What is the Meaning of Life?

Surrendered is Development

Deborah Oakes, NPS
Deborah Oakes, NPS, Yahoo! Contributor Network
Feb 9, 2011 "Share your voice on Yahoo! websites. Start Here."
What is the meaning of life? This is a question asked at one time or another. Lately, I've been writing articles on liberation theology in regards to health and this article is to elaborate on that subject in another way. Hopefully, it will enlighten readers who asked for more information on liberation.

Liberation Theology

Liberation is surrender to God. When we just surrender, all areas of our lives, including health, is affected. All religions point to surrender as the path to God. However, surrender is not talked about much. At this time of evolution, surrendered individuals have much to teach.

When willing to serve God, the world takes on a different meaning. We serve our families, our employers, our government and on and on. So, it's natural to serve and according to Vedic scriptures, surrender starts when it's realized the materialistic way of life is temporary and unfulfillable. The focus on the material brings more desires for more sense gratification and this is unending.

Just Surrender

To just surrender desires to God, results in lives become more fulfilling and dedicated to evolution rather than acquirement of the materialistic way of life. The individual then begins to evolve and develop. Through recent consciousness studies it's now understood that " psychological and spiritual development go hand in hand."

In other words, develop ourselves, according to our nature, to a higher state of spiritual awareness through step-by-step surrender. Jesus tells us the kingdom of heaven is within you and in Matthew 11: 15, "the kingdom of heaven has been administered by force, and only those in power control it."

Surrendered

So, if the kingdom of heaven is within us, then how is it entered? According to Jesus, it is through power, which only comes from God. How do we get God's power? Through our surrender to God. However, God doesn't give power indiscriminately, it's earned through development, to receive it. It's no wonder Vedic scriptures teach of controlling the senses, meditation and service for higher spiritual states. These actions are opposite to pursuit of the material life and therefore, take great determination or force, on our part. Considering this lifestyle, it's no wonder scriptures say, "do not imitate the way of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds."

The Vedic scriptures relate an incident where a seeker was breaking through the barriers of his mind to experience God. However, he was not taking his progression, or evolution, step-by-step. It is explained to him by a great teacher in this way, "progressive transcendence (of ego-consciousness) through divine activities take a mortal towards the immortal truth."

What is the Meaning of Life

So, surrender to God develops the individual spiritually, intellectually, physically, and emotionally. The questions about the meaning of life become apparent as one learns to serve God through surrendering ones development to Him.

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Sources:
Lamsa Bible
The Chakra

What is the Meaning of Life copyright 2011

Published by Deborah Oakes, NPS

Certified National Product Specialist, Author: "H1N1 Threat Reduced Using Natural Healthcare" and "Home & Hearth Recipes."  View profile

  • Liberation is Surrender
  • Surrender is a Step-by-Step Process
  • Surrender as an Evolutionary Process
Matthew 11: 15, "the kingdom of heaven has been administered by force, and only those in power control it."

16 Comments

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  • Deborah Oakes, NPS11/12/2011

    I like your focus, Siva: " But my greatest comfort level is; never to expect anything in return. Then whatever we get is a bonus for another day of meaningful life." A very good way to live.

  • Sivaramakrishnan Ananthanarayanan11/12/2011

    We all think about it. I rather ponder and self-analyze my life experiences. I watch others; despite being "blessed" with everything, they feel lost. They end up lonely and wealth is no comfort at all; only end up as a liability! To get balance in life, I look at how others, not knowing where their next meal is going to come from, are happy and contented! Not so the very rich! That is our bane now; material pursuits at the cost of everything else. The family suffers, and gives back in kind later! One need to think deep and alter lifestyles to help others, then that comes back to us with interest. But my greatest comfort level is; never to expect anything in return. Then whatever we get is a bonus for another day of meaningful life. Thanks, Deborah for a fine article - siva

  • Marie Lowe4/20/2011

    Interesting.

  • Deborah Oakes, NPS3/30/2011

    TY for your comments T.H. I still believe Jesus referred to the kingdom of heaven within, according to the Lamsa Bible translation. I understand other translations state the kingdom of heaven is among you. So, the question is, which translation is correct? However, Jesus meditated and this indicates an inward looking.

  • T. H. Pankey3/13/2011

    Quick note: Take a closer look at the context and the expression itself, "The kingdom of God is within you," which is at Luke 17:20, 21. See if you end up at the same place I did. Jesus said those words directly to the religious leaders of the day, whom he condemned as a group. Why would he tell them the kingdom of God is within them, yet also say they were following the devil? He wasn't telling them both things. Wicked people have wicked hearts, righteous people have righteous hearts, says Jesus. Knowing he himself ( Jesus ) would be the king of God's kingdom at a later date, he was telling them that the "kingdom was in their midst." In other words, he, as King-designate of God's kingdom, was right their in front of them, walking around in their midst. He certainly wasn't telling wicked religious leaders the kingdom is in their hearts. He was telling them that "God's kingdom was in their midst, he being head of God's kingdom. Be well.

  • Langley Cornwell2/24/2011

    The Meaning of Life! This is a huge topic. Well done.

  • Deborah Oakes, NPS2/14/2011

    Okay Donald, I understand.

  • Donald Pennington2/14/2011

    No thanks. Anything I say beyond my original comment would only "sound" hateful. That's not my intent.

  • Deborah Oakes, NPS2/12/2011

    Donald, thanks for commenting. I'm going to send a private message to you to come back and talk about it. I'd love to know your thoughts.

  • Donald Pennington2/12/2011

    I whole-heartedly disagree. Thanks just the same, though.

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