The purpose of life

Is there any meaning behind it all?
To our existence?
To our dreams?
To our saving of resources for a better future that might come or might not?
What's the point behind it all?

Years ago I used to ask everyone I encountered about this. (I guess I've been a nutcase for quite some time). I got answers that convinced me that no one had a God damn clue.
There were some that said the purpose of life was reproduction. Yeah right mindless reproduction without a thought to how much of us our planet can sustain
Some said the purpose of life was to be happy, though most didn't have a clue as to what made them happy. Shopping makes some people happy. Looking good makes some people happy. Some wanted to be admired by others, respected by others to be happy. I could be immensely happy with just one wafer of chocolate jokes, but then that might not work for all.
Some were the cryptic ones who couldn't answer the question directly so they came up with their own ingenious way of saying they don't know. 'The purpose of life is to figure out that, the purpose' - Yeah right, might as well just admit you don't have a clue.


I watched the 2012 movie again. I've seen it earlier, but I guess it's had more of an impact on me this time as we are on the threshold of 2012. If the various interpretations that are floating around about why the Mayan calendar doesn't have a date beyond Dec 21 2012 are to be believed, then there will be a significant impact and change to the world as we know today. There could be physical changes (Earthquakes, faults, Tsunamis). There could be chaos, anarchy, mass-looting. As one friend says, the change will be of spiritual significance. There are also the non believers who think life's going to be as usual - 'same shit, different day'. As in the 2012 movie who knows, we might be really building space ships to get somewhere else - a selected few of us trying to prolong what we call today the human race.

So is there a purpose to life at all? Something that we need to complete before 2012 overtakes us? Frankly I don't know and having seen what I have already am not really too keen to get on to that spaceship either. I would rather be like those amazing musicians in the Titanic movie who continued to just do what they did best even when it didn't seem to matter anymore...

Huck's ten commandments

Over the years, through the lens of various experiences, I have formed my own set of commandments, which I believe would help me become a better person in my own eyes. Am hopeless at some of these today, but hopefully I'll be able to become better at them some day. These are of course based on my own experiences. They might or might not work for you. In either case, form your own code for yourself, if you have to.

I) Get up no later than 8:00 AM everyday for the rest of my life - Depending on where you live, the Sun in all probability has risen before you have. There's a lot of positive energy that can be felt by just synchronizing your timings with that of the Sun.

II) None of us knows what the future holds, but a child like enthusiasm, lots of hope, a heart that can forgive and a mind that can forget seem like worthy things to take into it - Granted none of this are possible without a herculean effort, but good things don't seem to come easily.

III) Holding extreme beliefs makes you vulnerable to experiences that will question the same - Such experiences are however truly ethereal and liberating - Either don't hold extreme opinions on anything or question everything you already hold to understand why it is so better. You'll have the luxury of time to do this at your own pace and not be hurried on to it one fine day. This could be as simple as thinking Sachin Tendulkar is a God or it could be more trickier as questioning His very existence. And yes if you think with absolute conviction that the Chicken came before the egg, question that also. Ironically enough this very commandment is a extreme belief on not holding extreme beliefs. Go figure.

IV) No two experiences are the same. The worst you can do is belittle another's pain by saying you've already been through it and therefore they ought to listen to you. The best you can do is just listen to them.

V) When you have something bad to say, say it to the person's face. When you have something good to say, write to them. The written word lasts longer.

VI) The best antidote for depressive thoughts is exercise. It's free, only takes a little amount of will power and gets positive energy flowing through your body and mind immediately.

VII) When in doubt of whether to say something or not, just say it. People usually don't get irritated with the fact that you said it, but more in the tone you said it. Go figure.

VIII) Be honest with people. Don't say "I don't know" to direct questions. Honesty brings out things they have to deal with. Dishonesty is something you have to deal with and that's more tough.

IX) Money is important - to a certain extent. Give away the rest to things you believe in and people in need. I gave away some to wikipedia this month.

X) The best you can do is put yourself in a situation that gives another what they want even if it ends up hurting you. The worst you can do is wallow in self pity. - Love another beyond the capacity of what you thought possible. If you get hurt, there's a lot of people out there who can and will help plus of course there's always Huck's ten commandments to fall back on!