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 […]
The wisdom of long-livers is invaluable for anyone seeking a long and meaningful life. Each insight is rooted in personal experience, and every conclusion has stood the test of time. Excerpts from the book “Many Years. Blessed years. Commandments of the 104-year-old sage Andrey Vorona for a long and joyful […]
Excellence Reporter: Master Wu, what is the meaning of life? Master Wu: I came into this world bringing nothing with me, not even any clothes. When I depart, I will not be able to bring anything back with me. For more than 40 years I have been meditating […]
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 – […]
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 […]
Excellence Reporter: Acharya, what is the meaning of life? Acharya Shunya: The meaning of life for me is the search for life. To not merely lead the life mechanically — we are born, we grow up, we are given goals by society to meet, be it earning wealth, […]
Excellence Reporter: Shifu Jerry, what is the meaning of life? Shifu Jerry Erickson: This is a question I believe we have all contemplated on many, many times throughout our lives. As for myself, I have studied and traveled extensively to find answers about life, spirituality, comparative religion, healing […]
Excellence Reporter: Devon, what is the meaning of life? Devon Loftus: As a 29-year-old homebody who currently lives on the road, I find inspiration in the grounding, in-between moments. The ones that often times are a result of genuine conversation, quiet hours, soft pink sunsets and laughter. Duality […]
Excellence Reporter: Karen, what is the meaning of life? Karen R. Koenig: Although this view makes people wildly uncomfortable and desperate to find meaning, I believe that there is no intrinsic meaning to life other than what we assign to it. To assume otherwise, that others know what […]
Excellence Reporter: Dr. Gokani, what is the meaning of life? Trupti Gokani: I believe we are here to discover our most authentic vibrant inner selves. And it may take some time to fully become aligned with who we are, who we really are at the soul level. I […]
Excellence Reporter: Sri Krishna Kumar, what is the meaning of life? P. R. Krishna Kumar: Life has no meaning unless and until we give a meaning to life. It is sad to find most of our fellow beings departing without having given any meaning with their own life. Vedas say that it […]
Excellence Reporter: Laura, what is the meaning of life? Laura Plumb: I once heard Joseph Campbell answer this question by saying he doesn’t believe there is so much a meaning to life, but rather that we are alive to feel ourselves fully alive, and that when we come […]
Excellence Reporter: Chandanni, what is the meaning of life? Chandanni Miglino: There is no meaning to life as it exists. We are the ones who give it meaning. We are essentially born into a senseless and meaningless world and through ritual, ceremony and culture we create and define […]
The meaning of life is to shine your light as your highest self. It is to regain touch with the divine purpose of your life and share your gifts with the planet. It’s to make your mess into your message and rise up into your full potential, with […]
It is our task as Spiritual beings to remove the blocks that inhibit the native joy and passions of our Spirit. We must delve deeply into our own mysterious being and begin to rediscover the poetic voice of our own Soul. To become courageous Spirits, we must loosen […]
In my clinical experience I have found it critical to help people find the meaning of their experience within their perception of life to be critical. Victor Frankl was very perspective when he described that it was precisely this factor that predicted whether prisoners would die or live […]
Excellence Reporter: Dr. Goldberg, what is the meaning of life? Bruce Goldberg: My approach to the meaning of life reflects upon the perfection of the soul and to eliminate the need to reincarnate. By learning our karmic lessons we can transcend this physical dimension and merge with the […]
Excellence Reporter: Tisha, what is the meaning of life? Tisha Morris: If you were to have asked me this question a few years ago, I would have said the meaning of life is for spiritual growth, evolution, or to learn lessons. But today I would say the meaning […]
Excellence Reporter: Dr. Weissman, what is the meaning of life? Dr. Darren Weissman: The moment of complete darkness is the beginning of light. Turn on the news and you’ll hear about war, genocide, political upheaval, scandals, poverty, starvation, racism, pollution, suicide, bankruptcy, death, hatred, violence, rapists, cancer, children […]
