"Before the universe, there wouldn't be any time, form or space..." He states that as a given when in fact it is just conjecture. How do we know God didn't look at a divine clock and say, "time to create a few new Universes" ?
1:04 "You have to put yourself in God's position, we're using theological language here, so allow me to do that..." Is he serious? That was 'theological' language so deep that it required permission? As P.T. Barnum said, "There's a sucker born every minute."
From a Buddhist perspective this question is like asking what is the purpose of samsara which includes suffering or duhkha. If then the question is why did god create the universe? This god can only be the demiurgic god who is evil whom the gnostics warned us against. The real purpose of life is to escape from samsara and the demiurgic god! This is what Buddha and Christ taught. Cohen is deluded.
@navynaveed123 Please realize that there is a purpose to this life.
Everyone - God loves you and wants you to be happy. Yes, bad things happen to good people, but everyone can turn to God when times are bad. (We should also turn to Him when they are good.)
I'm LDS (known as Mormon).
The purposes of life:
1. To get a body. We wouldn't be able to have certain experiences if we didn't get a body.
2. To test us to see if we will choose Him again. When we fall, He gave us the ability to repent.
The point of the Universe is Nothing. & I am not an existential athiest. If the point were any 1 thing, then anyone that had an alternative point of view, would be incredulously pissed off, and rightly so, because existence would just be intolerable hell and have no meaning other than what God says.
There is no 1 point in conceptual terms for the reason of existence. Yet that humble fact provides for an infinity of possibilities. It's why art still has the chance to be beautiful.
Notice how suggestible the audience seems to Mr Cohen. To think they can ask questions of another that only they themselves can answer! To be so confused that even the questions they ask reflect this fundamental misunderstanding of existence! And that Mr Cohen does not acknowledge this confusion by actually attempting to answer their "impossible" questions---instead of questioning their questions & questioning the underlying essence of the questioner itself (think about this folks).
@pbchrist He is Part of this emerging group of self-declared gurus who exploit the existential angst people suffering from of the hollow nihilism brought about by consumer culture...
What is most interesting for me ... is what kind of consciousness needs to ask this question (or finds this question very important) ... and I think it's a bored one :)
Because when my life is full, interesting, fun (or watch any happy child) ... and there are SO many fascinating things to do, see, learn, play with ... if anyone asks me that I think "doh?" & then "what's up with you"? I think they must just be depressed.
So a higher question would be to ask "why are we so un-centred"?
He sounds like a phony... he's giving answers from an intellectual perspective,a logical, deductive, step by step formula of the creation of the universe. He full of words, confusing and senseless words. He's confusing his audience, intimidating them with his language. Any fool and can take a simple thing and make it complicated, it takes a genius / divine being to take a complicated thing and make is simple.
When then answer is simple and elegant, God is answering.
This silly hu-man sounds like they need to buy more of his lectures on DVD. We also have EnlightenNext Water that will colloidally align yourself with your destiny...
@pbchrist I'm with you, hu-man is the only category I can put this joyless creature into. He has enormous influence over an associate who has equal influence over the acupuncture community I am involved with. This includes many books, forums, articles and personal appearances and is a leading figure in Western thinking regarding the subject of Chinese medicine. That said, the work of my immediate associate really does liberate the practitioner of these therapies beyond the myths
@shalokin of the purposeful mislead media representations designed to hamper it's public acceptance. Whether there is hidden agenda behind my associate's work or Cohen's, I still believe that there is much truth in what they say. The dissolving of one's victim mentality featured highly in their work is exactly the medicine needed to eliminate the fear that TPTB manipulate. The Jury is still out for me at this stage, I know he is not being honest about where he attained his knowledge
@shalokin but this may not be a possibility for him if it comes from a place that has been labelled fantastical. So many lies to decipher, so little time.
The Quran/Koran Said, the purpose of life is to Worship ALLAH only. If you ask what is the purpose of worshiping ALLAH. the answer is ALLAH showed the right and wrong paths and if you follow the right path. He will reward you with paradise. if you ask why He will reward you with paradise. the answer is becouse He (ALLAH) is Just and He does the justice. that is paradise for those who obeyed ALLAH and prayed for ALLAH: and punishment for evil doers.
That was kinda useless,..i dont think he really had a definite answer. I guess because there is NO definite answer. Because life doesn't have a purpose. We make our own...i guess,..am i right?
man....too bad he gave such a crappy answer. i normally love this guy. maybe it was an off day. or that woman just had an excellent question. lol. he normally has a much better answer for this question. not sure what happened here... :/
Some people have commented that it's wrong for Andrew to feel that he can "think like God" and I do believe that the essence of God is unknowable but at the same time there seems to be something very profound and real about this whole notion of us being created in his image. Especially when I was younger ( it seems the older I get the less I'm able to do it) I was able to connect with exactly what he's describing here. There really is something to this whole notion of the absolute.
I ask what the purpose of life is cyclicly and I realized that the answer is the question. Meaning, that the recognition that we can question whether there is purpose or not deepens our craving for congruency-the question immediately serves itself as the answer; and, that is that we have the power to ask.
@11033066099 So long as the specimen can respond to stimuli in some fashion, the eternal gaze is seated correctly in the vessel and achieves its purpose. There is no greater purpose to life than the emotions and sensations derived from organic faculties. The gaze without the organism is equiposed and without any coherent, dualistic self. The purpose of life is to stare through organic eyes, even if for only a split second.
