The Meaning of Life
[Music]
the ability
to make distinctions to distinguish
between things that seem to be
alike seem to be the same is a very
important part of human intelligence
just a quick example the difference
between existing
and living is huge
the difference is this to exist
means to occupy space
to exist in the physical world you have
to occupy your space
which means you don’t allow another into
the same space
so a book on the shelf occupies its
space you can’t put another book there
air fire water earth they all
occupy space even a thought in your mind
occupies space can’t think two thoughts
at the same time
a feeling in the heart occupy space
that’s why we say the heart is full
so the definition of existence is simply
occupying its space
obviously there’s more tangible space
like the book on the shelf
and there is emotional space or mental
space
but they all
restrict access to their space they
don’t share it
now when it comes to a living being
there’s also the demands that existence
makes
in order to exist a human being must eat
must drink must be protected from the
elements
must have a roof over their head
many demands and when all of these
conditions are met
he can continue to take up space
that’s the definition of existence
everything that exists also has life
life means the affect the contribution
that you make
by existing very different
life makes no demands there are no
conditions
to living meaning whatever your
existence is
from the finest to the worst from the
biggest
to the smallest you always have a
contribution that you’re making
a difference that you’re making so
life makes no demands it’s what you do
what you bring to the world
by your existence so for example
fire has a life
it brings warmth creates light
water has a life but it’s different
water makes things grow keeps things
cool
even a stone has a life because it
contributes
stability a house made out of stone is
more stable
than a house made out of straw
so everything exists and
lives everything
in the human being there are times when
existence
and living are in conflict
when i have a room all to myself
large auditorium all to myself
i have all that space
good for my existence
but talking to an empty room is not a
life
so when the room fills up with people my
existence is diminished
but my life is enhanced i have someone
to talk to
any time there’s a conflict between
existing and living
the intelligent thing to do is give up
the existence
in favor of life now this will explain
so many things that we don’t have time
to get into
but just a few examples
what is it with teenagers
why are they angry
they live in your house for free they
get whatever they want if they
bother you long enough what are they
angry about
and everywhere in the world when you
talk to teenagers
they will tell you the same thing
they’re angry because
my mother ruined my whole life
notice that it’s always the whole life
teenagers are not good at fractions
now that’s a serious accusation my
mother ruined my whole life
but of course it’s not true for two
reasons
first of all teenagers don’t have a life
they gotta get a life so there’s nothing
for their mothers to ruin
secondly you can’t ruin life
existence comes in many flavors there
are people who have a magnificent
existence
they’ve got place of their own they have
every need
that existence demands they have food
they have drink they have safety they
have fame they have love
they have a support system they’ve got
it all
their existence is wonderful
and then there are people whose
existence is meager
they barely exist
but life comes in only one flavor
sacred so you cannot ruin life just like
salt can’t go bad
what mothers do they humble your
existence
because if you’re proud to exist you’re
proud of your
existence your mother simply by being
your mother
humbles your existence because you owe
it all to her
but mothers don’t ruin lives
another example
the existence of the jewish people
everyone remarks and puzzles
this strange phenomenon how is it that
other nations have come and gone
richer bigger stronger
the jew is still here
this is the distinction between existing
and living
those nations that are gone all they
wanted was to exist
to ensure their continued existence
they built huge cities fortified
developed huge armies amassed a lot of
wealth
they were going to exist and they don’t
exist
jewish history was different we were
told before we entered
the promised land moses told us
you’re not going to have a good
existence you’re going to get scattered
you’re going to be
reduced to a fraction of your number
you’re going to be living in other
people’s countries where you may not be
welcome at all
your existence not so special
therefore you be busy living
now here’s an amazing thing
throughout our history we were most
productive
when our existence was down to
a thread we produced the greatest
scholars the greatest
study institutions the greatest charity
charity institutions we were alive
and an interesting thing happens when
you’re fully alive
your existence kind of takes care of
itself
a doctor in the time of a plague
everyone else gets sick the doctor
doesn’t get sick
he doesn’t even get tired because sick
and tired always come together right
he doesn’t get tired he skips meals
stays up all night superman
the explanation is when you’re so fully
alive
when your contribution is so obvious
so urgent so real
you are fully alive
and then your existence is not so
demanding
that is the secret of jewish survival
but it needn’t be a secret if you’re
focused on life if you’re focused on
what you are needed for your own needs
kind of fade you’re not so needy
so here’s the distinction between living
and existing
existing is needs
needs you’re needy religiously speaking
for your needs you are completely
dependent on god
you got to pray to him you got to depend
on him you got to trust in him
you got to believe in him and you got to
hope he likes you
so that he will continue your existence
but a relationship with god
is life because when you conserve
when you can make a difference in god’s
world
when you can promote his purpose in
creation
and bring the world to its perfection
now you
are doing what you are needed for
so it comes down to a simple question
would you rather be
needy or would you rather be needed
not such a difficult decision in fact it
turns out
the human being would rather be needed
than loved we would rather be needed
than respected in fact
when we know we’re needed we can do
without pretty much anything else
we were created with a purpose we were
created to serve
we are partners in creation all i need
to know
is what do you want me to do how can i
be of help
that’s life the rest
just existence