The Autumn breeze is clear and crisp, calming and peaceful. It touches the leaves of green, yellow, orange and red; all of them flowing gracefully in the breeze. Practicing TaiChi and Qigong in a park near home, I feel this carpet of vibrant reds and golds caressing my […]
Our life is our daily existence. It is made up of our daily living, the unity of the body, mind and consciousness. An Ayurvedic sutra says: Sattvam Atma Sharirancha tryam etat tridandavat Sattva is the mind, Atma is the conscious principles, and sharira is the physical body. This […]
Excellence Reporter: Monica, what is the meaning of life? Monica Cassani: I’ve been sitting with this question: What is the meaning of life? on the back burner for a good long while. Finally today, I realized that the reason I haven’t been able to come up with writing anything is […]
Excellence Reporter: Dr. Theise, what is the meaning of life? Neil Theise: Meaning is to be found in words, concepts, questions and their answers, actions and their consequences. All of which are, necessarily and always, secondary. There is no meaning to life, there is simply life. And life is the direct […]
Excellence Reporter: Julie, what is the meaning of life? Julie Daniluk: What is the point of living? To use all of your senses to extract the full experience of being human. Because after we lose our life, we don’t have a body to see, hear, smell, touch or […]
Excellence Reporter: Dr. Nelson, what is the meaning of life? Dr. Bradley Nelson: One of my favorite cartoons on this topic has the guru respond to the truth-seeker by saying, “You’d better have a seat – people tend to fall down the mountain when I tell them the meaning of life!” […]
The meaning of life is to learn to love. And this journey begins with learning to love ourselves. And yet, for most of us, self-love is a radically foreign concept. Most of us live our lives feeling the opposite of self-love — self-loathing and self-judgment. Often, we hold ourselves to unrealistic standards of perfection, and then judge ourselves when we […]
Excellence Reporter: Micheline, what is the meaning of life? Micheline Nader: This is the question that we all have wrestled with throughout the ages. It remains unanswerable to many and varies during the different stages of our life. The meaning of life is subjective and personal. While life […]
As I watch my father dying, the meaning of life is very clear to me. Sadly, he will never enjoy his favorite meal again, drink fresh clean water, make love, create to his full capacity, walk freely, breathe fully, or experience many of the other gifts that come […]
Excellence Reporter: Monk Yunrou, what is the meaning of life? Monk Yunrou: Orthodox Taoist philosophy cautions us not to ascribe too much importance either to the phenomenon of Life in general or to our individual lives. One of Taoism’s most beautiful sayings translates to “the Tao is big”, suggesting […]
Excellence Reporter: Mukti Michael, what is the meaning of Life? Mukti Michael Buck: First of all thank you for the question. My brain goes to what is the purpose of life? and then I go to what is the purpose of purpose? I know that I’m sidestepping the […]
Excellence Reporter: Dr. Liu Dong, what is the meaning of life? Dr. Liu Dong: Many students have asked me what is the meaning of life? I always answer with a smile, “Life is to have an ordinary life, be an ordinary person.” Not to be attached to the color […]
Excellence Reporter: Dr. Jahnke, what is the meaning of life? Dr. Roger Jahnke: “Life is the local, four dimensional manifestation of mysterious aspects of ourselves that can not be described and that can not be perceived through conventionally recognized language or sensory means.” Is life biological? Or, is it […]
Excellence Reporter: Sharmila, what is the meaning of life? Sharmila Desai: In honest humility I find the meaning of life to be a mystery. I embrace the unknown for it nurtures us all to search and to strive in the world, embarking on a lifetime devoted to the pursuit […]
Excellence Reporter: Master Liu, what is the meaning of life? Master Yuantong Liu: “What is the meaning of life?” it is a good question to ask ourselves and others. I had asked this question in my life before 2008. Also I had asked many other questions such as […]