@PrimeConsciousness Talkin smart is sexy but that was a bit to over the top for me lol. Wait, you're saying that the purpose of life is to live basically? that every second is simply existence being itself and no more? That there really is no solid meaning except to keep it going?
@11033066099 Sorry, I often forget that regular language can prove superior. You mostly understand my point. Everything is contained within the now, thus no purpose exists other than to allow for a now moment to unfold as is the natural instinct of Godhead. One can live however one chooses, yet there are always ramifications to action. It's actually quite impossible for any being to transcend the eternal purpose. My good friend Salvinorin-Alpha explains it waaay better.
I wonder if the lady really did understand what he spoke. If you can't convince someone then confuse them- that's what he has done. One advice to the lady here- please check out Dr. Richard Dawkins on youtube for an insight into the "Purpose of life".
there is no meaning of life. why does there have to be a meaning for us to be happy? we create our own meaning, to live a full and happy life with friends and family as unimportant entities in a unspeakably big beautiful universe. well thats my personal meaning of life anyway and i like it and enjoy it
This guys talks rubbish.... He is a self appointed voice of God with no greater knowledge, experience or information on the topic he speaks than any other person on earth. Essentially he know nothing, like me and you.
Interesting points, though, in my opinion, errs by attempting to contain (in a few words) the uncontainable: God/The Supreme, or whatever you'd like to call it.
After contemplating with sincerity, openness and whatnot on this subject, ive came to a conclusion that i just wanted to share, about the purpose. Because it sets me free. (and because i want to make up for my sins, related to my unwholesome commentary of yesterday)
Well, what i came to, is; That the purpose of life, is This!
Yes... Its This! All this. Thats the purpose!
When you look at everything, all this, what else could it be?
And consciously participating in it, is... *pen breaks*
All anyone has to do is read the blogs (some of them maybe false, yes, but all of them? I doubt it) about how he has treated people to know how spiritual he really is. He's a very cruel person at the heart of it. Some find him charismatic, and I'm sure he knows a lot from being immersed in spirituality for the last 30 years. But that doesn't save him from his own ego. Not by a long shot.
in answering the question, he asks that we try to look at it from God's perspective because if we don't, the answer always becomes personal, and ego driven.
A very enlightened answer, but kinda lost on most of the people commenting.
He is a hack. Its not an "enlightened" answer because he just gives her his own answer. Its not the words that are wrong. He's a very bright guy. Its not that there is some THING that he says that one can point at and go "nuh uh!" His false guru action is in the space not the form, for lack of a better word.
If you like the guy then fine. If you know spiritual BS you can smell it on this guy miles away. I do not get how he gets so many students/followers.
I don't understand what you mean by "His false guru action is in the space not the form". Enlightened answers can be given in any space.
I have met and discerned false gurus, woo-woo new age teachers, drug addicts and egomaniacs (eg., "I am my own teacher"). I have also personally met Andrew Cohen, and know a number of his students and former students.
Not one has had any doubt of his spiritual caliber.
Now tell me, have you ever had a guru? Have you ever met Andrew Cohen?
Why does he give such a complicated and confusing answer to such a human question? The most wise men in history answered to this same question with just a few words, and then remain still, but smiling: 'I don't know.'
Sounds like a setup to me. The way she was giving quite extreme positive cues while he was talking. Then suddenly would begin attacking his position again. Just doesnt add up, an acting job if I've ever seen one.
Asking these kind of questions is like trying to see your own back without a mirror. We simply are not evolved enough to answer, if there indeed is an 'answer'...perhaps the question itself is the problem.
well well the point is we have to live for their pleasure...we are the DRUG they need..and this is the reason they wont let us go....by the way imnendham is real knight of the round table!!
I agree with everything you're saying Andrew except that I probably wouldn't put it that the original consciousness was bored one day and then out popped the universe. It's more like the original consciousness allowed itself to be limited and then other things were also allowed to be what it is. Semantic difference maybe but this way of seeing feels a lot more natural.
What´s the difference from this theory to the old traditional beliefs of christians and muslims? Instead of a life-long searching and 10 years with guru in India Andrew could have asked nearest christian/muslim/jew (he is jew) neighbour and he/she would have answered "it´s God´s will", "God want´s us to do/be like this" etc.
And when I asked him yesterday about what´s "Evoulutionary" in his teaching I didn´t see anything new.
I don´t disregard Andrew, he´s a nice person but I´m not impressed.
i don't think there is a single purpose other than the ones we create for ourselves. I think we simply seek the joy that comes from the act of creating - and then experiencing that creation, then tweaking it and so on... what is the purpose to music or art? sometimes there is no purpose, there is simply an artist enjoying painting or expressing himself. The act of creating is a purpose unto itself.
Yeah, he didn't answer the question, but I have the answer and I think everyone in the room including him, as well had the answer. And that is to say that that is all there is, creation, manifestation and that is all there is. To create, whether you create a war, a ufo, or a new prosthetic arm, that is all there is to do and the amount possible to manifest is infinate, there is nothing else technically and the point of that is anybody's guess. Good day.
When you strive to be the expression of God in the world--whatever that means to you--then who you are begins to transform because you're reaching for something higher--you're motivated by a higher purpose. That's the power in what Mr. Cohen is saying in this video.
When you strive to be the expression of God in the world--whatever that means to you--then who you are begins to transform because you're reaching for something higher--you're motivated by a higher purpose. That's the power in what Mr. Cohen is saying in this video.
