"The meaning of life is just to be alive. It's so plain and so obvious and so simple. And yet, everyone rushes around in a great panic as if it were necessary to achieve something beyond themselves." -Alan Watts

This quote has struck me profoundly on my journey as I ask what my purpose and meaning may be. It's given me permission to not feel like I have to reach the unattainable. It's given me permission to just be. It's simplified the meaning of life and my purpose. All I have to do is be. That's it. Just be alive. How profound for me and yet so simple. Just be alive. Who I am is enough through all time.

I have also been reading Life After Life by Raymond Moody (http://selfdefinition.org/afterlife/...After-Life.pdf). These quotes from the book struck me as deeply profound.

There is a remarkable ag
reement in the "lessons,"
as it were, which have
been brought back from these close en
counters with death. Almost everyone
has stressed the importance in this life of
trying to cultivate love for others, a
love of a unique and profound kind. On
e man who met the being of light felt
totally loved and accepted,
even while his whole life was displayed in a
panorama for the being to see. He felt th
at the "question"
that the being was
asking him was whether he wa
s able to love others in the same way. He now
feels that it is his commission while on
earth to try to lear
n to be able to do
so.

In addition, many others have emph
asized the importance of seeking
knowledge. During their ex
periences, it was intimated to them that the
acquisition of knowledge continues even
in the after-life. One woman, for
example, has taken advantage of ever
y educational opportunity she has had
since her "death" experience. Another
man offers the advice, "No matter
how old you are, don't stop
learning. For this is a proc
ess, I gather
, that goes
on for eternity."

That really struck me. That for those with these Near Death Experiences (NDEs) the two things that mattered most for their lives were did they love others and did they gain knowledge. Again, simple yet profound. Love (and I think this includes for self and maybe God if that's what you believe) and knowledge. Love others and gain knowledge. Wow. We all know how difficult that can be. We can take a lifetime learning those lessons, but I believe they are worthy goals (or purposes).



So, just be alive, love others (and I believe we should love ourselves as well), and gain knowledge. I think I can live with that. I hope that this has helped you even if only a little on your own journey to discovering your purpose.