? But I don’t need Socrates to have an opinion, and, of course, Socrates, true to form, would expect me to answer the question myself. That’s the problem […]
Excellence Reporter: Pernilla, what is the meaning of life? Pernilla Lillarose: I would like to answer this question from 2 angles: What is the meaning of life to me? What is the meaning of life itself? The answer will depend on who this ‘me’ is and what life […]
This question was Present as far back as I remember… possibly lifetimes. After much searching and eliminating, not this, not that… The meaning revealed itself to be at the deepest core of all Being. The True meaning and whole point of life is not to be found on the […]
Excellence Reporter: Daniel, what is the meaning of life? Daniel Schmidt: Only the limited mind wants the meaning life. The ego structure wants to know, but what we really want at a deeper level is the full experience of being alive. The flowering of human consciousness is realized […]
Excellence Reporter: Gail, what is the meaning of life? Gail Brenner: This is a beautiful, fierce, and illuminating question, and here’s my story about it. For over 20 years, I lived in the painful process of struggling to discover the purpose of my life. The days seemed to […]
Excellence Reporter: Reb Brian, what is the meaning of life? Reb Brian Yosef Schachter-Brooks: Let’s look at Deuteronomy, 11:26-28 רְאֵ֗ה אָנֹכִ֛י נֹתֵ֥ן לִפְנֵיכֶ֖ם הַיּ֑וֹם בְּרָכָ֖ה וּקְלָלָֽה “See, I set before you today blessing and curse” This is the message to us in every moment: life is both blessing and […]
Why am I here? What is my purpose? What is the meaning of life? Meaning and purpose are among life’s biggest questions. The answers are not simple and require self-exploration. Meaning is what we give to our experiences. How we interpret and relate to life leads to the […]
Excellence Reporter: Mani, what is the meaning of life? Mani: When I hear this question, I feel a warmth in my heart, not my physical heart but the heart of my being, which I call my Soul. Each Soul is the repository of the essence of many lives and […]
Right at your heart! That’s where we start! Somebody recently sent me an early birthday present. It must have been very urgent for me to receive because it was four months early. It was the story of a man who raised goslings from the egg to flight. So, […]
Excellence Reporter: Rev. Peter, what is the meaning of life? Rev. Peter Panagore: Love is key. Love is the meaning of life. We keep the love we give away, and we keep the love given to us. Love is the treasure of Heaven. Give love freely. The flow […]
Excellence Reporter: Mukti Apollo, what is the meaning of life? Moksha Mukti Apollo: This question has become a cliche, and have been answered many times by many so called authorities and experts. So, I propose metaphysical yet scientific approach to answer this question, and I’ll answer in two […]
The evolution of our souls follows these steps upwards towards enlightenment (not necessarily in this exact order and some happen simultaneously). To be read from the bottom of the page upwards… The Absolute / the Nature of Reality is Good / Pure Being /Enlightenment ↑ Discovery of Nature […]
Excellence Reporter: Gloriji, what is the meaning of life? Gloriji: I don’t know, but I can share from my experiences. In our relative experience of being in the world, our search for the meaning of life begins as we mature. We’re acutely aware of the pain and suffering in […]
