G'day,

Well said...

To a realized person, heaven already exists on earth. It is a matter of perception, which of course means 'how something affects you'. A realized person sees the beauty, even in the ugly and painful bits, in a world full of necessary opposites.

Suffering is a necessary part of life. The underlying reason for this 'tool' is that people will suffer until they are driven within. There, they will find peace.

A fully realized person realizes this and does not interfere in any great way. Advice is given, and if listened to suffering will be eased. If not listened to, then 'more suffering required'.

There is nothing we need in this world in order for everyone to be happy. It is all here. But we do need people to think and perceive differently. To be kinder and more compassionate and loving, and fairer and more generous and sharing and giving. If people in general thought differently, there would be heaven on earth.

We cannot 'work out' the universe, or the meaning of life, without first understanding the mechanics of life. We have to understand what life is, before the why will appear. I think when this is done, the answer will become obviously.

One answer is to consider each of the cells of your body, one of some hundreds of trillions of cells. Each cell is independent, in that it can be separated into a pitri dish. There, given the correct environment, it will grow and divide and replicate/breed. Each cell perceives itself to be separate, but it is actually a part of a greater reality, a great whole. This can be compared to life, with each cell being a person, and each person perceiving themselves as being separate. But, there is a greater reality, a greater whole, that goes by many names. It does not care what it is called. It just is.

The more subtle realms and aspects of the greater reality, like the astral and mental and etc planes, are like infinite computer programs. Within these states exist exquisite sentient programs, along with a lot of less conscious bits and bytes.

The answers to the how and why of reality can be related to the big bang. Scientists know a lot about what happened 1/millionth of a second after the big bang. But they are clueless of what came before this, and from where all the energy/matter originated. It was once believed, and still is in parts, that the universe was slowing down and that one day it would collapse to create another big bang, and start all over again. But, the latest studies show that galaxies are accelerating apart. And, the universe grows to accommodate this expansion.

In truth, we probably understand about 1% of the workings of the universe. This also applies to our understanding of the greater reality.

In this sense, humanity (and whatever other races there are in our shared universe) is also expanding and growing.

Evolution and growth appear to be a common theme and if there was a 'meaning of life' it would have to be evolution in all areas. The universe grows, learns, evolves.

From whence we came, and to where we are heading, are questions beyond our ken. You might as well ask an ant to solve a calculus problem with complex variables....

Better to enjoy the view and continue the wonderment, and live your life without limits.

Robert