In a previous entry (http://BLOG.LIBERTARIANKING.COM/2009/02/11/maybeim-not-that-into-me.aspx) I touched upon the “fundamental axiom.”  An axiom is basically a self-evident truth.  Descartes’ famous contribution to modernism is “cogito ergo sum” or “I think therefore I am.”  Rather than get into details on this since one could research this on one’s own, the basic idea (in relation to this discussion) is the idea that at the deepest self-examination, Descartes argues, the most basic and fundamental truth is that “I exist.”

                    There’s another, more fundamental axiom, however.  If I exist, but I know I am not existent forever and that I had a genesis (beginning), then how could I exist unless there was previously existence before me?

                    This is integral because later philosophers and scientists have argued, from Kant to Hume to various theorists today that all we can know is really our own truth.  This is to say that one could posit, “how do I know that person is real or if they’re just part of my own imagination?  Maybe I’m the only reality there is in this world and everything that seems to be apart from me is not.  Or maybe I’m part of some virtual world because I can’t be sure.”  Descartes actually in his Meditations discusses the idea of a Great Deceiver; some demon or trickster god.  This idea is not new nor did the Matrix break philosophic ground.  While Descartes refutes this at length and offers the “ontological proof” for G-d, many philosophers and scientists take issue with his arguments and logic.  There are some who accept it and who find at least some truth to the matter, but it falls short of “proof.”

                    Back to existence and the self, I can definitively say I am not the greatest power in existence.  This is integral because let’s say I posit that I know I had a beginning – maybe some trickster erased my memories and put me into a virtual reality.  Thus, one could even doubt their own finitude (as some people do, thinking themselves as gods).  However, it always posits a higher power or order.  Even say a person argues that they have always existed as part of the universe and they can remember all of their lives and experiences, even down to the quantum level; they are still part of a larger whole – a larger universe.

                    Thus, because I exist I know existence exists.  Existence has always existed.  Existence presently exists.  Existence will always exist.  G-d in Torah is revealed as “Ehyeh Asher Ehyeh.”  This is essentially a self-sustaining existence, “I am that I am” and also, “I have always been, always am, and always am becoming.”  The nature of G-d’s name is so profound, so very profound.  The Tetragrammaton (Y-H-V-H) is understood to be a way that humans can speak of G-d’s external existence since it has the grammatical components of past, present, and future within its 4 letters.  G-d revealed to us the fundamental axiom thousands of years ago, but still many people want only to believe in their own selves.  This is the nature of the dilemma that G-d addresses; G-d’s answer to humanity is simple: return to the Source and you will find peace (inner peace and peace amongst each other).

                    Let’s bring it back to more mundane reality.  We know other people exist or else we’d just find a way to wish perfection and peace.  Others would bow to our every will and we would be as a god.  We all operate on a daily basis that other people are real.  People who sell ideas such as “the Secret” teach that whatever we have faith in or believe in becomes reality.  This is partially true, but everyone can intuit that it misses the mark.  If there were no objective reality, again then it’s only about self and finding a way to become god over one’s “world.”  That is, we would think our perceptions are not only part of us, but all that there is: that there is no difference between noumena (essence) and phenomena (appearance).  The funny thing is that this would require, theoretically speaking, this deluded person to believe and act in such a way as to get every perception, every person, every thing in the cosmos (which is really all just part of “me”), to believe as they do.  Yet, this has never happened.  Do you really take this stuff seriously?  I hope not because in this way anything is perfectly justifiable.  There are unfortunately people (scientists, philosophers, and leaders) who think this way and are not ashamed to admit it.  Serial killers often act in such manners that they have no compassion and ability to relate to others internally (though they can seem compassionate).  If you value at all compassion – even internally (compassion for self; that is, not simple love, but forgiveness; a harmony of self-discipline and self-love) – then likely you will not be swayed by such arguments.

                    There are also self-help gurus who say similar things, like on dating advice and the like.  They tell you how to change yourself and how that will attract what you desire.  Some people respond, “Isn’t that lying, manipulating?”  And the “guru” will simply direct you back to your desire, put you down, remind you of your past traumas (or simply your past), or any number of things.  Incidentally, Torah teaches us not to remind a convert of their status.  Judaism takes into account people’s honor and integrity; even those in our ranks who claim to do this are sometimes guilty of reminding people of who they were or trying to trudge up painful pasts (and sometimes they are well-meaning and just trying to help).  Psychologists who use that method think, at some level, they know better than you do about you.  Counselors who use the “cognitive therapy” method may offer insights, but will try to let you become you, let you work through your issues, let you discover what you need to, and let you be the boss.  They for instance, sensing a co-dependent person (one likely to be taken for a lot of money by the prior “therapist” or kept under thumb by a religious leader) will resist the urge to offer insights and advice; rather they will engage the person to work things out on their own.

                    Noticing details & actions are key to deducing this, especially seeing a person under stress.  A person’s true character is more and more revealed the more and more they fear, are angry, are stressed, are alone, or the closer to death they become.  As they say, character is revealed in the fire.  Hence, this is why problems and struggles are such important opportunities.  They are the time that we can really look deep within ourselves to “boil” ourselves down to our core essence.  Who we really are; what we would die for, what is eternal within us.

