About ten years ago my son was going through a very difficult period. He was about eighteen years old and we had sent him to live with one of our Tibetan teachers at his monastery in India. He spent about a month there and another six months traveling through Europe on his own. He came home and his girlfriend had broken up with him. At about this same time another of our root Tibetan teachers was visiting. Our son asked to have an interview with him. Through his translator our son asked him “What is the meaning of life?” I don’t think his question was flip or insincere. I think he honestly was questioning the meaning of life. Haven’t all of us at some time in our lives asked this question – “What is the meaning of life?” The possible answers to this question are going to be dependent upon the frame of reference in which the question is asked. For example The meaning of life from a scientific point of view might to reproduce and continue the species. Or it might have to do with evolution. Whereas the meaning of life from a philosophical point of view might answer there is no meaning – such as the nihilists or existentialists. Or that the meaning of life can only be answered in terms of “value.” Whereas the meaning of life from a religious point of view might depend upon the religion. Some Buddhists might say the meaning of life is enlightenment. While Christians might say it is to commune with God. And I am sure you have heard countless everyday kind of explanations for the meaning of life, such as…. • ...to live everyday like it is your last and to do your best at everything that comes before you • ...to die having succeeded in your purpose • ...to gain and exercise power • ...to leave a legacy, such as a work of art or a book • ...to live • ...to prepare for death • ...to pursue a dream, vision, or destiny • ...to seek freedom, either physically, mentally or financially The comedian George Carlin says the meaning of life is to find a place to put all of your stuff. In the Monty Python comedy film “The Meaning of Life” - you may remember at the very end of the movie, Michael Palin is handed an envelope, opens it, and says nonchalantly: "Well, it's nothing very special. Uh, try to be nice to people, avoid eating fat, read a good book every now and then, get some walking in, and try to live together in peace and harmony with people of all creeds and nations." Having survived the Holocaust, Victor Frankl wrote “Man’s Search for Meaning” in which he not only describes his experience in a concentration camp, but also explores the topic – the meaning of life. It was due to his (and others) suffering in these camps that he came to the conclusion that even in the most absurd, painful and dehumanized situation, life has potential meaning and therefore even suffering is meaningful. Frankl concludes by stating that to ask, “what is the meaning of life?” is the wrong question to ask. Frankl says, "It did not really matter what we expected from life, but rather what life expected from us. We needed to stop asking about the meaning of life, and instead to think of ourselves as those who were being questioned by life - daily and hourly.” So in a sense what Frankl is saying is similar to what John F. Kennedy said in his inaugural address when he said, “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what ask what you can do for your country.” Frankl is saying a similar thing. He is saying asking what is the meaning of life, is the wrong question to ask. The issue should be – what meaning can you give to the circumstance of your life. For example last week there was an article in the newspaper about a man with a developmentally disabled son. The son was blind, deaf and even unable to walk. He was bedridden and had to be cared for around the clock. The father now in his 70’s had cared for his son all his life – his son was now over 50 years old. The father found meaning in life by caring for his son. You may remember when Karen Maezen Miller, the Zen Priest spoke here a couple of months ago, her message was very similar. She said that what is going on in your life is part of your Dharma practice. That every day problems and challenges are your practice. And I believe this is what Frankl is saying and this makes the most sense to me. So instead of asking what is the meaning of life? Realize that your life creates meaning by how you respond to life’s challenges. It is possible to find meaning in all forms of existence, even the most sordid ones. Remember Frankl came to this conclusion while in a Nazi concentration camp. So, it is up to you to find the meaning to your life. It is going to be different for every person. Remember, the meaning of life is dependent upon how you respond to life’s challenges. If you feel your life doesn’t have meaning – or doesn’t have the meaning you would like, then do something about it. Make it have meaning. If you find your job not meaningful, or unfulfilling, then find some part of it that can have meaning. Perhaps if you are in a service related field you can make it have meaning by being incredibly kind and compassionate to every customer you come in contact with - even the mean and nasty ones. Of perhaps you could find meaning in one particular aspect of your job that you do especially well. Regardless of your job or your situation, there is meaning waiting to be discovered. The meaning your life has is up to you.