Excellence Reporter: Master Liu, what is the meaning of life? Master Liu He: The meaning of life is to never stop learning. It allows you to continue growing in the right direction for your life, other’s life, and nature’s life. With this concept, we become thankful for yesterday, […]
Excellence Reporter: Chris, what is the meaning of life? Chris Shelton: Two words sums up the meaning of life: Love and Acceptance. I believe that Love is all there is, and that Love heals. I’m not just talking about romantic love but Universal Love. The type of Love […]
Excellence Reporter: Doctor Johnson, what is the meaning of life? Dr. Jerry Alan Johnson: For centuries, this unique question has been posed to special people of deep insight; who were often widely acclaimed prophets, renowned sages, and esoteric mystics of profound wisdom and intuition. Although the question is […]
Excellence Reporter: Master Johnson, what is the meaning of life? Mark J. Johnson: “Ultimately, the meaning of life is the same as the meaning of dancing… you are not on the dance floor to get somewhere, you are simply “going with the flow” in a fluid, dynamic, spontaneous, creative way.” […]
Excellence Reporter: Dr. Cibik, what is the meaning of life? Ted Cibik: My teacher once told me that no two minds have ever been created the same – so many unique experiences, influences and formations as we all move towards transformation. Therefore, the meaning in life may be […]
Excellence Reporter: Shifu Yan Lei, what is the meaning of life? Shifu Yan Lei: The meaning of life is to connect our heart with our body. These days people think too much and their mind and body are out of harmony. Shaolin Qigong and Kung Fu takes us […]
Excellence Reporter: Brother Bernard, what is the meaning of life? Bernard Seif: Meaning is something we all search for, be that journey a conscious or subconscious one. Even those of us well trained in the scientific method experience meaning in a subjective or existential manner. My mother was […]
The purpose of life is to open our hearts so that we may realize that we are all interconnected and that global peace is only a byproduct of inner, individual peace. More than ever, people are searching for ways to cultivate balance and equilibrium in their minds and […]
Meaning and life – two rather potent and I believe rather ineffable words in the English language. The feelings, thoughts and sentiments involved in the experience behind and involved in both of these words is dependent upon who you ask, and even then the responses can evolve over […]
The answer to this question can be discovered through any portal, in any moment. Embracing the Medicine presenting itself in service of your Becoming, is the ever present pathway into the Truth that underlies every problem and every solution. It is tempting to allow ourselves to be sidelined […]
Excellence Reporter: Gwen, what is the meaning of life? Gwen Olsen: For me the meaning of life is to establish spiritual sovereignty over one’s physical being and experience, while recognizing our infinite connection to God through love. When we are born into a human body in this 3D reality, […]
Excellence Reporter: Dr. Mehl-Madrona, what is the meaning of life? Lewis Mehl-Madrona: I suspect that life has no intrinsic meaning and that we are free to make meaning as we wish. This seems to me to be the project of humanity – to take that which may be random […]
Excellence Reporter: Tehya, what is the meaning of life? Tehya Sky: I don’t know that it could ever be said better than the way Alan Watts put it, but I will try. The meaning of life is simply to be alive. We get so subjective about the whole […]
Excellence Reporter: Rose, what is the meaning of life? Rose Caiola: I believe the meaning of life is to feel good about yourself, by doing what makes you happy and fills your heart. It means accepting where you are and being grateful for what you have even when […]
Excellence Reporter: Dr. Hanson, what is the meaning of life? Jesse Hanson: The meaning of life can be summed up in one simple word: connection. There is one specific memory that remains imprinted deeply into my brain and onto my heart. I was at the wonderful age of 19 […]
Excellence Reporter: Dr. Teitelbaum, what is the meaning of life? Jacob Teitelbaum: As Eleanor Roosevelt put it so simply “The purpose of life – is to live it!” Imho, the purpose of life is to explore, experience and become who we are. We do not do this by following […]
I love hot chocolate, especially because it allows me to pause and be present… Pause and be present for what? Pause to remind me that we have been gifted with so much, the ability to taste wonderful things, to be present on Earth to “live”. Life has so […]
