Topic: The Question

[Michael]

What is the sense and significance in general of life on the earth, and in particular of human life?

[Endless~Knot]

You're kidding right?

Seriously, how can someone answer such a question. Dont get me wrong, we all ponder on such things, try to interpret. However, all that is left in the end is our interpretations, not anything we can base on 'fact.' Its like trying to answer 'what is the meaning of life' or 'do we have a purpose.' Its unknown, 'reasons' for it all. All we can do is make such things 'reasons' with our lives. We still try to discover the questions, certainly. But  will we ever get an answer to such questions? I dont know. I think the best hope we've got is in that silent knowing bit, and even then we have to be sure we can turn off the 'other voice' so we can hear the right one.

[Michael]

I asked it not for an answer, but wondering how significant this question is in your life?

This question is the pivotal question that dominated the life and efforts of Gurdjieff - it is his leitmotiv.

He did answer it, but that is not the point.

How significant is this question to you, to me? Or is it some idle topic for late night parties, when everyone is drunk and maudlin. Or for some movie that was made by British comedians to attract an American market after their own preferred movie flopped?

[Endless~Knot]

I asked it not for an answer, but wondering how significant this question is in your life?

This question is the pivotal question that dominated the life and efforts of Gurdjieff - it is his leitmotiv.

He did answer it, but that is not the point.

How significant is this question to you, to me? Or is it some idle topic for late night parties, when everyone is drunk and maudlin. Or for some movie that was made by British comedians to attract an American market after their own preferred movie flopped?

Oh I see what you're saying now! Cause really, even if G answered it, its still going to be an interpretation though. A man's answer may really be signficiant, and even have some truth, but still, there are so many other insights on such a thing. I can say, when I read it, your question, it made me think of Carl Sagan and his documentary Cosmos which was an excellet look at the universe, earth, and human life, and how it formed. It didnt answer such questions, it showed science dealing with such things, though he did delve into the mystical. Also, he really did appreciate the symbol of the Dancing Shiva showing the creation and destruction of the cosmos. That symbol - even to me - I have him on my altar, a statue, sums up quite a bit of it all, at least, not really with an answer but with a ray feeling about human life. The impermanence of it all. The recycling of existence. Life and death, the quest for immortality through the whole cycle. Man sees death at every turn and every human beings, desire, is to not die. Everyone wants to live forever. And we're all looking for the gateway to our freedom. And, hoping that human life and the toiling of it, is the doorway to that freedom, that realm. How we live here, that it will benefit us when we leave, here. Human life, a stepping stone perhaps. Its the most important stepping stone of all, each day is! I dont know if Ive answered it well, but certainly the question of human life, and why it came to be, and why we're here - if any reason at all - most do ponder on it, at least in some time in the day.

[daphne]

The Question of Questions. Doggered me as far as I can remember. Haven't found an answer; and at times I seriously doubt that I will find one. Not from lack of trying, just that Life is such a mysterious phenomena, when I try to think on it, my mind goes blank and I have to leave it behind.

Like Ellen said, I doubt there is any human who has not thought on The Question at some time during their life; even if a fleeting thought. For myself, I sometimes found comfort in one or other belief (religious, spiritual or philosophical), however never lasted too long and now I would be hard pressed to even find any belief that I could give name to. What I do have is some few experiences different to my normal every0day experiences. Existentially, these experiences while not really giving sense and significance to life or human life, do give my own life something. What that something is, I can't really say, other than they allow me to explore ideas I would perhaps not have explored without the experiences.

In day-to-day living, sense and significance is given by me to my own life and by extension, to the world around me, in the way I think and act. In that way, Life, the mysterious phenomena, then relates to my own existence.

It is a question I am always asking. as I go about what is my life. I also find that constantly asking the question also alerts me to being aware, even though I may not have an answer.

[Michael]

What is the sense and significance in general of life on the earth, and in particular of human life?

Interesting comments.

Something I'd like to point out about this question, is that although it does not deny the issue of personal, individual development, nonetheless the question is couched in wider social developmental framework.

Compare:
"Despite that in general life is there for any creature to use as they wish, what is the sense and significance of your personal life?"

"What is the purpose for humanity on this earth?"

Gurdjieff was very keen of individual 'salvation'. He was as obsessed with the possibility of an individual's survival after death, as he was with the whole question of the evolution, meaning and purpose of the human species. This is critical to him, as he was of a tradition which engaged in practical assistance for human evolution, as much as individual 'permanence'.

Traditions like Buddhism and Toltec are almost vehemently resistant to any consideration of wider social concerns - civilisations come and go, but the well remains the same. They are both in essence focused on personal realisation, and see the fate of the world as not just a distraction, but a temptation away from the primary, real purpose.

Gurdjieff's tradition, from the ancient Turkestan Sufies, and referenced constantly in his books, is very much engaged in the task of assisting humanity - it's ultimate purpose and goal as well as its current pragmatic problems.

The above quoted question echoes those considerations.


For myself, I maintain that the first question is, "Who am I?", in the fullest sense of that enquiry.

Then the question, "Why am I here?" which draws out the question of personal task and destiny.

Only then comes the question, "Why are we all here?" which is a natural evolution of the previous question.

My understanding of Gurdjieff, is that he would agree with that sequence, as it is the sequence of his own life's path. Just that I like to disentangle the threads, so that we don't begin at the wrong end - know thyself first, then serve.