I'm blown away by how, in the last 20-30 years, "spirituality" has become such an industry. Granted, we are spiritual creatures in addition to being sexual and social creatures; we have this "drive," if you will, to unfold, to know our essence, etc. But here is a guy who has been exposed in various books but who, thanks to the demand of hungry people and thanks to the elaborate vocabulary we've developed in this field, can sell himself as enlightened.
I dont believe that even the most intelligent human being could even begin to contemplate what the Creator thinks. How can any of us feeble-minded humans even begin to think of what God is.
In my opinion, Panentheism is man’s best attempt at knowing God (which is impossible – See: Isaiah 55:8-9), whereas with Monotheism God came down to Reveal Himself. Both belief systems are important, the contemplative and the Revelation of God. The difficult part is harmonizing and balancing these unique aspects of life. We have the tendency to think in terms of Either/Or but not Both/And.
I wonder if I'm the only one who sees Mr. Cohen in this video trying to buy time to manufacture an answer. The pauses after every "Right?" are a clear giveaway.
God "striving" to create perfection??? Isn't that against the definition of God? What an incredibly simplistic and stupid approach to try to explain the creation of the universe based on purely human concepts of boredom, perfection etc. I guess if you're gullible enough to buy this drivel, you deserve no better.
So the creator of everything that exists in all its inifinite complexity operates on the same human principles of boredom and excitement as you and I do? Does God also have a craving for Nachos from time to time? How about the urge to be popular? Find a killer deal on that big screen TV?
The question was earnest and the answer from Cohen was ridiculously stupid, I'm amazed she bought it at the end but then we're all guilty of laughing lest someone find out we didn't get the joke. Joke!!
His analysis of conciousness should not make anyway feel nihilistic, quite the contrary. I also found it very amusing that after his beautiful explanation, she asks her question again, obviously not comprehending what was said. Instead of asking what the purpose of it all is, which is human arrogance, we should be asking why do we assume there is no purpose, based on our very limited knowledge of the universe.
if i was never born i wouldnt have to deal with this shit, or the fear of death.
what is the point of the universe? what is the point of being alive for 80 years then dead for eternity? why must we have emotions? is there life after death, or do we cease to exist? WTF? WHY!!!
@navynaveed123 .... Ive been there, so have many. Ive found the best medicine is to be humble. I mean truly humble in all situations. That means Accepting what we are. But what are we? However you see it in complex terms....it is always clar that we are having an experience. So perhaps thats where your answers are. In your own personal experience. Dont worry too much about what you dont know, just make the most of what you do. Every day, do what you feel is best. Savour the stages in life. Learn
@navynaveed123 The struggle for all life on this planet is to exist through the passage of time. Procreation is the highest of importance, this is why we are driven to procreate with such power and pleasure. The organism of life is very fragile in comparison to the harsh reality of nature. Our pain and pleasure guide us through nature. Emotions are a way for us to navigate through our existence. Many why questions that we conjure up have no answers. There is no evidence to suggest an afterlife.
Death in my opinion will be much like before life. No consciousness. No pain, no pleasure, nothing for eternity. As their was no consciousness before my birth, their will be none after my death. Many of these statements regarding god are nothing more than faith positions. Their is no evidence or reason to believe that an entity of any kind "created" our universe. The purpose of life is what you impose upon it. Live well for their is only one to live. Find your purpose and contribute to life.
@Meeks861 When someone like Andrew Cohen or Ken Wilber uses the word "God," it means something very different than what a Christian might mean or anyone who adhered to an Abrahamic religion. They speak from a sort of theosophical position, because they've supposedly put the theosophical work in through meditation. The theosophical work in the form of meditation could be related to nonduality. Here's an example:
sooooo according to this, i was right, life was made for selfish reasons! Its just like man trying to make life in his/her own image. Its all selfishness.
So, if you were "God", existing in this timeless bliss, you'd want to do something like....I don't know....create a world where a bunch of leaders imposed taxes and perpetrated other fiscal and physical crimes on unsuspecting 'non-leaders', civilizations, etc.? Bullshit. And why say "God" is perfect? Is that actually true? We don't know, because no "God" has ever shown himself to us, except in heavily pro-God slanted writings. We don't even actually know the people who wrote that stuff.
@MrDarcyzPP And by extension that means that "God" wanted all of this harassment that now comes from the internet, like advertising all day...like constant change for changes sake...because fucking god was bored. Fine. He/it was bored. I don't care. But it's wrong for this Nimrod (and that is meant literally) to push more lies and try to push agreement from her by saying "right?" everytime he supposedly comes up with a "fact" about why "God" or whatever did what it did to create a reality.
@MrDarcyzPP pay attention to the truth. there you shall find God. I dont think you have been looking with peace love and understanding. All the answers are within you
the times when i've realised complete... whatever...X... i've thought "well, what am i going to do now? there's only one thing to do: go back into the illusion"
it's a choice. from that "god's eye" perspective one realises that suffering is an illusion, and so one is able to affirm the choice to experience it
guy is rambling off the top of his head not making any sense lol hey cuz god can experience with no time or space. im surprised such an enlightened person can understand a simple concept, the reason no one can find a purpose in life is because the universe doesnt understand what purpose is, it is a man made concept.
Many great saints have said that God wanted to share His state of bliss with others but was alone. Hence the creation. This is just a speculation. Nobody would ever know. Yogananda (who communed with God) never got an answer to that question.
