This week I want to go back and expand on thoughts (or perhaps just one overriding thought) from this post (Irrelevant Happiness) three weeks ago. Towards the end of that post I casually threw in 'the meaning of existence' as one of the topics or concepts covered. Wow! Looking back, that was a pretty bold claim on my part to presume any sort of insight in that regard. I have to examine, pull apart, and dig deeper to determine substantive credibility or arrogant insouciance; (or perhaps, a little of both?).

First I would like to revisit the following sentence from the 'Irrelevant Happiness' post: "... day-to-day existence in this physical realm is given meaning through a dichotomy of harsh reality and ineffable/intuitive spirituality." This is not a spectrum. Nor are they combatants. In my mind they are the substance of Life, existing simultaneously, and cannot be given equal time, but should always be given equal consideration. I believe it impossible to give them equal time because I believe time to be a product of empirical reality, and only an illusion in the realm of spirituality which emanates from inner transcendence; but this is good because it allows spirituality to permeate reality. So initially, what I was referring to as 'the meaning of existence' in the previous post was recognition, acknowledgment, assimilation, and the resulting synergy from both reality and spirituality. They must be united as one for maximum vitality.

As always, easier said than done and in its perfection, unattainable; but definitely worth striving towards.

Next I would like to expand some on irrelevance, which I believe to be the 'harsh' part of reality. One cannot escape the fact of irrelevance in some, most, or (I might argue) all of one's reality. One can ignore it, hide it away, deny it, fight it, or - one can embrace it. I believe embracing irrelevance is the only way to consistently unite reality and spirituality. Think of a time when a harsh reality could not be hidden, denied, or ignored; one's tendency is to turn to spirituality or inner transcendence. Wouldn't it be better to seek inner transcendence and act upon one's spirituality full-time, rather than only when the need arises? Full-time spirituality emanating from inner transcendence it seems would require full-time recognition, acknowledgment, and assimilation of the harshness or reality; i.e. irrelevance. Embrace it.

So what about inner transcendence or spirituality? The fact that it may be present full-time if one embraces irrelevance full-time, does not necessarily make it relevant. Herein lies the dichotomy; irrelevance (harsh reality) makes full-time spirituality from inner transcendence possible, but one must then find a way to embrace it to make it relevant. So how does one embrace the transcendental, full-time, and use the irrelevance that is inherent in empirical reality to make transcendence relevant?

My first thought is that this would initially be more of an individual choice; at least in terms of individual beliefs. However, regardless of beliefs, I believe the mechanics to be similar; and necessary. Some constants that have helped me to stay on track include consistent study, analysis, contemplation, and reflection. I believe these to be applicable to various beliefs and learning styles; for me it is individual reading, thought, and writing; for others it could be group discussions, formalized classroom settings, technologically advanced methods, etc, etc, etc. These are the mechanics of living spirituality.

Study? Analysis? Learning? An objection of "when?" may arise. Keeping in mind the premise that in the transcendental realm time is an illusion, I believe one can find lots of opportunity for free thinking when performing the myriad of mundane daily tasks that take little thought, and as with anything, it is not a matter of time anyway; it is a matter of priority. And even when I am dealing with an empirical priority requiring more attention or focus, I've found that some aspects of my spirituality naturally incorporate themselves into my day-to-day existence. And then as I am able, (and the more I am able), to submerge myself into reflective thought, time becomes less of a factor impacting my empirical reality. In other words, in its purer forms, spirituality emanating from inner transcendence is not subject to the constraints of time put on our day-to-day existence, thus (in turn) loosening those time constraints as they impact one's empirical reality.

This is very cool; because what it means to me is that transcendentally - because time does not exist - time never ends; in this spiritual realm time is an illusion, so my inner transcendence is eternal. Additionally, this concept fits with many different spiritual schools of thought and it frees us from not only the empirical constraints of time, but also from the resulting fear of the end of time.

I would like to think that this expansion of previous thought lends some substantive credibility and furthers my understanding of the 'meaning of existence.' Throughout history humankind has sought salvation; some assurance that 'my' time will not end. Perhaps this salvation lies in the full-time fusion of reality (irrelevance) and spirituality (inner transcendence) and the refutation of time.

I sit here now (4 hours after writing the preceding paragraph) and have difficulty with the concept that time is an illusion. I see the clock move; I think back to younger days; I look ahead to growing older. How can one realistically maintain that time is an illusion? Part of the answer is that one cannot realistically (empirically) maintain that time is an illusion, because time is a product of this physical realm - the argument must be made from a transcendental perspective. Perhaps as one grows older the commingling of reality and transcendence, described in the previous post 'Irrelevant Happiness' as the embodiment of the transcendental nesting within the empirical, actually becomes the transcendental blanketing the empirical, thus emphasizing/strengthening the premise that time is (if not an illusion) at least an extraneous aspect of existence. I would like to think that as I grow older (and wiser?) I can embrace the transcendental to an extent that I have less and less difficulty seeing time as an illusion.

It is a tough sell, but I believe it approaches Truth.

Time is an illusion.

I don't necessarily mean that 'my' time won't end, but I do believe that the end of 'my' time is an illusion.

It is a tough sell, but I believe it approaches Truth.

In the beginning there was a warm center. As empirical time progressed this nugget of ineffable/intuitive spirituality grew and strengthened to become a recognizable aspect of my empirical existence. As I continue to grow (physically) older this inner transcendence (with effort and determination) will begin to blanket and fuse itself onto and into the whole of my physical being. In the (empirical) end I will be pure transcendence, beyond the bounds of time.

One final thought - Faith cannot be a shortcut, simply there to justify part-time spirituality.