The point of existence?
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I have a humble question, wonder if there's anyone who could answer:Surely all things happen for a reason - understand that although the source of our suffering derive from attachment, but having to remove attachment so as to remove suffering (albeit is a good method of removing suffering by eliminating desire), it would have nevertheless question about the existence of human in general.
Hence, what's the point of existence from a Buddhist perspective? Understand that seeking enlightenment is the goal of any Buddhist practice (regardless of school), but that is still intrinsically the goal of this philosophy, but it is not the point & purpose of existence itself.
By removing ourselves from earthly desire, that would make the 'final cause' (based on Aristotelian's thought) of human life vague. For example, say if am a Musician and music is my art and my life. Surely, if I fail to have any break-through in my art and become frustrated - the source of my art would also naturally be the source of my misery. Although I may suffer a lot from my pursuit in music in this lifetime, but at the end of the day, I live, breathe and die as a musician and that is also the point of my purpose in this lifetime - the seed of this purpose which had all the potentiality and self actualized in a form of my profession as a musician.
Thus, how do one explain the purpose of existence from a Buddhist perspective, since we eliminate individuality altogether?
Cheers
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Originally posted by Yunhaier: I have a humble question, wonder if there's
anyone who could answer:
Surely all things happen for a reason - understand that although the source of our suffering derive from attachment, but having to remove attachment so as to remove suffering (albeit is a good method of removing suffering by eliminating desire), it would have nevertheless question about the existence of human in general.
Hence, what's the point of existence from a Buddhist perspective? Understand that seeking enlightenment is the goal of any Buddhist practice (regardless of school), but that is still intrinsically the goal of this philosophy, but it is not the point & purpose of existence itself.
By removing ourselves from earthly desire, that would make the 'final cause' (based on Aristotelian's thought) of human life vague. For example, say if am a Musician and music is my art and my life. Surely, if I fail to have any break-through in my art and become frustrated - the source of my art would also naturally be the source of my misery. Although I may suffer a lot from my pursuit in music in this lifetime, but at the end of the day, I live, breathe and die as a musician and that is also the point of my purpose in this lifetime - the seed of this purpose which had all the potentiality and self actualized as my profession as a musician.
How do one explain the purpose of existence from a Buddhist perspective, since we eliminate individuality?
Cheers
I would say each person sees themselves as having different purpose. Ultimately, we all seek happiness, so that could be the 'shared purpose'.
Buddhism does not eliminate individuality.
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Buddhism talks about being, conditions leading to now.
You are the sum of your experiences, live life to the fullest, now.
Why do you see yourself with a one dimension with a singular purpose? Everything you do is in relation to everything/ everyone else. Life is multi-faceted and multi-dimensioned. Each aspect of life changes with certainty.
Live life and play music with sincerity, not to seek affirmation from others but yourself.
Only you can affirm your self worth !
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Our subconscious tendencies in our 8th consciousness becomes our 'purpose' and as far as I can see it, it is individual for each person. It is however not a 'soul'.
Longchen says:
During one meditation (many years ago) I had one experience that might be what is termed as the alaya consciousness. By comparision to normal state of consciousness, this state is very subtle and profound. (To AEN, this is not the eternal witness experience, but a different one).
In that state, one will feel that one knows the purpose/reason of incarnation and that information of past-lives are 'stored' there. It is like a very high vibration, vast consciousness that holds 'seed intentions' and is aware of all the rebirths.
Had i not come back to Buddhism, I will be stuck there thinking that this is the ultimate purpose. This is where other people from other practices and religion will term as Higher Self, Oversoul or God. It is very easy to get stuck there as the experience is so profound.
Sometime after that, I came back to Buddhism and have experiences of the non-dual. Even so, for a period of time, i was wondering, should i 'base' on the experience of the Alaya or should i continue with the non-dual practice. It took me a long while to realise that at the state of the Alaya, there isn't any realisation of the non-dual. That state is seems as a supreme self (with vast information/knowledge) but there isn't any understanding of the non-dual nature of existence. Because of not realising that non-duality is the basis of reality, 'it' functions in a certain manner.
If all these is very confusing, please disregard this post.
Just want to stress that Buddhism is extremely profound and Buddha has covered areas that will leave virtually all other mystics and meditators stuck in mistaken views. During meditation, we will experience many different subtle experiences. Without someone who has covered the entire territory, it is very easy to get stuck at half-truths or mistaken views. The various experience can move one off unto different paths away from realisation.