I found his response very clear, basically stating that the universe exists because God (not the old man with the white beard) wants to know him/herself in form, not just in being. So then it's up to us to make that happen... to "do God's will", so to speak.
That's a concept that has been around for a very long time, but what it means to bring that spiritual revelation into today's world is an open question. And it's a very exciting one to attempt to answer with our words and actions.
Wow, talk about going off subject. He does everything to make her confused and then says simple things that everyone would agree with, so she says "yes", and that puts her understanding beneath his. It's just a psycological trick to get the upper hand in a conversation. How can God have a mind and thought process and decide based on those? I think adrew Cohen knows alot of spiritual words, but putting them all in the same sentance doesnt make him right. He is confused and confusing.
Before the beginning was the decision and the decision was TO BE... in space and time... and to know nothing so that a game can exist so that mystery can exist... so that mysteries can be solved and games can be won! :-) So that there is something to Do. Then some games are lost and we go down hill and have smaller and smaller goals and more and more desperation and seek gods to give us help and hope and so we create gods and pray to them... thus there is religion.
Mr. Cohen says that GOD was bored with the same kind of routine, so it means that GOD have the same kind of mental structure that we have. For me that sounds quite stupid.
Sorry but you are misinformed, cause the act of thinking something is stupid is subjective therefore God creating stuff could be wise to do, cause this action has the potential of being looked at of being something wise to do. Not everything has to be so complex for something to do just for it to be looked at of being smart, it could be the very simplest thing and still be wise to do cause its subjective. also as the old saying goes...."the easy way is the right way." :)
I like the point of creating reality. But I think we are constantly creating as a whole universe. there is no breakling for billions of years like he mentioned. We are all one subset of a collective consiousness.
there is a simpler answer to the purpose of life that makes more sense. It's not about finding more beliefs about god and trying to understand life. The purpose being present and alive, awake as it goes along. It's fullfilling and imposisble to create evil intention when you see it is all you.. Now THAT would be a first on this planet. That urge Andrew talks about feels like an Egoic need to be fullfilled. But if he integrates that instead of feeding it with the attention of his followers....
Sigh, I'm going to have to disagree with this video. Life has no purpose. The universe is simply a collection of particles, and energy. If you think you have a purpose for example to have as much fun as you can then ask yourself what's the point of having fun? and even if you can find an answer to that question ask yourself what's the point of that. Putting the fact that there is no god aside and assuming a god exists then that god has no purpose himself. Life has no meaning.
@lewiszim I gotta say, if that's your belief, I actually have sympathy for you.. Because you might aswell give up on life now. Having a purpose behind something is what drives you, especially life.
The meaning of life is whatever you make of it. For most people it's to create another life. I believe you make the best of what you can.
Life was given to us, and maybe it wasn't implanted with a purpose initially, but perhaps that's for us to create our own meaning.
Any purpose or meaning is just an illusion, even if you save other lives life its self still has no purpose or meaning. If your asking if I'm sucicidal I assure you I'm not! I live life not for purpose or meaning, not to create another life, but instead to experience select human emotions. It is feeling things such as happiness, sadness, anger, and other emotions that I live for, through the corse of life one will feel all of these emotions at one point.
there is no higher conciousness. you already are. its just you(the mind not the sprit) reconizing it.we are here to experience the physical world. he limits of time and space gives rise to a new meaning of life. we just don't think about it much. just enjoy the ride.
Consciousness "is striving to create and manifest itself in form. Why ? Because there's nothing else to do". That's funny. It sounds like acting out of boredom.
It is clear that satsang with Papaji and exposure to nondualist works has left some imprint on Andrew Cohen, at least on an intellectual level. However, he is not being particularly helpful to the questioner by encouraging them to engage in mental speculation. If he were Papaji, he would point out that the mind cannot truly answer the question of life's purpose; it has to be realised as the truth of who one really is. Cohen has his own mind-made theories, which he cannot convey very clearly.
God never created a universe. He shows himself in the universe even while hiding himself in the universe which is not a different thing from God. Purnam idam purnam adah purnat purnam udacyate purnasya purnam adaya purnam evavashishyate. (What u see is God and what lurks behind it is God, from God comes God, take a piece of God from God and God remains whole.)
The purpose of life is to enjoy oneself. This was revealed to me when I was smoking a reefer. Everything is ok. You may call it banal. When you see it, it's profound :)
Very similar to Neale Donald Walsch's description of the purpose of creation described in his book Conversations with God. We are all God trying to re-member or recreate itself/ourselves as God. It's an awesome theory!
You're all missing the point. He's speaking in simplistic terms about "god" because the the human mind cannot comprehend the fact that we ARE god, or a manifestation of god, playing "hide and seek" with one's self. God is just a term that is being used here to describe the universe/multiverse. All of Cohen's "insights" are just a rehashing of Zen philosophy made popular by Alan Watts in the 1960s.
His comments seem to correlate exactly with the Islamic belief that God's reason for creating was that He was a hidden treasure and loved to be known, so he created. We are the ones who can constantly be increasing our knowledge of God and our relationship to him. As a muslim I completely understand what he's talking about. I think he's right on.
