From: hakim@bigq.enet.dec.com (Kamran Hakim)
Subject: Re: Re:purpose of life
Organization: Digital Equipment Corporation
Date:  7 OCT 92 15:20:23    


SY=Sasan Yaghmaee
R=Reza

SY>In a philosiphical article Reza writes:

 >               What is the purpose of life?
 > 
 R>    I believe that the answer to this question may be hidden for
 R> many of us Iranians who are first generation immigrants. I may be
 R> wrong  but I know many depressed Iranians whose problems start
 R> with not having a purpose in life. I would appreciate any kind
 R> of reply. I am sure that everybody on the net will benefit.

In article <147@cfdd40.boeing.com>, sxy6978@cfdd40.boeing.com (Sasan Yaghmaee)
you write:

SY>The question presumes that there should be a purpose to life. But isn't
SY>that proposition debatable?

Perhaps! Please consider the meaning of purpose:

Purpose is defined as: 1- A result or effect that is intended or desired;
			  intention. 2- Determination; resolution.

There exist numerous examples in life which place more weight on "purpose"
in different forms of existence including human life than on its lack. It is
important to point out this purpose will be identified based on UNIVERSALLY
PERCEIVABLE RESULTS/EFFECTS associated with various forms of existence rather
than PARTICULAR PURPOSES we human assign to various natural forms of existence
based on our usage for them. Let us consider some examples throughout the
nature: 

In the context of mineral existence, there exist a natural thermodynamic
tendency for entropy to increase. As a direct result of this tendency for
the entropy to maximize along with environmental factors such as; heat,
pressure, presence of catalysts, etc... a chain of energetically favorable,
yet endless ATOMIC/MOLECULAR REARRANGEMENTS occur which could be perceived 
as THE PURPOSE within the atomic/molecular realm of existence. 

From the vegetable standpoint GROWTH and AUGMENTATION could be perceived as
THE PURPOSE.

From the animal perspective THE PURPOSE of existence appears to find meaning 
in the APPLICATION OF SENSES and the DICTATES OF INSTINCT. There is no element 
of mind present in the above processes (i.e. molecular rearrangement, growth/
augmentation and power of sensation/instinctual behavior). They all proceed 
naturally. 

From the human standpoint, THE PURPOSE of existence must of necessity find
expression in man's power of intellection. The phenomenon of mind in human 
realm of existence introduces the element of "understanding", reinforced by 
other unique human factors such as "willfulness", "consciousness" (in its
psychological sense of the term), etc... in a world filled with examples to
emulate. A human being is uniquely capable (i.e. most capable among all
creatures) to overcome animal instincts and abandon natural routines by making
a choice and behaving accordingly. This choice could vary from emulating
vegetables and animals, or behaving contrary to such natural models by
emulating a higher criterion or a super-state (i.e. theologically defined as
reflecting the attributes of God.), thus ascending from the animal state and
realization of the definition of the human state. 

I hope that I have been able to demonstrate above that purpose is an integral
part of existence regardless of human choice to acknowledge it or not. The 
question is not, in my opinion, whether there exists a purpose for human 
life or not, rather, WHAT IS A GOOD PURPOSE TO ADOPT! In the final analysis 
a purpose is adopted by each and every human being one way or another, 
either intentionally through education and mindful personal choice, or
unintentionally and by default emulation of the natural models. There is 
no escape from purpose in life. 

By choosing to retain the lowest state of energy in one's life and by doing
nothing except eating and sleeping (i.e. khordan va khAbidan) life reduces to 
a human portrayal of vegetable state by the virtue of emulation. The natural 
purpose in the life of such an individual becomes augmentation (i.e. khod rA
gondeh kardan.). Another choice is to emulate the animal condition. As a 
result the goal in one's life becomes those things which satisfy the dictates
of one's senses. The gratification of senses will ultimately manifest them-
selves as animal characteristics in human. Characteristics such as DOMINATION
(Appear in sexual, racial, class, religion, wealth, education, etc... forms.),
INDIFFERENCE (i.e. towards others rights and feelings), MINDLESS/INSTINCTUAL
BEHAVIOR (i.e. preference in behaving according to routine instead of mindful
reaction to every situation), etc... In the context of these characteristics
"SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST" becomes the rule governing human relationships. Our 
social, political and economic systems throughout the world clearly portray
the existence of this ASSUMPTION as a fundamental premise within each and
every society throughout the planet.