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Originally posted by Yunhaier: I have a humble question, wonder if there's anyone who could answer:
Surely all things happen for a reason - understand that although the source of our suffering derive from attachment, but having to remove attachment so as to remove suffering (albeit is a good method of removing suffering by eliminating desire), it would have nevertheless question about the existence of human in general.
Hence, what's the point of existence from a Buddhist perspective? Understand that seeking enlightenment is the goal of any Buddhist practice (regardless of school), but that is still intrinsically the goal of this philosophy, but it is not the point & purpose of existence itself.
By removing ourselves from earthly desire, that would make the 'final cause' (based on Aristotelian's thought) of human life vague. For example, say if am a Musician and music is my art and my life. Surely, if I fail to have any break-through in my art and become frustrated - the source of my art would also naturally be the source of my misery. Although I may suffer a lot from my pursuit in music in this lifetime, but at the end of the day, I live, breathe and die as a musician and that is also the point of my purpose in this lifetime - the seed of this purpose which had all the potentiality and self actualized in a form of my profession as a musician.
Thus, how do one explain the purpose of existence from a Buddhist perspective, since we eliminate individuality altogether?
Cheers
I did not ask to be born or exist but since I was already born as human I have a purpose of my existence in this life : go to Amitabha's Pureland after death.
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Originally posted by Weychin:
Buddhism talks about being, conditions leading to now.
You are the sum of your experiences, live life to the fullest, now.
Why do you see yourself with a one dimension with a singular purpose? Everything you do is in relation to everything/ everyone else. Life is multi-faceted and multi-dimensioned. Each aspect of life changes with certainty.
Live life and play music with sincerity, not to seek affirmation from others but yourself.
Only you can affirm your self worth !
An Angsana seed given the right condition will grow into an Angsana tree. In the process of growth, surely there will be obstacles that prevents this self actualization from taking place - should the negative forces be overwhelming, it would limit or even eliminate this self actualization from taking place altogether. Although we do not live life in a singular purpose - but ultimately, the existence of life from the time of birth till death would have a purpose - just like an Angsana seed seeks to become an Angsana tree, disgarding the conditions that this little seed will face in its pursuit. Of course, there are other secondary function of an Angsana tree; simple example would be that it acts as a place of habitat/shelter or food source for various community of insects and animals.
But this quality is accompanied by the fact that the seed attempts to grow into a tree and not because it is it is made to provide food and shelter for these creatures in a cosmic sense.
Hope I am still making some sense here.
Therefore, if human life is going through existence after existence, living in identity of various 'selves' - is life a combination of several purposes of many existences or is there an ultimate purpose in life itself, in which these transitory self are by a secondary function, like the Angsana tree?
Cheers
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Originally posted by An Eternal Now:
Our subconscious tendencies in our 8th consciousness becomes our 'purpose' and as far as I can see it, it is individual for each person. It is however not a 'soul'.
Longchen says:
During one meditation (many years ago) I had one experience that might be what is termed as the alaya consciousness. By comparision to normal state of consciousness, this state is very subtle and profound. (To AEN, this is not the eternal witness experience, but a different one).
In that state, one will feel that one knows the purpose/reason of incarnation and that information of past-lives are 'stored' there. It is like a very high vibration, vast consciousness that holds 'seed intentions' and is aware of all the rebirths.
Had i not come back to Buddhism, I will be stuck there thinking that this is the ultimate purpose. This is where other people from other practices and religion will term as Higher Self, Oversoul or God. It is very easy to get stuck there as the experience is so profound.
Sometime after that, I came back to Buddhism and have experiences of the non-dual. Even so, for a period of time, i was wondering, should i 'base' on the experience of the Alaya or should i continue with the non-dual practice. It took me a long while to realise that at the state of the Alaya, there isn't any realisation of the non-dual. That state is seems as a supreme self (with vast information/knowledge) but there isn't any understanding of the non-dual nature of existence. Because of not realising that non-duality is the basis of reality, 'it' functions in a certain manner.
If all these is very confusing, please disregard this post.
Just want to stress that Buddhism is extremely profound and Buddha has covered areas that will leave virtually all other mystics and meditators stuck in mistaken views. During meditation, we will experience many different subtle experiences. Without someone who has covered the entire territory, it is very easy to get stuck at half-truths or mistaken views. The various experience can move one off unto different paths away from realisation.