Excellence Reporter: Gary, what is the meaning of life? Gary Kraftsow: What could be a bigger question than, “What is the meaning of life?” I begin an answer by reflecting on the meaning of the word meaning itself. Synonyms of the word meaning include words like significance or […]
Excellence Reporter: Dr. Walker, what it the meaning of life? Lesa R. Walker: With all humility, I believe that we, as human beings, are not able to answer the question of the meaning of life. We cannot even fathom the universe. We experience fleeting moments in the vast […]
Excellence Reporter: Dr. Bassman, what is the meaning of life? Ron Bassman: Locked in the seclusion room of the mental hospital, secured in restraints with mind-numbing psychiatric drugs coursing through my body, my spirit found a safe hiding place where it could hibernate. Such was the major crisis that […]
As humans we are meaning making machines. We have the capacity to reflect on life, to shape our lives consciously. We can be aware of every waking moment and what we are creating in it. We can live our Lives on Purpose, with Passion, in Peace. This great […]
Years ago as a child at the circus, I watched as a man kept one, then two, then three, four and five spinning plates aloft on sticks. As fascinated as I was by the spinning of the spinning plates, I was mesmerized by the calm of the man […]
Excellence Reporter: Dr. Cornwall, what is the meaning of life? Michael Cornwall: The meaning of life is found in experiencing the emotion of love. That’s why we’re here. To feel love for ourselves. To feel love for others. To feel love for life itself, feel love for beauty […]
Excellence Reporter: Dr. McGeorge, what is the meaning of life? Kimberly McGeorge: While a big question, in my work I’ve come to an interesting conclusion. It’s a frequency experience for the soul. Some might even say a type of battle. You see we go about our daily lives, thinking nothing […]
Excellence Reporter: Dr. Satyanarayana Dasa, what is the meaning of life? Sri Satyanarayana Dasa: Every living being has an inherent nature to avoid pain and to attain happiness. This nature is most developed in human beings. Whatever we do in our life, knowingly or unknowingly, we do so […]
Excellence Reporter: Dr. Siegel, what is the meaning of life? Bernie S. Siegel: Life of itself has no meaning. It is simply a mechanical event. It presents us with the opportunity and physical ability to be creative and connect with our Lord and the process of creation and […]
Excellence Reporter: Marsha, what is the meaning of life? Marsha Hudnall: “The purpose of life is to enjoy every moment.” That saying occasionally shows up on the bag tag of my favorite brand of tea. It always stops me. I love that the tea company helps bring its […]
When I read this question, my first thought was “well, I guess it all depends on who you ask!”. Every mind is a whole different world. The meaning of life to me is the energy that moves me each day, not just to go on for 24 hours, […]
Excellence Reporter: Dr. Chopra, what is the meaning of life? Sanjiv Chopra: I found that to answer this question it required a lot of reflection and soul searching. I am certain that over the ages there has been a lot of commentary on this topic by philosophers, poets, scientists, […]
Excellence Reporter: Dr. D’Eramo, what is the meaning of life? Dr. Kim D’Eramo: The meaning of life is: there is no meaning of life. Life is whatever you make it mean. We are here not to learn something, have a certain experience, grow, improve, or heal. We are simply here to create whatever […]
Excellence Reporter: Master Sha, what is the meaning of life? Master Zhi Gang Sha: Millions or billions of people have asked this question. They have wondered why we are here and have searched for answers and ways to give their life meaning. I am honored to share my […]
I am not sure that life has a single, universal meaning. I suspect that life, specifically your life, has whatever meaning you wish to give it. You might think, “I’m no one. This moment is small and unimportant; I will just keep going about my day.” I confess […]
Excellence Reporter: Master Cohen, what is the meaning of life? Ken Cohen: Life has no meaning, and it is full of meaning. Let me explain. From the viewpoint of Taoism, China’s ancient spiritual tradition, “Heaven and Earth are unkind; they treat all phenomena like sacrificial objects.” As in the […]
Excellence Reporter: Dr. Jill, what is the meaning of life? Jill Carnahan: We are created in God’s image in order to bring glory and honor to Him by living with the highest purpose and sacrificial love towards others. It means using our God-given gifts and talents to serve […]
