WHAT IS THE MEANING OF LIFE

WHAT IS THE MEANING OF LIFE?

A Merton catechism.  Wink.


Here is s short letter from Merton, written in an effort to answer a perennial question posed by a DA friend.


______________


Dear friend,

You asked me what the meaning of life is and wondered if it is the same for all.

Well, that's a very interesting question!  I suppose the Church would, in catechism, have a pat answer.  I think it was "to love and serve God..." or something like that.  Of course, even if this were so, it would depend on one's definition of the words "love" and "serve."

Philosophies and religions like to have pat answers, at least many do.

I tend to think that we all come here (incarnate) having agreed to do certain things and accomplish certain things. What is agreed upon is different for each person. And, each has different abilities and perhaps also different past lives, karma, etc.  In addition, another factor is that all human beings have free will.

And so, despite agreeing to do and experience certain things in life before we arrive (presumably with angels, beings of light, God, etc.,"up in heaven" or wherever that other place/other side is) we can change our minds once we get here.  We can veer off or alter what we agreed to before coming to earth.  This "agreeing to certain things before we come here" is a common theme in books about near death experience.

I think, in short, my answer concerning the "meaning of life" (my own version of that part of the Church's catechism) would be:

"We humans come to here to earth in order to learn, grow, and evolve, and to help others do the same. And, we come to experience and share the joy and interesting journey of living."  

Now that I have said it succinctly, let me expound upon that a bit.
(Mertons just can't resist, can they?!)

We are naturally curious and joyful creatures, unless our spirits become dulled and deadened by hurtful or disappointing experience.  I think is important that we keep that curious and joy-seeking part of us nurtured and alive, so that we can continue to contribute, learn, grow, and experience/send out joy.

So in the Merton version of the catechism, it is important to continue to be curious and joyful.  As well, it is in  my view crucial to experience, grow and evolve in the way that is right for us, in the amounts and in the balance that "fits" us.  We should not let any person, organization, religion, philosophy or hierarchy tell us the proper way to think, experience or live.  

We must interpret the meaning of life for ourselves, find it, understand it and live it, in the way that is right for us.  This continues to be our charge, no matter how eccentric or odd the "rest of the world" might see us to be.  It all is between ourselves and "God" as WE perceive of God.   That perception may change over the years as we change and grow... and that is cool.  

I do not think that God, if He/She is sentient, is so cruel as to punish us for not quite understanding or seeing "Him" "correctly" at any given point in our lives.  NDE writers speak of God in the NDE being shown to us as we understand him or her, as the NDE experiencer can "accept."  So, it would appear, that God is much bigger, kinder, and more flexible than rigid religious structures would have us believe.

In the Merton catechism, it is paramount that we understand and accept (for our own sanity, peace of mind and spirit, and in order that we give and receive our highest good) that we live according to our own, ever-evolving  understanding of and connection with self, God, Universe, etc.  

That last part is so important!

OK... How's that?

It's a Merton catechism!  Wink.

Well, why not?!?  

If the church can have one, I can too!

(Except that I, unlike the church, encourage you to explore my little catechism on your own, to think about it, change it, make it fit your unique vision of what you suspect, hope for, envision, etc.  I fully expect that your own little catechistic vision of the meaning of life will grow, change and evolve as you do,  as your understanding of self, life and "God" does.)

So I suppose my words are not really a catechism at all, since (as I understand it) a catechism is a series of defined answers for use in teaching the main tenets of a rather set faith to the "faithful."

But it makes me smile to call my little series of words a "Merton catechism" just for fun.

Lol.

Tee hee.

-Merton