Very interesting.Long Cheng dismissed his state of Alaya consciousness, being aware of the purpose/reincarnation or a 'supreme' self as half track to exploring the 'full territory' - then how do we ever know what is the 'full territory'?
Wouldn't knowing full purpose of our present life or even understanding purposes of previous existences unlock the point of existing per se?
Or is the point of purpose something mundane from a Buddhist perspective? Like going through reincarnation after reincarnation from time without beginning and ending?
Cheers
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I try my best to give you a summary on existence.
The Buddha has said its impossible to find out the first starting point of life or existences. He said beginningless and thus endless ie no beginning and no end. the question on why you exists surfaces. The Buddha discourages his followers not to speculate as to why life exists etc etc. He revealed that the cause of our existences are craving and ignorance and the 4 Noble Truths. Unless one extinguishes craving and ignorance which are the causes, you will continue to exists, hence rebirth. when you exists, there is the law of karma. you inherit both good and bad karma. no one can escape the effects of their karma. When you have ended the causes of existence, you have attained enlightenment. This will be your last rebirth.
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Originally posted by Rooney9:
I try my best to give you a summary on existence.
The Buddha has said its impossible to find out the first starting point of life or existences. He said beginningless and thus endless ie no beginning and no end. the question on why you exists surfaces. The Buddha discourages his followers not to speculate as to why life exists etc etc. He revealed that the cause of our existences are craving and ignorance and the 4 Noble Truths. Unless one extinguishes craving and ignorance which are the causes, you will continue to exists, hence rebirth. when you exists, there is the law of karma. you inherit both good and bad karma. no one can escape the effects of their karma. When you have ended the causes of existence, you have attained enlightenment. This will be your last rebirth.
My question wasn't directed towards the starting point of life
because I am interested in the purpose of existence and not the
rationale why life begin..If given life and my solo purpose is to remove life itself from existence, it somewhat becomes an irony because it makes little sense to be given this gift of life in the first place just to have it removed?
For example, Helen Keller suffered from unfortunate medical conditions which render her both deaf and blind. Surely, a Buddhist would view that this is the manifestation of karma - but it is precisely because of her inflicted karma in which, instead of degenerating her, this struggle would inevitably contributed for her fight for certain ideals (She campaigned for women's suffrage, workers' rights, and socialism, as well as many other progressive causes). If placed in a good environment, without adversity, it might not be the same.
In that sense, isn't karma something that need not to be eliminated entirely, but rather, something to be examined, insofar that we can extract something meaningful from our circumstances no matter how dire it may be?
Wouldn't that give greater clarity to our purpose of existence? At least in this lifetime?
Cheers
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Originally posted by Yunhaier: Very interesting.
Long Cheng dismissed his state of Alaya consciousness, being aware of the purpose/reincarnation or a 'supreme' self as half track to exploring the 'full territory' - then how do we ever know what is the 'full territory'?
Wouldn't knowing full purpose of our present life or even understanding purposes of previous existences unlock the point of existing per se?
Or is the point of purpose something mundane from a Buddhist perspective? Like going through reincarnation after reincarnation from time without beginning and ending?
Cheers
Hi Yunhaier,
Firstly, i would like to state that this is not definitive and it is impossible to fully describe this 'higher self/store alaya' state.
This 'state' seeks the resolution of fulfillments. Because of awareness of past lifes of the being, at that state there is the understanding of deathlessness. Therefore, death is not a concern at that level of consciousness. At that level, the seeking of resolution of 'unfinished business' drives the rebirth process..
Let me describe an example. In my previous life, I was a european soldier who participated in WW1. The war left a fearful imprint about the pain of war. 'High self/alaya' state seeks to resolve the trauma of war imprint. This drives the process of reborning in an environment where a similar scenario can be experienced. In this case, I am born in Sg who has a national service... must join army.
This joining of army is not a coincidence but is the karmic factor driven by the fear of war. A similar scenario is now manifested to recreate a similar feeling in order for the chance of resolution.
This 'higher self' is a very subtle sense of self that is different from the personality of a reborned being. Note: Experiencing this 'higher self' is not enlightenment. Note: the word 'self' is used here. Most new-age teaching will be based on this level of understanding. However, non-duality and emptiness are deeper mysteries that can still be veiled even when this 'higher self' state is being experienced.
Non-duality realisation, however, will function differently. That is, it is a turn-about insight and understands that no-separation has occured. Non-duality insight understands a deeper level of dynamics and do not seek to resolve in the typical way. It resolves by 'doing nothing'... instead of outward projection of activity.