Also there exists the possibility for a human being to adopt a model which
is beyond rather than below man. In order to emulate ideal characteristics 
such as: knowledge, justice, truthfulness, honor, wisdom, unity, etc... as 
the purpose in one's life. Naturally, adopting such purpose places one under
many self-imposed constraints in a society , so one's life would not be as 
easy (i.e. Demonstration of courtesy, respect, honesty, love, fairness, and
care, etc... in one's attitude would not come naturally and requires much 
self-control.), yet, one could not begin to recount the personal and social
benefits proceeding from the immense transformation in human attitude which
results from adopting such an ideal purpose in life. Galen, the famous Greek 
physician and philosopher, in his Summary of Plato's Republic makes a very
wonderful observation which I find relevant to this discussion:

"The generality of mankind are unable to to grasp a sequence of logical 
 arguments. For this reason they stand in need of symbols and parables telling 
 of reward and punishment in the next world. A confirmatory evidence of this 
 is that today we observe a people called Christians, who believe devoutly in 
 rewards and punishment in a future state. This group show forth excellent 
 actions, similar to the actions of an individual who is a true philosopher. 
 For example, we all see with our own eyes that they have no fear of death, 
 and their passion for justice and fair-dealing is so great that they should 
 be considered true philosophers." 

SY>The only factual statement in this regard is, Every life form wants to
                                                 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
SY>preserve itself (life) and fulfill all its potentials. I know that's a
   ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
SY>recursive definition, but that's the best I can do without conjecture.

All animals naturally want to preserve themselves. If the preservation of 
life is the goal, then what is the difference between a human being and a 
wolf? If self-preservation is a goal in human life, one must of necessity
commit anything and everything to bring this into fulfillment. This becomes
the anti-thesis to personal and social tranquillity. On the contrary, a 
human being must be capable of self-sacrifice (which is conceptually opposed
to self-preservation) as a fundamental premise in one's formulation of
purpose of life in order to catalyze peace and tranquillity on a personal 
and social levels in the context of present human situation throughout the
globe. 

In reference to human life's potential and its fulfillment: An animal is 
aware of its potential by the virtue of INSTINCT and lives up to it, yet, 
human has the WILL to overcome instinct and adopt a purpose in life. This
while being a cause of distinction and ascendancy of man over animal, yet,
it is a disadvantage also since humans don't have the benefit of programmed
characteristic displayed by animals. So, the responsibility of adopting a
purpose becomes a human responsibility from the moment of inception.

Unfortunately to emulate "survival of the fittest" as the DEFAULT MODEL to 
live by could not be identified, in my opinion, as FULFILLING THE HUMAN
POTENTIAL. So, the most fundamental portion of your statement, namely: 
"fulfill all its potential" still remains to be answered. What is this
potential? Are the natural models available to man satisfactory? What is 
the model to properly challenge this potential on a personal and collective
level? 

SY>So, the principles I live by are,
SY>        The will to live 

There are not too many people who do not have a will to live. Everyone
possesses this animal instinct. This is not a distinctive goal. One who
does not have a will to live is generally identified as psychologically
imbalanced.

SY>        The courage to shape my own life

There is much truth in this. One must be willing to courageously meet the
challenges of life to reach an intended goal, or as you would say "to
shape (one's) life". However, courage must accompany a goal or purpose
in order to find expression. Courage alone is insufficient. 

SY>Beware! Anybody that tells you otherswise, wants something you got :-).
                                              ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

In the spirit of ":-)", I'd like to offer the following guidelines, offered
by the poet, to distinguish among your friend and he/she who CLAIMS to be 
your friend (thus their suggestions for you): 

"delA yArAn seh ghesmand ar  bedAni	 zabAni-ando, nAni-ando, jAni
 beh nAni nAn bedeh az dar berAnash	 navAzesh kon be yAraneh zabAni
 va lAken yAreh jAni rA beh dast Ar      beh jAnash jAn bedeh ar mitavAni"

Not everyone who offers someone something wants something in return. The 
following is the purpose I associate with my life and struggle to achieve:

"To live the life is to be no cause of grief to anyone. To be kind to all 
people  and to love them with a pure spirit. Should opposition or injury 
happen to us,  to bear it, to be as kind as ever we can be, and through all, 
to love the people. Should calamity exist in the greatest degree, to rejoice,
for these  things are the gifts and favours of God. To be silent concerning 
the faults of  others, to pray for them, and help them, through kindness to 
correct their  faults. To look always at the good and not at the bad. If a 
man has ten good  qualities and one bad one, to look at the ten and forget 
the one. And if a man  has ten bad qualities and one good one, to look at 
the one and forget the ten.  Never to allow ourselves to speak one unkind 
word about another, even though that other be our enemy. To do all of our 
deeds in kindness. To cut our hearts from ourselves and from the world. To 
be humble. To be servants of each other, and to know that we are less than 
anyone else. To be as one soul in many bodies, for the more we love each 
other, the nearer we shall be to God; but to know that our love, our unity, 
our obedience must not be by confession, but reality. To act with cautious-
ness and wisdom. To be truthful, to be hospitable. To be reverent. To be a 
cause of healing for every sick one, a comforter for every sorrowful one, a 
pleasant water for every thirsty one, a heavenly table for every hungry one, 
a star to every horizon, a light for every lamp, a herald to everyone who
yearns for the kingdom of God."
							Abdu'l-Baha

Please accept my apologies for the length of this reply.

Warm regards,

Kamran Hakim