One more point: Andrew talks about no-time before the universe was created. How does he know? Time always was, is, will be. Again, it's a human construct, so either it always existed/exists, or never existed/exists. Can't be both.
how do you know? As far as I understand it, in his view time is within a oneness of everything, time passes within an eternel one moment. I think the problem is linguistic, because he uses BEFORE. I guess he does it just to simplify and get understood, though I have to say that your comment shows that this way of telling it has surely weaknesses. btw,:
Btw: If everything is constructed, then what is with the thought that everything is constructed? A construct as well, or what? What if I say that i know that i dont know, how then can I be sure about that If I cannot know it? If I cant say anything about anything I cant say anything about not being able to say anything about anything, right : ) Just some thoughts, my friend..
Yep, that's why all this shall remain a mystery. More honest to admit it, rather than come up with some fancy theories, as religions and other belief systems (including Andrew's, I may add) seem to do.
I dont think its a religious system. By now its based on integral theories(see ken Wilber). That means its base is far beyond belief, rationalism or (de-)constructivism/nihilism, which in myviews are all STEPS. The nihilist/(de-)constructivist turn you are prsenting in my mind is the most crucial step to understand today TO ACTUALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT f.ex. Andrew is saying. Get it? His perspective comes AFTER, religion comes BEFORE ratio and deconstruction : ) : ) : ) : ) cheers
Andrew still hasn't answered the question about purpose of life satisfactorily. 'Unmanifest to manifest' etc etc sound more like verbal jugglery.
Why can't people accept that perhaps life has no purpose at all? What is the purpose of a mosquito? a flower? bark of a tree? Why should human being alone have some special purpose?
Human-centered thinking will keep human beings on a special pedestal.
(Btw: i am not a student : ) a) no one is saying that nothing else is purposeful(though i think that we are higher developed than our ancestors(animals, plants..) b) the purpose idea here is bound to your own existential decision, intention, intuition, poetic capacity and consciousness-optimization. It is not a purpose given to you. After you realize your unity with everything around you, you adopt the will an wind of the uni-verse around you as YOU SEE IT.
@hellocarnatic Typical douchebag approach. Whatever being there is can have whatever approach it wants to this question. If I want to ask it, it does not mean I rule out other species. Any one has the right to ask this question and get the true answer...which neither this asshole or you (read: douchebag) are providing with your rhetoric.
@hellocarnatic Also, I suppose that life not having a purpose even begs the question more. If no purpose, then why is that? See, asshole douchebag? I suppose not, you fucking robot.
@hellocarnatic Humans may have a special purpose, because we're the only creatures that are aware of our own consciousness. Other animals have thoughts, but we can watch our own thoughts
@hellocarnatic you have a very wonderful point of view,but i actually disagree with you, i think and believe that everything in life have a purpose, nothing just exist to live or to do stuff..and as soon as you think and feel that you have a need to have bigger purpose in life and that you where made for , you really do.. i know my words may look confusing but i hope you get my point..best regards :D
God has always been, and always will be. He is the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. The worlds were not formed without Him speaking them into existance. Genesis 2:4
"These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens". When you look at a painted picture you know there has to be an artist. This is the same concept with creation all the way down to the intricate depths of the sea.
I do not know whether you know the difference between what is physical and what is imagination. if you do not know first know it.
secondly, you reason everything including GOD,SOUL etc. these are not even theories.Failed Hypothesis.After all Bible is written by humans and saying that they are GOD words.we are all not created, evolved.Go to school again to know this.
well put ph2008. He said god may have pondered creating the universe for eons and eons, but how did god do this if time was only created when the universe was created? perfectlamb1 "Intelligent design" is the same as evolution or survival of the fittest. Darwin always made more sense to me than the bible. I remember being 3 yrs old asking my mom "if god made us, then who made god?" I've always thought like this. I guess "GOD" made me this way!?!
Quantam science proves that material interaction infact is impossible. This is science and verified by science. There is a creative process so get your self out of the empirical science dark age and wake up.
I reckon it is the same situation as when people believed the earth was flat. Our knowledge of science has just not reached the point where it is possible to disprove god. But I believe that this day will come soon. Don't take this comment wrong, I respect your belief, I just don't follow it myself.
Mankind was NOT created to live as robots under the rule of Almighty God, but we have been given the priveledge of life and have been given free will to live a life for Christ (or reject Him) and understand He is our Father. We were born to worship our Creator and to live by His standards, only then will His plan and purpose come forth in our lives. God Bless
you make an obvious contradiction. How can you say that the choice to either accept christ or not accept christ is even remotely close to being "free will"? how is having 2 choices free will? it is in fact ridiculously constrained.
Free will is either believing in God and His Laws or not believing in God or His Laws. There is no other way to look at it! There it is laid out for you in plain english, black and white for you to choose.
As for me and my house, WE will Choose life, we will serve the Lord!
that is actually not the meaning of "free will". but i see in color so it was foolish of me to try to explain to someone who only sees in black and white
If you wanna really get answers…
See the following article!
islamreligion. com/articles/280/viewall
wdev007 2 weeks ago
Who am I?!
Why am I here?!
Who create the universe?!
Who creates me?!!
What I suppose to do here?!
All of those questions that your brain just can't answer them!!
And NO ONE in the world can answer those questions, why?!
Because they are human being and have the same questions just like you!
So who can answers those questions? NO ONE, except the creator who creates us and the whole universe.
what is the purpose of our creation?
wdev007 2 weeks ago
before the universe the was just have its better if he just left it that way
narciss19 2 weeks ago
this is such a daisy chain of bullshit premises.
chromosome24 2 weeks ago
"Before the universe, there wouldn't be any time, form or space..." He states that as a given when in fact it is just conjecture. How do we know God didn't look at a divine clock and say, "time to create a few new Universes" ?
