Exploring Existence: A Perspective on Purpose and Growth

Introduction

Life is not about searching for meaning—it is about experiencing it. Meaning is not a fixed destination but an unfolding journey, shaped by curiosity, learning, and engagement with the universe.

As Buddha Amitayus teaches, “A short life benefits no one, especially given that Sutra reveals to us that it can take many lifetimes to attain Enlightenment for the benefit of all sentient beings.” This perspective reminds us that longevity in the journey of wisdom is invaluable—not for personal gain, but for continued growth and contribution to the world.

Why "Why Me?" Doesn't Exist

Many people ask, "Why me?" when faced with challenges, joys, or suffering. However, this question assumes that life should assign personal significance to events. In reality, causality operates independently of individuals—events happen, the universe moves forward, and existence continues.

By rejecting "Why me?", one embraces a worldview where life unfolds according to universal principles, rather than personal circumstances. There is no cosmic fairness or injustice—only the continuous movement of stars, planets, and individuals, each passing through their own inevitable cycles.

Guru Padmasambhava’s wisdom reinforces this idea: “Abandon your notions of the past, without attributing a temporal sequence! Cut off your mental associations regarding the future, without anticipation! Rest in a spacious modality, without clinging to the thoughts of the present.”

The Cycle of Learning and Purpose

Instead of seeking meaning in static, predefined concepts, existence is best viewed as an ongoing cycle—one of acquiring skills, exploring possibilities, and evolving continuously. Life does not present a single, grand purpose; rather, it offers endless opportunities for engagement and discovery.

A person is born into a skill, masters it, and then moves on to another. Death, in the truest sense, occurs not when the body ceases to function but when curiosity, learning, and exploration stop. Those who cease to ask questions, evolve, and expand their knowledge become stagnant—thus, they cease to live in the fullest sense.

Buddha Shakyamuni speaks directly to this principle: “No one saves us but ourselves. No one can and no one may. We ourselves must walk the path.” Growth is not imposed from the outside—it is cultivated through continuous self-discovery.

Existence Without Obligation

One key principle within this philosophy is the rejection of external emotional debt. Nobody owes anything to anyone, and vice versa. Relationships, interactions, and societal constructs should not define a person’s worth.

This view emphasizes neutrality—being available for others when needed, but without expectation. Affection, admiration, or resentment from others hold no ultimate consequence. Much like stars and planets, people enter and exit each other’s lives without permanence, shaping their own realities without being bound by emotional obligations.

Guru Padmasambhava captures this essence beautifully: “Do not try to use what you learn from Buddhism to be a Buddhist; use it to be a better whatever-you-already-are.” Wisdom does not need a label—its purpose is to enhance our understanding and interaction with existence.

Freedom Through Understanding

This way of living removes unnecessary suffering caused by expectations, emotional dependencies, and societal constructs. Instead, meaning is derived from seeing how one can navigate existence and influence the world around them.

Life isn’t a puzzle to be solved, but one to be played with. Every action, every observation, and every choice is an experiment in understanding the depths of one’s capabilities. Curiosity fuels the journey, and those who never stop learning never truly "die."

Buddha Shakyamuni reminds us: “The way is not in the sky. The way is in the heart.” Truth and purpose do not lie in external searching but in deep engagement with one’s own existence.

Conclusion and Personal Perspective

Ultimately, existence is an endless cycle of motion—of learning, adapting, and observing. There is no singular, grand purpose; only the continuous act of engaging with the universe. The meaning of life is not an answer to be discovered but an experience to be explored.

Guru Padmasambhava’s words provide a final guiding thought: “When the Iron Birds are flying in the sky and the Iron Horses are running on the roads, we know that the Dharma-ending age has arrived.” In a world consumed by technology and distraction, the path forward remains one of mindfulness, exploration, and growth.

How I View Things

Existence is not personal—it is universal. I move through the world as a presence, available for interaction when needed, absent when unnecessary, free from obligation or expectation. My birth was not my choice, and my death will occur in its natural time, unaffected by human emotions.

Love, hate, admiration, and resentment hold no intrinsic meaning—they are passing reactions, insignificant in the grand cycle of existence. Like the stars, planets, and cosmic forces, I am part of a larger movement, a transient entity within the unfolding vastness of the universe.

I do not seek a fixed meaning, but rather embrace the experience of exploration itself. True death occurs not when life ceases but when curiosity fades—when one stops learning, questioning, and expanding their understanding. The journey itself is the meaning.