Finding meaning in life is a challenge most of us are familiar with. Some materialists and philosophers consider this a useless activity. For example, prominent atheist Richard Dawkins asserts that humans are nothing more than 'disposable survival machines' whose sole purpose is to maintain and reproduce genes.

Otherwise, according to the theory, our lives have little meaning. We try to create other forms of meaning, such as religion or acts of altruism, but we are only following genetic and neurological programming. Even our consciousness, the sense that we have experienced within ourselves, may not exist or exist only as a shadow of brain activity. But I have an old-fashioned notion that life is meaningful. As my book Spiritual Science suggests, reducing human life and behavior to genetic factors alone is absurd. We are not mere ghosts living in mechanical bodies in an indifferent world. Human life is not a meaningless space between birth and death and we try to forget difficult situations and enjoy. I believe that human life and the world mean more than that. Not because I'm religious. Instead, my approach is based on research I've done over the past decade with people who have experienced what I call 'pain-induced transformational experiences.'

These experiences include being diagnosed with or dying of terminal cancer, becoming severely disabled or losing everything to drug addiction, or near-death encounters in combat. What these people have in common is that they felt 'woke' after suffering so much. They stopped taking life, the world, and other people for granted and gained a great sense of gratitude for everything. They talked about the value of life, their bodies, other people in their lives, and the beauty and wonder of nature. They felt a new sense of connection with other people, the natural world, and the universe. They were less materialistic and altruistic. Wealth and promotion became commonplace, but love, creativity, and altruism became more important. They felt intensely alive.

A cancer survivor said: I have been on this earth and I am very honored to have received this ordinance.'

A recovering alcoholic told me, 'I was comforted and strengthened to know that you are part of something much more beautiful and much more mysterious.'

One man, who almost drowned, said: 'I am very grateful not only for the great beauty of a flowering tree but also for the smallest things, even the most trivial.' One person who had experienced change as a result of death specifically addressed the topic of the meaning of how his goal had shifted from 'having as much money as possible to being the best person possible.' 'I used to say that life has no meaning. But [now] I think the meaning of life is to learn, to grow, and to experience.”

Look alive
It is important to note that none of these people were religious (or converted). They did not have the experience of being 'born again' as some Christians call it. Many people felt like a new person or even lived inside someone else. on that body. Also, the changes are not only temporary but in most cases will remain stable for years. In general, change can be described as finding new meaning in life. Fortunately, you don't have to be seriously injured to feel these effects. There are also certain temporary states in which we can experience meaning. I call it 'The Awakening Experience'.

Usually, these experiences occur when the mind is calm and relaxed. When you walk the country roads, after swimming in the sea, after meditation, or after sex.
This is when you get the 'right' feel for things. We can see the sky above us and feel in it something useful, a harmonious atmosphere. From the trees and fields, we can feel the glow that fills the landscape around us. We feel it flowing between us and others. It's like a glowing connection, a feeling of warmth and love. We are blessed to be alive and feel a great sense of gratitude and appreciation.

In other words, when you 'wake up' and fully experience life and the world, you find the meaning of life. The feeling that life is meaningless in this sense is a distorted and limited image that appears when we 'sleep' a little.

In our highest and clearest state, we perceive the meaning that we always feel is there and somehow we missed it before. When our consciousness is strengthened and our senses are opened, there is a sense of returning home to our essence. So what is the meaning of life? Simply put, the meaning of life is life itself.