Higher self seeks to resolve by fullfilling the desires or through whatever understanding that it has accumulated in the past life experiences... and this becomes the purpose of life. Non-duality sees a deeper dynamics at work and resolves through releasing the desires.
Do you roughly understand?
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Originally posted by Yunhaier: An Angsana seed given the right condition will
grow into an Angsana tree. In the process of growth, surely there
will be obstacles that prevents this self actualization from taking
place - should the negative forces be overwhelming, it would limit
or even eliminate this self actualization from taking place
altogether.
Although we do not live life in a singular purpose - but ultimately, the existence of life from the time of birth till death would have a purpose - just like an Angsana seed seeks to become an Angsana tree, disgarding the conditions that this little seed will face in its pursuit. Of course, there are other secondary function of an Angsana tree; simple example would be that it acts as a place of habitat/shelter or food source for various community of insects and animals.
But this quality is accompanied by the fact that the seed attempts to grow into a tree and not because it is it is made to provide food and shelter for these creatures in a cosmic sense.
Hope I am still making some sense here.
Therefore, if human life is going through existence after existence, living in identity of various 'selves' - is life a combination of several purposes of many existences or is there an ultimate purpose in life itself, in which these transitory self are by a secondary function, like the Angsana tree?
Cheers
The angsana tree does what it does by being itself without any conceptualisation on it's part unlike us. All life exists with ideal range of conditions present. Any less, life would not exist.
Each existence,without the conciousness of previous life, is an existence in itself. You exist because you simply exist. More purposeful life or less purposeful, you still live and die regardless! Ask yourself, are you looking for affirmation of self worth? If so, what yardstick or whose expectations are trying to live up to? Do you judge yourself / others according to what standards? What are you clinging to? Why do your self conciousness arise?
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Originally posted by Yunhaier: My question wasn't directed towards the
starting point of life because I am interested in the purpose of
existence and not the rationale why life begin..
If given life and my solo purpose is to remove life itself from existence, it somewhat becomes an irony because it makes little sense to be given this gift of life in the first place just to have it removed?
For example, Helen Keller suffered from unfortunate medical conditions which render her both deaf and blind. Surely, a Buddhist would view that this is the manifestation of karma - but it is precisely because of her inflicted karma in which, instead of degenerating her, this struggle would inevitably contributed for her fight for certain ideals (She campaigned for women's suffrage, workers' rights, and socialism, as well as many other progressive causes). If placed in a good environment, without adversity, it might not be the same.
In that sense, isn't karma something that need not to be eliminated entirely, but rather, something to be examined, insofar that we can extract something meaningful from our circumstances no matter how dire it may be?
Wouldn't that give greater clarity to our purpose of existence? At least in this lifetime?
Cheers
Helen Keller's fortitude comes for her immense suffering, yes, accomplishments are real, but so is her suffering of a conciousness locked in body unable communicate see or hear.
Karma in this instance is precondition, but also shows it is not fatalistic. It is also due her karma that she met her teacher, Annie Sullivan, without which she will never be able to emerge out of herself.
It is suffering we want to remove, and with clarity , we learn to lose craving and clinging.
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There is no point in existence, you exist because you exist.
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We can have desire to do more good things. This is good desire. Desires are boundless and we have limited capacity to fulfill these desire. People are concerned about accumulating possession, pursuing happiness and thinking that getting this “fame”, $$$ that they will be happy ever after. Most of the time, people still suffer mentally despite they may have all the possible happiness with them. Even when I find myself indulging in the sense pleasure, there always seems to have a lingering dissatisfaction or restlessness. The kind of happiness that found when indulging in usual sense pleasure is very difference from the peace of mind that is acquired through meditation.
Enlightenment does not come with removing earthly desire by refraining ourselves that from doing this or there. Enlightenment is more about reading our heart - and this comes with walking the noble eightfold path.
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The Buddha mainly taught about suffering and how to end suffering. He never taught the purpose of existence as it would not end suffering.
One might even say the purpose of life is to "enjoy life to the fullest" or develop one's full potential. But he saw that all is impermanent and hence unsatisfactory, that clinging to impermanent conditions would lead to suffering.
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I would say the key purpose of Cycle of Life is to learn to be a better person, more specifically, higher spiritual person, whether one is a spiritual being or not.
In a person's specific life, there are karmic lessons for that particular life to be learnt that helps one to work towards achieving the key purpose of Cycle of Life.
Does what I say above go against Buddhism beliefs?
