My friends, do things matter?
Let’s think about all the ways things matter and don’t matter.
In the grand scheme of things, we are something that blooms into existence and ceases. We are like a wave in the ocean. We are like a flower during spring. The greatest things we do won’t have an impact outside of this earth.
Even if we do something so great we create a lasting impact that affects something outside of this earth, it will likely not reach outside of our solar system. Even if we reach somewhere outside of our solar system, it will likely not reach outside of our galaxy. Even if it does reach outside of our galaxy, our galaxy is one of (practically) infinitely many.
Seen in this way, none of the things we do will really alter the course of our entire universe. The universe continues to unfold the way it does, following the grand chain of dependent arising. Dependent arising has always been present and always will be present.
Something happens because the conditions for it have been met. But simply having the conditions do not guarantee the event; it is up to chance. Some events are more likely than others, but it still follows the same rule. To win the lottery, you must purchase a ticket. But buying the ticket does not guarantee winning.
A religious/metaphysical perspective about this is that we have no free will because everything is predetermined. Is that the case? As I explained in a recent writing, all qualities are ascribed by context and therefore you could argue it is predetermined or not. It just depends on how you define the context.
If you believe in an omnipotent creator who confined us to this realm of possibilities, that’s ok. If you don’t, that’s also ok. Because both don’t have anything to do with the removal of suffering, which is largely the point of everything I discuss. You can be perfectly happy with a belief in god or without one, because happiness (lack of suffering) has no condition.
The point of existence isn’t to make an impact on the grand universe. In fact, there is no point to existence because “point” is a concept made by the mind. Existence predates the entire concept of point so the entire question of “what is the point of existence” sort of doesn’t make sense.
This sentiment tends to invite a feeling of depression. To me, that’s a sign of a conditioned way of living life. One lives a life constantly pushed forward by this concept of a purpose only to find that it doesn’t actually exist. So what pushes me forward now?
As I frequently note, this is a classic case of loss aversion. The life you live, no matter how much you might dislike it, gives you a certain comfort that comes from familiarity. When change is introduced, we naturally have a resisting heart for this reason.
The great thing is, now you don’t have to go forward. You can go backward. You can look up. You can spin in place. You have an infinite degree of freedom on what you can do with your life now. In this way, your life matters.
Your entire life is a blank canvas waiting for you to paint it in. How you paint it matters, because it gives you a particular kind of a painting. The experiences you have in this life matters, because it shapes your inner landscape. Your body may be contained in this universe, but your life is lived inside of the infinite vastness of your heart.
There is another way something matters, and it’s how you interact with those around you. An extreme but simple example: if you kill another person and stuff the light of their life out, this matters to the other person. Vice versa, if another person kills you it matters to you.
The generosity and kindness you show to someone matters to them. The love you give another person in a dire time of need can be the difference between life and death for them. This matters.
There is no definitive purpose or ultimate reason. Of importance here is that there is no reason to suffer. With this great freedom, are you living life like someone whose life matters? Or are you living life like someone whose life doesn’t matter?
Billy Seol
July Life Coach
julylifecoach.com