Excellence Reporter: Peter, what is the meaning of life? Peter Sterios: Well, it’s simple… whenever I am faced with a profound question like this, I seek the advice and wisdom of my most dependable guru, our family’s 2-year-old dog, and he never disappoints… For this question his answer […]
Excellence Reporter: Angela, what is the meaning of life? Angela Farmer: At the age of three or four years, I knew without a doubt that I came from the sun and that all I had to do was shine! Each night at bed-time my brother and I knelt […]
Excellence Reporter: Dr. Weiss, what is the meaning of life? Steven Weiss: Hmmm… the meaning of life? As my thoughts unwind along the Path that these words take me… I must ask myself first, “what do I mean by Meaning?” I am stuck here. As one who strives to […]
Excellence Reporter: Dan, what is the meaning of life? Dan Pallotta: Life is empty and meaningless. We give it all of its meaning. Sometimes that’s a good thing, sometimes it’s not. Someone looks at me in a certain way. They didn’t mean anything by it. But I have a […]
One of the most popular questions I’m asked during private sessions, workshops or while on the radio is “what is my life purpose?” I often feel that this question and the one I’m answering here are divinely linked; braiding a web of immeasurable possibilities. Typically the energy behind […]
I don’t like theory and philosophy. Something worthy of contribution to a person’s life seldom comes in the form of theory and philosophy. It comes in the form of true experience—in good health, loving relationships, peace, clarity and quality living. Truth and meaning in life brings health, wealth […]
Elucidating the “Meaning of Life” can best be approached through application of the ancient directive: “Know yourself.” To fathom the depths of this suggestion, it helps to view the boundaries of self as false and misleading. The physical universe is a small subset of the much grander aspects […]
Excellence Reporter: Josh, what is the meaning of life? Josh Gitalis: I believe that the meaning of life is to find the meaning of life. The phrase “meaning of life” suggests that there is one. And this is partly true. But there is not one meaning of life […]
It’s never been true, not anywhere at any time, that the value of a soul, of a human spirit, is dependent on a number on a scale. We are unrepeatable beings of light and space and water who need these physical vehicles to get around. When we start […]
Excellence Reporter: Dr. Schaub, what is the meaning of life? Friedemann Schaub: When it comes to defining the meaning of life, most of us are either befuddled or try to avoid this topic altogether. There are some, who tell us, we should search for meaning by striving for success, making […]
Excellence Reporter: Corinne, what is the meaning of life? Corinne Trang: “What is the meaning of life?” is a question with as many answers as there are people, religions, and philosophies, and the answers may change as we enter different conditions and stages of our lives. The controversial […]
Excellence Reporter: Sophia, what is the meaning of life? Sophia Wise One: The part I love most about this question is that the answer is only as valuable as it is liberating. We could discuss this from many points of view, for instance a large concept place or […]
Excellence Reporter: Dr. Vranich, what is the meaning of life? Belisa Vranich: I teach The Breathing Class. I teach people how to breathe, really breathe, owing to the fact that our ability to breathe has devolved to the point that it is anatomically incongruous and causes tsunami size […]
Excellence Reporter: Dave Markowitz, what is the meaning of life? Dave Markowitz: I once heard that life is empty and meaningless—and that it’s empty and meaningless that it’s empty and meaningless! While life may ultimately be meaningless, I do think there is a method to the madness. […]
Excellence Reporter: Dr. Pearl, what is the meaning of life? Eric Pearl: Ah, a question that has inspired contemplation and discussion throughout time. One of my favorite answers to this question was when Jennifer (Loni Anderson), a character on the TV show WKRP in Cincinnati was asked and her response was, […]
Excellence Reporter: Dr. Rediger, what is the meaning of life? Jeffrey Rediger: The meaning of life is, I believe, to do what it takes to turn darkness into light. We are living during a very exciting time. Stepping back and looking at where we are as a human […]
