Why “What is the purpose of life?” is the wrong question. June 28, 1981

Zen Roshi, Lola McDowell Lee, discusses Chapter 10 from the Tao Te Ching (Paul Carus translation)"What can be done?"Who by unending discipline of the senses embraces unity cannot be disintegrated. By concentrating his vitality and inducing tenderness he can become like a little child. By purifying, by cleansing and profound intuition he can be free from faults."Who loves the people when administering the country will practice nonassertion."Opening and closing the gates of heaven, he will be like a mother-bird; bright, and white, and penetrating the four quarters, he will be unsophisticated. He quickens them and feeds them. He quickens but owns not. He acts but claims not. He excels but rules not. This is called profound virtue."We often ask, “What is the purpose of life?” Is it to make money? Have sex? Raise a family? Power? These are goals, but they are not the meaning of life.He who lives with a purpose loses his life. What? Live with no purpose? Learn to cope with yourself.When your teacher asks, What is your original face? You do not want to tell him all your reasoning. You must show him.If you learn there is no answer, then you’re free.In logic there is the question: If the many return to the one, then to what does the one return?The three questions the Emperor asked of Bodhidharma.Yes, of course you will have goals. But remember to be present, in the Now, for Now is the day of the Lord. Don’t let your thoughts about the future or the past allow you to miss living today.The question isn’t "What is the purpose of life?" The question is: How do we live this life… this gift of life we’ve received. That’s what matters.Lola explores the notions of the masculine mind and the feminine mind in all of us. Aggressive versus Receptive. The story of Socrates and the Sophist.June 28, 1981