Rainbow Jigsaw of Life
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Originally posted by longchen:
Hi Yunhaier,
Firstly, i would like to state that this is not definitive and it is impossible to fully describe this 'higher self/store alaya' state.
This 'state' seeks the resolution of fulfillments. Because of awareness of past lifes of the being, at that state there is the understanding of deathlessness. Therefore, death is not a concern at that level of consciousness. At that level, the seeking of resolution of 'unfinished business' drives the rebirth process..
Let me describe an example. In my previous life, I was a european soldier who participated in WW1. The war left a fearful imprint about the pain of war. 'High self/alaya' state seeks to resolve the trauma of war imprint. This drives the process of reborning in an environment where a similar scenario can be experienced. In this case, I am born in Sg who has a national service... must join army.
This joining of army is not a coincidence but is the karmic factor driven by the fear of war. A similar scenario is now manifested to recreate a similar feeling in order for the chance of resolution.
This 'higher self' is a very subtle sense of self that is different from the personality of a reborned being. Note: Experiencing this 'higher self' is not enlightenment. Note: the word 'self' is used here. Most new-age teaching will be based on this level of understanding. However, non-duality and emptiness are deeper mysteries that can still be veiled even when this 'higher self' state is being experienced.
Non-duality realisation, however, will function differently. That is, it is a turn-about insight and understands that no-separation has occured. Non-duality insight understands a deeper level of dynamics and do not seek to resolve in the typical way. It resolves by 'doing nothing'... instead of outward projection of activity.
Higher self seeks to resolve by fullfilling the desires or through whatever understanding that it has accumulated in the past life experiences... and this becomes the purpose of life. Non-duality sees a deeper dynamics at work and resolves through releasing the desires.
Do you roughly understand?
I understand your explaination that nondualism being the true nature of phenomenon and how you still regard a higher self (which, in your perception still technically a self - which still reveal a dualistic nature).May I know which school of Buddhism you are into? Zen?
Also, I have a non-related question: you mentioned that you are a European soldier who fought in WW1 and this contributed to the phenomenon of reborning in a country where you end up having to fulfill military obligation (even in peace times). I am curious, how much impact has this been for you as manifested in your present existence? Are you a regular?
P.S: Many thanks for your attempt to explain my question. I truly appreciate your effort.
Cheers
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Originally posted by Weychin:
The angsana tree does what it does by being itself without any conceptualisation on it's part unlike us. All life exists with ideal range of conditions present. Any less, life would not exist.
Each existence,without the conciousness of previous life, is an existence in itself. You exist because you simply exist. More purposeful life or less purposeful, you still live and die regardless! Ask yourself, are you looking for affirmation of self worth? If so, what yardstick or whose expectations are trying to live up to? Do you judge yourself / others according to what standards? What are you clinging to? Why do your self conciousness arise?
Each individual provides his own respective purpose of his own existence. This is somewhat a gist of the philosophy in Existentialism.
Thanks for the reply. Just trying to expand my understanding in various school of Buddhism and Philosophy is general.
Cheers
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Originally posted by Yunhaier: I understand your explaination that nondualism
being the true nature of phenomenon and how you still regard a
higher self (which, in your perception still technically a self -
which still reveal a dualistic nature).
May I know which school of Buddhism you are into? Zen?
Also, I have a non-related question: you mentioned that you are a European soldier who fought in WW1 and this contributed to the phenomenon of reborning in a country where you end up having to fulfill military obligation (even in peace times). I am curious, how much impact has this been for you as manifested in your present existence? Are you a regular?
P.S: Many thanks for your attempt to explain my question. I truly appreciate your effort.
Cheers
I am more into Theravada and Dzogchen. Used to go for weekend meditation classes, but now mostly meditate at home, which i try to do it every day. Started meditating at 14 years old. More than 20 years now...
No, I am not an army regular. During the NS and reservist days, I was a sectcomd/Platoon sergeant in a Guards/infantry based unit. I will get stressed when called up for reservist. But one mystical experience, during one reservist exercise greatly reduced my fear.
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Originally posted by Yunhaier:
Each individual provides his own respective purpose of his own existence. This is somewhat a gist of the philosophy in Existentialism.
Thanks for the reply. Just trying to expand my understanding in various school of Buddhism and Philosophy is general.
Cheers
Our perceived views of ourselves always in relation to others, in reference to ourself. The more complicated our environment becomes the murkier it becomes!
