On the Meaning of Life
In our day it has become evident that humankind has cast aside the most important question humanity was ever to ask: what is the meaning of life?
In a two lecture series, Rudolf Steiner answered this question from an Anthroposophical perspective. Though much of what he said might be lost on those who do not possess a general understanding of Anthroposophy (Spiritual Science), something he said at the conclusion of the second lecture expresses one important point: Human beings, in and of themselves i.e. just as they (you) are, are important to the entire cosmos, to the ‘plan of God’. If there are no human beings, there is no (other) life.
I have described what is around us, physically as well as spiritually, the animals and also the ideas which man forms of them. I have also shown how man has to assign an aim to his visions, and how this visionary world must be united with the outer world, in order that evolution may proceed. But how is it now when we turn our attention to man? He meets an animal, considers its group-soul, and says: “wolf,” that is, he has formed the idea “wolf,” and while saying “wolf” the picture has arisen in him of which the non-clairvoyant, to be sure, has not the “feeling-substance,” but only the abstract idea. That which lives in the “feeling-substance” unites with the group-soul and fertilises it at the moment the man pronounces the word “wolf.” If he were not to pronounce the name, the animal kingdom as such would die out. And the same holds good for the vegetable kingdom.
What I have described with regard to man, holds good for him alone; not for the animals, nor for the angels; these have quite other missions. Man alone exists in order that with his own being he can confront the world around him, so that life-giving germs [seeds] may arise that find expression in “names.” It is thus that the possibility of further development is implanted in the inner nature of man. Let us now go back to the starting point we chose yesterday. Jahve or Jehovah was asked by the ministering angels for what purpose he wished to create man. The angels could not understand why. Then Jehovah gathered the plants and the animals and asked the angels what were the names of these beings. They did not know. They have tasks other than fertilisation of the group-souls. Man, however, was able to tell the names. In this way Jahve shows that He has need of man, because otherwise creation would die out.
In man those things evolve which have come to an end, and which have to be stimulated anew in order that evolution may go forward. Man had therefore to be created, so that the life-giving germ might be born which finds expression in “names.”
Thus we see that we are not placed in creation without a purpose. Think man away, and the transitional kingdoms would not be able to develop further. They would meet the fate which would befall a plant world that is not fertilised. Only through the fact that man is placed into Earth existence, is the bridge built between the world which was and the world which is to be, and man takes for his own path of development that which exists as “name” in the vast sum of created beings; thus does he bring about his own ascent together with that of the rest of evolution.
Humanity itself is under grave threat today. It is being systematically robbed from us through our act of giving up our Freedom for the lie of security and safety. Our Freedom, our humanity, cannot be taken from us by force – we must relinquish it through the exercise of our free will. So many have already done so. How many more will do so? Will you voluntarily give up the very things that make us human i.e. your free will and the choice to think for yourself?
If you give away a material possession, it can be replaced. If you give away your humanity, your soul, it is gone forever. Choose wisely.