Gnosis2078 3 weeks ago
1:04 "You have to put yourself in God's position, we're using theological language here, so allow me to do that..." Is he serious? That was 'theological' language so deep that it required permission? As P.T. Barnum said, "There's a sucker born every minute."
Gnosis2078 3 weeks ago
From a Buddhist perspective this question is like asking what is the purpose of samsara which includes suffering or duhkha. If then the question is why did god create the universe? This god can only be the demiurgic god who is evil whom the gnostics warned us against. The real purpose of life is to escape from samsara and the demiurgic god! This is what Buddha and Christ taught. Cohen is deluded.
mujaku 3 months ago
@navynaveed123 Please realize that there is a purpose to this life.
Everyone - God loves you and wants you to be happy. Yes, bad things happen to good people, but everyone can turn to God when times are bad. (We should also turn to Him when they are good.)
I'm LDS (known as Mormon).
The purposes of life:
1. To get a body. We wouldn't be able to have certain experiences if we didn't get a body.
2. To test us to see if we will choose Him again. When we fall, He gave us the ability to repent.
mafokken 3 months ago
The point of the Universe is Nothing. & I am not an existential athiest. If the point were any 1 thing, then anyone that had an alternative point of view, would be incredulously pissed off, and rightly so, because existence would just be intolerable hell and have no meaning other than what God says.
There is no 1 point in conceptual terms for the reason of existence. Yet that humble fact provides for an infinity of possibilities. It's why art still has the chance to be beautiful.
marz80801980 3 months ago
I must say this is a very enlightening video.
Well done.
It has been said that efforts and courage are not enough without purpose and direction.
Thanks.
purposeoflifeseminar 4 months ago
very enlightening
truepurposeoflife 4 months ago 2
Assumption upon assumption...
dirkschuitsma 4 months ago
Notice how suggestible the audience seems to Mr Cohen. To think they can ask questions of another that only they themselves can answer! To be so confused that even the questions they ask reflect this fundamental misunderstanding of existence! And that Mr Cohen does not acknowledge this confusion by actually attempting to answer their "impossible" questions---instead of questioning their questions & questioning the underlying essence of the questioner itself (think about this folks).
elbikino1 4 months ago
he ia awesome and has profound spiritual insight
deadlypete 5 months ago
@pbchrist He is Part of this emerging group of self-declared gurus who exploit the existential angst people suffering from of the hollow nihilism brought about by consumer culture...
junglecatnat 5 months ago
the purpose of life is to give this guy money. Can someone point me to an ATM machine?
pbchrist 5 months ago
this guys a fucking idiot
TheFilexican 5 months ago
@TheFilexican - If you don't understand what he's talking about, why don't you just shut up?
BayviewFinch 4 months ago
What is most interesting for me ... is what kind of consciousness needs to ask this question (or finds this question very important) ... and I think it's a bored one :)
Because when my life is full, interesting, fun (or watch any happy child) ... and there are SO many fascinating things to do, see, learn, play with ... if anyone asks me that I think "doh?" & then "what's up with you"? I think they must just be depressed.
So a higher question would be to ask "why are we so un-centred"?
8thLifeable 5 months ago
All Im saying is Im not shore
Thanks 4 posting this!!!
MarkRipleysPage 5 months ago
He is a phony. Watts gives much better answers.
TaterGumfries 7 months ago
He sounds like a phony... he's giving answers from an intellectual perspective,a logical, deductive, step by step formula of the creation of the universe. He full of words, confusing and senseless words. He's confusing his audience, intimidating them with his language. Any fool and can take a simple thing and make it complicated, it takes a genius / divine being to take a complicated thing and make is simple.
When then answer is simple and elegant, God is answering.
This guy is a joke.
junglecatnat 7 months ago
@junglecatnat
This silly hu-man sounds like they need to buy more of his lectures on DVD. We also have EnlightenNext Water that will colloidally align yourself with your destiny...
pbchrist 5 months ago
@pbchrist I'm with you, hu-man is the only category I can put this joyless creature into. He has enormous influence over an associate who has equal influence over the acupuncture community I am involved with. This includes many books, forums, articles and personal appearances and is a leading figure in Western thinking regarding the subject of Chinese medicine. That said, the work of my immediate associate really does liberate the practitioner of these therapies beyond the myths
shalokin 5 months ago
@shalokin of the purposeful mislead media representations designed to hamper it's public acceptance. Whether there is hidden agenda behind my associate's work or Cohen's, I still believe that there is much truth in what they say. The dissolving of one's victim mentality featured highly in their work is exactly the medicine needed to eliminate the fear that TPTB manipulate. The Jury is still out for me at this stage, I know he is not being honest about where he attained his knowledge
shalokin 5 months ago
@shalokin but this may not be a possibility for him if it comes from a place that has been labelled fantastical. So many lies to decipher, so little time.
shalokin 5 months ago
The Quran/Koran Said, the purpose of life is to Worship ALLAH only. If you ask what is the purpose of worshiping ALLAH. the answer is ALLAH showed the right and wrong paths and if you follow the right path. He will reward you with paradise. if you ask why He will reward you with paradise. the answer is becouse He (ALLAH) is Just and He does the justice. that is paradise for those who obeyed ALLAH and prayed for ALLAH: and punishment for evil doers.
Yusuf61248 7 months ago
The answers to many of life's questions are ultimately simple, the explanation of how simple they are can be complex.