                    This provides segue for discussing how to find one’s purpose in life.  In an earlier entry (http://BLOG.LIBERTARIANKING.COM/2008/07/19/living-with-intent-purpose-vs-goals.aspx) there is some allusion to this, but here hopefully I can offer my own insights and experiences to further refine that.

                    Some people proclaim you can be whatever you want to be and others argue, “Get real; a person without legs, at least given today’s technology, will not be an Olympic gold medalist in the marathon.”  Statistical probability indicates the former is usually selling you something and the latter has usually been downtrodden and told what they cannot do by others.  Yet we do see ingenuity and people with limitations far exceed what others told them they could do.  While “anything” may be preposterous, we challenge the idea of what is possible all the time in humanity.

                    The truth may be that we have a variety of opportunities and paths before us.  We may be able to dream beyond our ability or technology, but perhaps one day our progeny will reach such heights – after all, history attests to this (as well as to the wax & wane of life; the downfall of every society, much like how nature & animals come and go; http://www.torahechad.com/9167/Yisrael/index.html has a broader discussion about this).  What was science fiction fifty years ago has sometimes become science fact in today’s times.  Torah for instance allows people the opportunity to change, for Gentiles to become as if a “native-born Jew,” for “birthrights” to be given up or lost (even the scions of King David’s line have not yet merited the kingship).  Torah doesn’t give an exact way to figure out what each person’s specific purpose is.  It does tell us that we all have a specific purpose: to follow after G-d.  One could serve G-d and be a farmer or serve G-d as a soldier or serve G-d as a teacher.  Just like Yosef (Joseph) or Esther & Mordechai, we might find ourselves in places or times that can be an opportunity; in fact, each moment is if we choose to utilize it - the difference of these people of faith is that they did not despair in times of turmoil, but saw the possibility to help and serve - to be good to & help others during that turmoil through their station.  Few people are told what their professions “should” be and in fact are given free choice.  Some people have talents that others don’t, whether by nurture or nature that is up for debate (like the Kohanim or Levites).  However, originally G-d told the Israelites that the ideal was for all to be a holy people of prince-priests (and princess-priestesses).  As that became less a reality, the firstborn sons would be priests, but then that too was lost.  Originally, there was just one people.  Yet, unity is not hegemony.  Male and female (and equals too) could still be “one.”  We can look to the variety of creations that G-d created before to attest further to this.  People could be different and still feel unified.  The tower of Babel is what happens when people unify, but for their own reasons rather than to truly seek after G-d (in the way G-d intended).  Yosef’s (Joseph’s) brothers were jealous of him, but then later learned not (at least to act on it) be jealous towards Benyamin when Yosef showered him with more than they.  Coveting is problematic because it assumes one is not only envious of another, but does not like their own station.  Rather than remedy it, some would lash out (like Cain and Abel).

                    Purpose comes from within, not even from one’s external qualities or achievements.  A person can have many talents and seek ways to combine them all or concentrate on a few or even one.  Choice is a beautiful thing.  The rabbis have also taught us: if a person wants to do evil, the opportunities will arise.  The same can be said of many things.  It doesn’t always mean that opportunities will arise the way we want them to or that we will get our every wish fulfilled (G-d is not a genie in a bottle).  We all can remember things we’ve wanted and later regretted or realized they weren’t good for us.  Pleasure is not the sole or core purpose we have, but we can let that desire become it.

                    Successful people often tried their hands at many things before finding what they were not only good & successful at, but enjoyed and took pleasure & purpose in.  They failed many times to get to where they are now.  They lived with intent, clear purpose and goals – that each choice, every tiny choice – could lead them towards or away from that.  Reading biographies or listening to stories of people, this is one common denominator.

                    Some people want a quick and easy way to find their true purpose in life.  They will often go to leaders who offer this service or advice (some of whom sound so very good and even accepting of all), but find that it has fallen short and so they despair they will never find their place in the world.  No matter where we are, we can still follow and serve G-d, to be a light.  No matter where we've been, we know we can change.  In Hebrew, repentance is "teshuvah" that is to return to the pure soul, that part of us that knows its Source - of course, this only happens when we are not satisfied or seeking change to begin with.  The same is true even to those who don't acknowledge G-d; they only change when they want and will it.  People may want to argue how to best be or exist, but in the end the choice is yours; you are solely responsible for yourself.  Change yourself or not, believe this or not, but if you are hurting or want change then at least take refuge in the idea that you've changed before and maybe if you keep trying, you will find.

                    Judaism teaches that every person is unique and has a purpose no one else will ever have.  Why?  Each person is unique in all of time and space.  Part of this is discovered, part is volitional – but all is a gift from G-d.  Returning to the Source – to the Creator – to humble oneself and realize all the idols one had (could be money, fame, pleasure, teachers, charms & amulets, etc) have not gotten you anywhere, that we have all wronged, is perhaps a critical component to this.  Rectification of our many desires, drives, and impulses can perhaps be best understood by acknowledging them first and then finding out who one really is deep down.  Some people go to their parents to find out who they are, some to the teachers, some to their religious leaders, some to books, some to solitude, some to nature, some to science, etc., but ultimately all things and people can and have failed us.  There is no certainty in this world.  That is, except for: Existence Exists.  Start there perhaps and you may find yourself.  Even if you don’t and accept nothing here, keep trying various things.  That is essentially all that each of us can do is embrace the struggle and journey of life; to find happiness from within, despite everything else.

Best wishes…