by Hew Dalrymple

Created on: April 08, 2009

WHY DO WE LIVE?

Life, being that energy state that distinguishes the living from the dead, or from inorganic matter, requires form in which to manifest. We are that form, complete with consciousness, the ability to respond to stimuli, a reproductive cycle, the ability to metabolise and grow in a self limiting capacity. It is incumbent that we live for a period to allow for this expression, and that period is expressed in time. In any one of these periods there is a constant death and birth of the cellular parts that make up the physical body, but the whole body formation which we call our self, having acquired the belief that it is separate from the rest, has a total life expectancy. This varies with environment, lifestyle and culture. It was not until early in this century that Quantum Physics confirmed that at the heart of the atom, the nucleus, there was no solid object, only processes; dynamic patterns continually changing into one another. Our whole body/mind is a continuous dance of energy and change.

Left with these facts, and with basic instinct to survive for this expected period, in spite of the challenges and hardships it is natural to wonder why we are here, and who are we. As a species we know that the biological purpose is for life to express itself, and evolution theory has shown how we are improvements on the earlier primitive models, but the nagging desire to justify existence and know the purpose of self as distinct from others is always with us.

The story is told from the Sufi tradition, about the man who was looking for his keys under the light from a street lamp. When asked where he had last seen his keys he said in the house.

"Then why don't you look for them in the house?"

"Because there is no light in the house," was the matter of fact reply.

If the individuals purpose for living is embedded in the DNA blue print as soul, to be known only through intuitive knowledge of spiritual paths, then it follows that we must either develop more nobility of character, or spend our spare time finding a purpose to fit our sphere of light.

The later would fit into the recent research findings confirming that we are the product of our beliefs, and that our beliefs can influence change in the DNA(1). This puts more emphasis on consciousness having an essential part in physical form, which science finds difficulty in acknowledging. If the former be more acceptable it would require the acceptance of a spiritual contribution to form, an even less acceptable consideration from conventional scientific method. Could both be right.

From the first paragraph we have based our enquiry "Why We Life" on the belief that we are individuals, but the answer could embrace the broader concept that we are both individuals and also a part of the whole i.e. not one or the other, but both. As we stand today, both economically, climatically, biologically and socially, there has never been more evidence to support the interrelationship and interdependence of all beings, as well as that evidence proving biological individuality. The acceptance that both can exist opens the possibility that both consciousness and spiritual component could influence biological progression.

So where do we find ourselves now? As well as being a part of the universe, are we a body with an ego and a soul, or a soul with a body and an ego. It may depend on how you see your body, or what importance you give your soul, either way the ego will decide that's life, living itself through us.

(1) Bruce Lipton, "Biology of Belief"

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