If in feudal times, if my father was a farmer, without education, I am probably going to be a farmer too!
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Originally posted by Rainbow Jigsaw:
I would say the key purpose of Cycle of Life is to learn to be a better person, more specifically, higher spiritual person, whether one is a spiritual being or not.
In a person's specific life, there are karmic lessons for that particular life to be learnt that helps one to work towards achieving the key purpose of Cycle of Life.
Does what I say above go against Buddhism beliefs?
Rainbow Jigsaw of Life
Hi RJ,
Thank you for writing and sharing. I perfectly understood what you are talking about. Karmic lessons, cycle of life and lifeplans, these are what I have meant by 'Higher self' level purposes. As said, this are the 'seed intentions' for the reincarnation. As mentioned above, this level is not really concerned about physical deaths of individual lifetimes, it is more concern about learning karmic lessons, resolution, completion of life plans and so on so forth.
There is no right or wrong. This is one perspective from a specific level.
However, may i also invite you to take a deeper evaluation of Buddhism, especially its teaching about no-self/non-duality and emptiness. We need not discard what we already know, but insights into non-duality and emptiness will give us a new perspective that may not be incompatible with what you already know. :)
I hope the other forummers are not too protective of what is Buddhism or is not. This is just my sharing with our friend.
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Originally posted by longchen:
Hi RJ,
Thank you for writing and sharing. I perfectly understood what you are talking about. Karmic lessons, cycle of life and lifeplans, these are what I have meant by 'Higher self' level purposes. As said, this are the 'seed intentions' for the reincarnation. As mentioned above, this level is not really concerned about physical deaths of individual lifetimes, it is more concern about learning karmic lessons, resolution, completion of life plans and so on so forth.
There is no right or wrong. This is one perspective from a specific level.
However, may i also invite you to take a deeper evaluation of Buddhism, especially its teaching about no-self/non-duality and emptiness. We need not discharge what we already know, but insights into non-duality and emptiness will give us a new perspective that may not be incompatible with what you already know. :)
I hope the other forummers are not too protective of what is Buddhism or is not. This is just my sharing with our friend.
Hi Longchen
What is your views on the split of theravada and mahayana?
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Originally posted by Rooney9:
I try my best to give you a summary on existence.
The Buddha has said its impossible to find out the first starting point of life or existences. He said beginningless and thus endless ie no beginning and no end. the question on why you exists surfaces. The Buddha discourages his followers not to speculate as to why life exists etc etc. He revealed that the cause of our existences are craving and ignorance and the 4 Noble Truths. Unless one extinguishes craving and ignorance which are the causes, you will continue to exists, hence rebirth. when you exists, there is the law of karma. you inherit both good and bad karma. no one can escape the effects of their karma. When you have ended the causes of existence, you have attained enlightenment. This will be your last rebirth.
That's your best?..... kekekekekeke..........rOony9 is a coward. Want to become a monk to escape army reservist training. Reservist training is hell for roony9!
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Originally posted by Rooney9:
Hi Longchen
What is your views on the split of theravada and mahayana?
Hi Rooney9,
So sorry, I really don't have a definite view on this.
However, from a practical point of view, i feel it is better to understand and practice the Theravada teaching first, although Theravada teaching is generally included in Mahayana.
Arhatship (Theravada) is very hard to attain already... before we can even embark on the Bodhisatva (Mahayana) path.
That's just purely my opinion, though.
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Originally posted by Rainbow Jigsaw:
I would say the key purpose of Cycle of Life is to learn to be a better person, more specifically, higher spiritual person, whether one is a spiritual being or not.
In a person's specific life, there are karmic lessons for that particular life to be learnt that helps one to work towards achieving the key purpose of Cycle of Life.
Does what I say above go against Buddhism beliefs?
Rainbow Jigsaw of Life
When one learns that grasping and clinging leads to suffering, one tries to learn how to let go. Whether it is one life time or many live times, it can be be sum up as one experience, or many experiences of one individual. It gives context to one's goals, purpose or path. It can mean the same or different depending on each situation.
For Buddhist, on learning in as long as one is in samsara, sufferings continues. As such, one learns or tries to let go.
To put it broadly, the Eightfold Path, especially applies :-
For different people leading different lives will interpret them differently especially initially.
The Eightfold Path:-
1. Right View Wisdom 2. Right Intention 3. Right Speech Ethical Conduct 4. Right Action 5. Right Livelihood 6. Right Effort Mental Development 7. Right Mindfulness 8. Right Concentration