I love this video explaining the purpose of life!
It’s great that Andrew is sharing his knowledge with others here. He's truly making a difference in the world!
andreawtlc 7 months ago
That was kinda useless,..i dont think he really had a definite answer. I guess because there is NO definite answer. Because life doesn't have a purpose. We make our own...i guess,..am i right?
11033066099 8 months ago
man....too bad he gave such a crappy answer. i normally love this guy. maybe it was an off day. or that woman just had an excellent question. lol. he normally has a much better answer for this question. not sure what happened here... :/
avedic 8 months ago
Some people have commented that it's wrong for Andrew to feel that he can "think like God" and I do believe that the essence of God is unknowable but at the same time there seems to be something very profound and real about this whole notion of us being created in his image. Especially when I was younger ( it seems the older I get the less I'm able to do it) I was able to connect with exactly what he's describing here. There really is something to this whole notion of the absolute.
hassantinoable 8 months ago
People like this guy make a career out of spiritual marketing. They want to believe him so much.
daycart0 9 months ago
@daycart0 Yea, cause he's just a human being like we are. And here, he basicaly said that we were created out of God's boredom lol
11033066099 8 months ago
People like this guy make a career out of spiritual marketing.
daycart0 9 months ago
I ask what the purpose of life is cyclicly and I realized that the answer is the question. Meaning, that the recognition that we can question whether there is purpose or not deepens our craving for congruency-the question immediately serves itself as the answer; and, that is that we have the power to ask.
mindrunfree 9 months ago
The purpose of life is dualistic observation/action.
PrimeConsciousness 9 months ago
@PrimeConsciousness i don't get it, elaborate?
11033066099 8 months ago
@11033066099 So long as the specimen can respond to stimuli in some fashion, the eternal gaze is seated correctly in the vessel and achieves its purpose. There is no greater purpose to life than the emotions and sensations derived from organic faculties. The gaze without the organism is equiposed and without any coherent, dualistic self. The purpose of life is to stare through organic eyes, even if for only a split second.
PrimeConsciousness 8 months ago
@PrimeConsciousness Talkin smart is sexy but that was a bit to over the top for me lol. Wait, you're saying that the purpose of life is to live basically? that every second is simply existence being itself and no more? That there really is no solid meaning except to keep it going?
11033066099 8 months ago
@11033066099 Sorry, I often forget that regular language can prove superior. You mostly understand my point. Everything is contained within the now, thus no purpose exists other than to allow for a now moment to unfold as is the natural instinct of Godhead. One can live however one chooses, yet there are always ramifications to action. It's actually quite impossible for any being to transcend the eternal purpose. My good friend Salvinorin-Alpha explains it waaay better.
PrimeConsciousness 8 months ago
namaste
Search for: "The Purpose of Life The Motive of Existence" you will find a video explaining the purpose!
EmpathicGabriel 9 months ago
I wonder if the lady really did understand what he spoke. If you can't convince someone then confuse them- that's what he has done. One advice to the lady here- please check out Dr. Richard Dawkins on youtube for an insight into the "Purpose of life".
omkardorai 9 months ago
there is no meaning of life. why does there have to be a meaning for us to be happy? we create our own meaning, to live a full and happy life with friends and family as unimportant entities in a unspeakably big beautiful universe. well thats my personal meaning of life anyway and i like it and enjoy it
oljackson99 10 months ago
Comment removed
WelcomeToToners 10 months ago
Bad answer.
treebee69 10 months ago
With due respect, clearly Andrew knows very little about why the universe was created. good guessing though.
buildflow 11 months ago
This guys talks rubbish.... He is a self appointed voice of God with no greater knowledge, experience or information on the topic he speaks than any other person on earth. Essentially he know nothing, like me and you.
Ryallsy79 11 months ago
same as when we have kids,,,we make them first thinking about us,,,,and then when babies born we love them to death :P
Maratrushka 11 months ago
Interesting points, though, in my opinion, errs by attempting to contain (in a few words) the uncontainable: God/The Supreme, or whatever you'd like to call it.
CharmingMan27 1 year ago
After contemplating with sincerity, openness and whatnot on this subject, ive came to a conclusion that i just wanted to share, about the purpose. Because it sets me free. (and because i want to make up for my sins, related to my unwholesome commentary of yesterday)
Well, what i came to, is; That the purpose of life, is This!
Yes... Its This! All this. Thats the purpose!
When you look at everything, all this, what else could it be?
And consciously participating in it, is... *pen breaks*
ImADancerrrr 1 year ago
Comment removed
ImADancerrrr 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
Reageren op deze video... tekens resterend
Annuleren ofPlaatsen of Een video bijvoegen Automatisch bijwerken
Automatische updates uitschakelen
And in contradiction to my last comment, i'd add, that just as there is no purpose, there is endless purpose. Everything can be a purpose.
Just as this (cohen's point of view) could be one's purpose.
But as long as you are putting purpose, and 'becoming', ahead of 'being' (enlightenment), you're not going to get it.
ImADancerrrr 1 year ago
Comment removed
ImADancerrrr 1 year ago
Comment removed
ImADancerrrr 1 year ago
Comment removed
ImADancerrrr 1 year ago
The biggest bunch of bull i have heard in a while...
reddypraveen 1 year ago
All anyone has to do is read the blogs (some of them maybe false, yes, but all of them? I doubt it) about how he has treated people to know how spiritual he really is. He's a very cruel person at the heart of it. Some find him charismatic, and I'm sure he knows a lot from being immersed in spirituality for the last 30 years. But that doesn't save him from his own ego. Not by a long shot.
peter999124 1 year ago
JHC: i sure hope they didnt pay money to listen to his drivel
kenifer8 1 year ago
in answering the question, he asks that we try to look at it from God's perspective because if we don't, the answer always becomes personal, and ego driven.
