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Finding Meaning
"When we redirect our attention from our own needs to the needs of society, we are more apt to find our place in the world." People can find their place in the world by finding meaning in their own life. One can accomplish this through religion, or something else entirely, such as life experiences. Meaning is a personal understanding that everyone has to find for themselves. Meaning in life is different for everyone, and while some ideas may overlap, they can also be vastly different. If everyone in the world understood these differences, and respected it, then maybe it could lead to more understanding of people as a whole. Though a religion is centered around one belief, the individual interpretation is different for everyone. Everyone can find meaning that wants to. In Daniel Pink's //A Whole New Mind//, he discusses the importance of finding meaning in life; some people accomplish this by belief in a higher being, such as Christianity; others a belief in individually finding the ultimate Nirvana in Buddhism, or perhaps in family and other things of value in one's life.  E very person has individual, specific goals in life. It can be tomorrow’s agenda, or one's entire life. In the perspective from Christianity, there is no meaning in life without the belief of a Creator, or God. Christians believe in one God, who is made up of three parts: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. These three parts of God are called the [|Trinity] (mnsu.edu). In Christianity, Christians believe that if there was no creator, then there can be no life. Therefore, without life there can be no meaning. “Thinking that the meaning of life is the pursuit of our self-set goals is like seeing a face in a cloud and calling it a portrait. The true meaning of life depends on the reason for our creation. If we want to find the meaning of life then we need to ask why we were put here.”( existence-of-god.com). All questions that relate to the meaning of life, all relate back to the creator. John 3:16(sharonxx.files.wordpress.com) is arguably the famous bible verse in Christianity. It talks about how God sacrificed his own son, Jesus, for the sins of the world so that everyone who believes in Him can have eternal life. Anyone who asks for forgiveness will receive it because Jesus died for their sins, no matter who they are or what they have done. An example of this is can be seen when Jesus is being crucified, and a criminal, who is also being crucified, receives eternal life when he asks Jesus for forgiveness. Christians believe that they were created for a purpose, and that each person is unique. On the subject of fulfilling reason in one's life, Christianity states that one needs to love and help others. They believe that because Jesus forgave them, they should also forgive those who ask for it. As with Christianity, finding meaning in your life or the purpose of your life is a common characteristic of the many different religions around the world.

A Buddhist is a faithful Christian's exact opposite, though far from atheist. Buddhists don't believe in a specific God like Christians do. A way Buddhists find meaning is by [|meditation] (youtube.com/watch?v). Chanting is one technique that holds the mind's attention in order to detect the "oneness," and is a common practice found in Buddhism. Another meditation technique is that of the "quiet mind" so that one can become aware of when the mind is calming. Being one with the self and relieving tension are ways to find meaning in a low stress way (teachersmind.com ). Buddhists also don't believe the world or anything in it exists, including themselves. Buddhists do, however, believe in people as a whole as well as the belief that everything and everyone exists in a Samara, the is the system of reincarnation. They believe that the norm of life is suffering and loss, because happiness and delight happens very rarely. The only way, in a Buddhist's eyes, to [|escape suffering and loss](religion facts.com) is to achieve the Ultimate Reality, or Nirvana. This is the only way to get out of the continuous cycle of suffering to reach the mental state of happiness in Buddhism (religion-today.blogspot.com). Someone who achieves this can lead others to the path towards Nirvana, but they can not walk it for them. In other words, a person who has achieved the Ultimate Reality can help others achieve this also, but the act of finding Nirvana is up to the individual. Dhamma, a small stepping stone towards Nirvana, it is the law of righteousness that exists in a man's heart, mind, and in the universe. media type="youtube" key="hKfHcHkzM9w" height="239" width="376"Buddhism teaches people a good way to think about meaning. It's something that no one can exactly give to another person. They can give guidance, but finding meaning is a personal journey. In school people learn all the left-brained thinking tools for life. The problem with that is people don't know how to think deeply in considering their meaing in life. All of that is beginning to change. Instead of looking at the surface ideas of things, teachers are asking their students to really consider events their learning. In Mrs. Cornils Honors U.S. History class, she made students think about the details they learned about. She asked them if the videos and notes in class gave an accurate dipiction of the Civil Rights Movement. Students had to think deeply about the events they learned about. They weren't just fed information, they learned it on their own. This is the way education is now. Students aquire the skills to think deeply to later be able to find their own meaning in life.

