Spiritual Perspective on the Meaning of Life Jennifer Ledbetter

Life ~ ► I used to play a game called “life”

Life ~ constant flow but finite

We all want to improve our lives. ► American is founded on the concept of Freedom and Happiness ► Give me liberty or give me death! ► But are we truly Free? Or far from it?

We all want to improve our lives. ► We all want HAPPINESS. ► When I have (…) I will be Happy! Why do I still feel empty?

We all want to improve our lives. ► Our lives are filled with Happy Moments. Happiness are short lived… Happiness should be a state of being!

We all want to improve our lives. ► Our lives are filled with Happy Moments. Happiness based on advancement~ Every advancement will become norm. Then we seek the next advancement for the feeling of Happiness. Story of “More” is a never ending story.

Human lives are full of sufferings ► While we are chasing Happiness, Suffering is chasing after us.

Inevitable Human Sufferings Inevitable Human Sufferings ► Birth, Old Age, Sickness, Death ► Unfulfilled desires (greed) ► Separation from love ones (attachment) ► Association with hateful ones (resentment) ► Overwhelming Senses (addiction) (the root of all suffering) (the root of all suffering) There is a way out…we cannot stop death… But we can stop rebirth

Human lives are full of sufferings ► Human lives are set up to fail… (a big pot of Sweet and Sour/Bitter soup) (a big pot of Sweet and Sour/Bitter soup) ► We are seeking happiness that are short lived and while being caught up by sufferings.

We all want to improve our lives. ► We then shift to Meaning of Life~ ► But if you ask your EGO, meaning of life is to leave a legacy. To have our name in place of History. To be identified!

But if you ask your SPIRIT~ ► Spirit? (look who’s talking, observe the thinker)

Fundamental Understanding ► There is a spiritual side of you, before your birth and after your death. ► There is the universal force of Karma. ► Hence the reincarnation as the field for Karma to carry out the equilibrium.

Meaning of Life to the Spirit~ (“Life” is shifting away from God to the realm of Earth— Master Chu’s spiritual encounter with Master Liao) Enlightenment~ Awaken your Soul (when EGO is in charge, your Soul is unconscious/asleep.) Restoration First Phase - Karma Resolution - Karma Resolution - Cultivation of Merits and Virtues - Cultivation of Merits and Virtues Assist in Heaven’s Mission

Enlightenment ► Receiving Tao and see the truth. ► No more ice cube thinking…we are the ocean

Restoration ► Chip away what does not belong~

Cultivation ► Rooting Virtues~ Practice Compassion, Honesty, Propriety, Skillful Means, Integrity… Practice Compassion, Honesty, Propriety, Skillful Means, Integrity… ► Accumulate Merits~ Offering, Giving, Caring… Helping others, advancing yourself. Offering, Giving, Caring… Helping others, advancing yourself. ► Freedom from bad Karma ~ Acquire good Karma, resolve bad Karma. Acquire good Karma, resolve bad Karma.

Heavenly Mission ► Heaven’s Mission of Great Salvation All spirits came from Heaven (originally). All spirits came from Heaven (originally). If a holy spirit goes back empty-handed, then the spirit achieved nothing (God will be displeased)? All spirits come with missions to be fulfilled before they can comfortably go back to Heaven and declared “Mission Accomplished” (how many souls did you promised God?)

So, the meaning of life… Instead of : ► Material gain, power struggle, desperate attempt for fame… which, in the name of happiness, only resulted in unhappiness (state of lack, attachment, fixation, bad Karma, big EGO, further away from Tao)

So, the meaning of life… We Shift to: ► Cultivation ► Restoration ► Enlightenment ► “Mission Accomplished” ► Divine Ranks:  Buddha  Bodhisattva  Pratyeka Buddha  Arahant Making Heaven not where you go, but wherever you are!

As for this lecture~ ► Can I say: Mission Accomplished? ► Questions?