Expert: Aupmanyav - 2/20/2008

Question
I have a Christian friend whom I have been in dialogue with over the past few
weeks. We've been discussing different ideas regarding the purpose of life, or
"why are we here?" My Christian friend asks me all the time: "If there is no
God, no Heaven, no Hell, no eternity, then why do we exist? Why is there life?
Why is there existence? reality? Why do we dream? Why do we seek happiness?
pleasure? joy? Why do we feel emotions? Why do we feel love for others? What
is our purpose if there is nothing more than what we see? Is this it...we are
born, we live, we die? I think these are interesting questions and I was
wondering as an atheist how I should respond to these thoughts. What
should I say? Thanks!

Answer
Ask him if he is there? What is this 'he'? It is just a mass of atoms. And what are atoms, points of energy. There is nothing that is 'he'. 'He' is an illusion because of the limitations of our perception. 'if there is nothing more than what we see' This statement is not correct. There is much more than what we can see. Do we see the atoms, do we see the quantum fields? Actually what we see and percieve is a total mirage. Do we see dark energy or dark matter which makes 70% of our universe? Hindus call it Maya.

Humans are just a temporary phenomena on earth, here for only about 150,000 years out of the total history of some 4.5 billion years. We are not sure how long we will be here? Each year scores of species disappear from the face of earth. The universe does not mourn for them.

It is necessary to understand the purpose of life. There is no divinely given purpose of life. But since and till the time we are here, we should try for a happy and peaceful life and society. So the purpose of life is to sustain the society. The actions which make it possible are called 'dharma'. Dharma includes respect to elders, begetting of children, care of children, having a well adjusted family life, and peaceful and friendly interaction with other humans. The Yama and Niyama of Hinduism, the eight-fold path of Buddhism, the commandments of Judaism and Christianity barring the first four which eulogize God serving no other purpose fall into this category.

Purpose of life is to live it wisely and let other people live peacefully without creating strife.