Excellence Reporter: Dr. Larson, what is the meaning of life? Theresa Larson: The meaning of life is living your life’s purpose and go into each day like it is your last. This means being present enough with yourself to actually know what your purpose is, treating yourself with respect, and treating […]
Excellence Reporter: Andrew, what is the meaning of life? Andrew Holecek: The meaning of life can be addressed from two perspectives: relative and absolute. From an absolute perspective, there is no meaning. Life is just the radiance, the shine, the divine play of heart-mind, or spirit. There is […]
Excellence Reporter: Shirley, what is the meaning of life? Shirley Plant: I wonder how many people actually ask themselves this question — what is the meaning of life? It’s a deep question, or is it? For some it’s a simple answer, for others more complex. Like life, I guess […]
Excellence Reporter: Dr. Selhub, what is the meaning of life? Eva Selhub: “What is the meaning of life?” is always a wonderful question to ponder as it can make one go deeper into the recesses of the mind, body and spirit to find an answer. Thing is, there […]
“When everything loses it’s meaning, every thing becomes meaningful.” This insight arises when the mind after intense spiritual seeking unhinges itself and opens into its natural infinite expanse. Now stripped of all interpretations and opinions that previously masked the raw experience of life, the truth lies bare and […]
Excellence Reporter: Jena, what is the meaning of life? Jena la Flamme: Pleasure gives life meaning. The experience of pleasure doesn’t have to feel like something is happening, but it does feel like nothing is missing. It feels like fulfillment because it gives life meaning. Having pleasure in […]
Excellence Reporter: Victoria, what is the meaning of life? Victoria Moran: I believe we’re here to know God, by whatever name you want to give the Great Beneficence. We do this by learning to love more exquisitely than we might have without this delicious experience of the physical […]
Excellence Reporter: Dr. Finkelstein, what is the meaning of life? Michael Finkelstein: I’ve been consciously working on this question since I turned 10. I remember that exact day vividly, and though I wasn’t very old at the time, I began to wonder about our experience of mortality and […]
Excellence Reporter: Brandon, what is the meaning of life?” Brandon Bays: At the deepest level we all have access to an innate greatness, an infinitely healing and liberating force that can orchestrate our lives perfectly and magnificently. The difficulty most of us have accessing that greatness and living […]
Excellence Reporter: Dr. Barnwell, what is the meaning of life? Ysaÿe M. Barnwell: At some point, each human being will probably try to figure out the meaning of life. Perhaps meaning can be inferred from purpose. I really feel the purpose of life, with all of its complexities, is the […]
Excellence Reporter: Dr. Kelly, what is the meaning of life? Robin Kelly: I was talking this week to a friend who is dying. We talked about the meaning of death, whether our consciousness survived our passing, and if so in what form. We talked about the love in […]
Excellence Reporter: Doctor de Grey, what is the meaning of life? Aubrey de Grey: To be honest I’m not really much of a fan of the concept that life has some kind of inherent meaning; I’m more of a practical sort of guy – I like to devote […]
Excellence Reporter: Dr. Hameroff, what is the meaning of life? Stuart Hameroff: The meaning of life is to feel good by resonating with the universe. In the view I take on the nature of consciousness with Sir Roger Penrose, feelings are related to quantum processes in the fundamental […]
Excellence Reporter: Penny, what is the meaning of life? Penny Kelly: We cannot ask, “What is the meaning of life?” because life has whatever meaning you give it. If you are a mean S-O-B, people will respond poorly to you and you’re likely to say life sucks. If […]
Excellence Reporter: Dr. Welch, what is the meaning of life? Dr. Claudia Welch: “The meaning of life, as I understand it from my Teachers, and as confirmed in its resonance with my soul, is to realize our birthright to return to the Ocean of Love from whence we […]
Excellence Reporter: Max, what is the meaning of life? Max Strom: When we are in pain, we become self-centered and myopic, then we spend most of our time seeking quick ways to get out of suffering, which often involves a lot of bad behavior. When we heal, we […]
Excellence Reporter 