For some religion is the way to find meaning, for others this isn't the case. Through a survey of high school students peers, many different ways were discovered. When asked how one found meaning, many students replied that they found it through relationships with other people. One high school student, Kara Nazminia, said, “I find meaning in my life through mostly family and friends. Also, [I find meaning in] other things like music, the television show 'House', and other shows that relate to real life situations". While that student found meaning in material things, two other high school students interviewed both said, "The meaning of life is to find the love of your life and to make some sort of a difference in the world. The meaning of life is to just be happy". Similarly, Jeff Brandberg, a teacher at Arapahoe High School said, "Meaning in life is found in relationships, and not just with others, but also the relationship with oneself. And embedded within the relationship with oneself is an innate desire to find purpose and live a life of passion, fulfilling the yearning desires that often quietly ache within one’s soul". These are responses from a family's perspective. Al Scheer, when interviewed, said, "Meaning in life is found through family, being a good husband and father, and helping others find meaning in their life,being of assistance for others that may need it. Ultimately putting others first". Hannah Scheer, the oldest daughter in the Scheer family gave this insight."I make my life mean something to more than just me and I try to do something unique each day to begin to understand the world and how it works and the people in it". Deb Scheer said, "I find meaning in my life by first and for most caring for my family. I also find meaning through helping other people feel better through laughter and song." These quotes all express the popular opinion that many people have in finding meaning. Before a person can help others find their place in the world, they need to find the meaning in their own life. When everyone finds meaning and puts out a hand for others, the world will be more peaceful. Tracey Walker said that to her, "The meaning of life is to live morally and to treat people with kindness. And in some point in your life, it will all come back to you".

People find many ways of finding meaning in life whether it be religion, family, music, or something as selfless as putting others first. Morals are a major factor when one is trying to find meaning, and can shape the path that person is headed on. When Daniel Pink was asked if meaning was a sense that everyone was born with, or if it was something that developed over time, he replied that it was both. "I think that we're born both with a sense of meaning and that it develops over time. One of the things that separates humans from other species is that we wonder why we are here, what it's all about, and how we should live our lives. It's part of being human. Our experiences can either stymie that sense or allow it to flourish. If we're in the wrong situation, this natural capacity won't bloom. If we're in the right situations, it can grow profoundly" (Dan Pink). That said, people should sometimes just step back from actually finding meaning and let things happen, everything will fall into place and meaning will come in time. In the book //A Whole New Mind//, meaning is the last sense to be talked about, probably because it is one of the most important senses. Meaning, whether it applies to work or play, it is a big part of life. Everyone has meaning in their life, whether they know it or not. It may be something as simple as helping out a neighbor, or doing the best possible at work. Whatever it is, meaning shapes the life of a person, and gives a sense of satisfaction and belonging to those who need it. [|"When you were born, you cried and the world rejoiced. Live your life so that when you die, the world cries and you rejoice" (thinkexist.com).] //A Catholic Calling//. Web. 14 May 2010. . "Commentary on What Buddhists Believe." //Religion Today//. Web. 14 May 2010. . Cornils, Stacy. "Civil Rights Learning Circle." Class. 30 Apr. 2010. Lecture. "Find Meaning." //Personal Development//. Web. 14 May 2010. . "History of Christianity." Web. 14 May 2010. . "The Meaning of Buddhism - Magazine - The Atlantic." //Breaking News, Analysis and Opinion on Politics, Business, Culture, International, Science, Technology, National, Food — The Atlantic//. Web. 14 May 2010. . "The Meaning of Education." //Focus on Teachers: Teachers Transforming Education//. Web. 14 May 2010. . "The Meaning of Life." //Existence of God//. Web. 14 May 2010. . "Meaning Quotes." //Find the Famous Quotes You Need, ThinkExist.com Quotations.// Web. 14 May 2010. <http://thinkexist.com/quotations/meaning/>. "The Purpose of Life According to Buddhism - ReligionFacts." //Religion, World Religions, Comparative Religion - Just the Facts on the World's Religions.// Web. 14 May 2010. <http://www.religionfacts.com/buddhism/beliefs/purpose.htm>. "Why Do Christians Believe This?" //Geneva.rutgers.edu//. Web. 14 May 2010. <http://geneva.rutgers.edu/src/christianity/why.html>.
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