A very enlightened answer, but kinda lost on most of the people commenting.
rubyminer 1 year ago
@mrkurt13 - do you mean that he is not a wanna be guru, but a real guru? and he is not a hack?
rubyminer 1 year ago
@rubyminer
He is a hack. Its not an "enlightened" answer because he just gives her his own answer. Its not the words that are wrong. He's a very bright guy. Its not that there is some THING that he says that one can point at and go "nuh uh!" His false guru action is in the space not the form, for lack of a better word.
If you like the guy then fine. If you know spiritual BS you can smell it on this guy miles away. I do not get how he gets so many students/followers.
mrkurt13 1 year ago
@mrkurt13
I don't understand what you mean by "His false guru action is in the space not the form". Enlightened answers can be given in any space.
I have met and discerned false gurus, woo-woo new age teachers, drug addicts and egomaniacs (eg., "I am my own teacher"). I have also personally met Andrew Cohen, and know a number of his students and former students.
Not one has had any doubt of his spiritual caliber.
Now tell me, have you ever had a guru? Have you ever met Andrew Cohen?
rubyminer 1 year ago
@rubyminer
I have worked with people who immense spiritual gravity, yes.
mrkurt13 1 year ago
Why does he give such a complicated and confusing answer to such a human question? The most wise men in history answered to this same question with just a few words, and then remain still, but smiling: 'I don't know.'
emdeewee 1 year ago 7
@emdeewee
Is that your answer? Then you must be mistrusted since "Any one pretending to know the purpose must be mistrusted".
rubyminer 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
@rubyminer
@rubyminer
Yes, if i have given you the feeling that I have the answer to that big question: please do not trust me.
(Though I can't really see how I have given you that feeling.) Anyhow, god bless you Ruby.
emdeewee 1 year ago
Comment removed
Silvertrine 1 year ago
Sounds like a setup to me. The way she was giving quite extreme positive cues while he was talking. Then suddenly would begin attacking his position again. Just doesnt add up, an acting job if I've ever seen one.
Silvertrine 1 year ago
@emdeewee - It looks like the people are enjoying it. Maybe you had to be there. It's not always about words.
BayviewFinch 4 months ago
This has been flagged as spam show
@emdeewee
Because this guy is a fraud.
BechTalent 3 months ago
no time means, no time - so you cant have billions of eons of no time!! none of this shit made sense
bay751 1 year ago
Asking these kind of questions is like trying to see your own back without a mirror. We simply are not evolved enough to answer, if there indeed is an 'answer'...perhaps the question itself is the problem.
alzico 1 year ago
well well the point is we have to live for their pleasure...we are the DRUG they need..and this is the reason they wont let us go....by the way imnendham is real knight of the round table!!
guru1a 1 year ago
And that is the purpose of life, children. Next question?
iv2sab 1 year ago
So God created all this suffering, starvation and deaths of little children because he was bored? I see.
elbanydaer 1 year ago
I agree with everything you're saying Andrew except that I probably wouldn't put it that the original consciousness was bored one day and then out popped the universe. It's more like the original consciousness allowed itself to be limited and then other things were also allowed to be what it is. Semantic difference maybe but this way of seeing feels a lot more natural.
dctrex 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
Find out the purpose of life at ourpurposeoflife.blogspot com
YourTradingDiary 1 year ago
What´s the difference from this theory to the old traditional beliefs of christians and muslims? Instead of a life-long searching and 10 years with guru in India Andrew could have asked nearest christian/muslim/jew (he is jew) neighbour and he/she would have answered "it´s God´s will", "God want´s us to do/be like this" etc.
And when I asked him yesterday about what´s "Evoulutionary" in his teaching I didn´t see anything new.
I don´t disregard Andrew, he´s a nice person but I´m not impressed.
HIHIMIII56 1 year ago
There is no purpose to life, you decide for yourself what your purpose will be.
vintageb8 1 year ago
i don't think there is a single purpose other than the ones we create for ourselves. I think we simply seek the joy that comes from the act of creating - and then experiencing that creation, then tweaking it and so on... what is the purpose to music or art? sometimes there is no purpose, there is simply an artist enjoying painting or expressing himself. The act of creating is a purpose unto itself.
askewdale 1 year ago
Yeah, he didn't answer the question, but I have the answer and I think everyone in the room including him, as well had the answer. And that is to say that that is all there is, creation, manifestation and that is all there is. To create, whether you create a war, a ufo, or a new prosthetic arm, that is all there is to do and the amount possible to manifest is infinate, there is nothing else technically and the point of that is anybody's guess. Good day.
dekerranda 1 year ago
Thanks, Andrew. Keep the vids comin, my man!
ghalgaryth 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
When you strive to be the expression of God in the world--whatever that means to you--then who you are begins to transform because you're reaching for something higher--you're motivated by a higher purpose. That's the power in what Mr. Cohen is saying in this video.
steveevolve 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
When you strive to be the expression of God in the world--whatever that means to you--then who you are begins to transform because you're reaching for something higher--you're motivated by a higher purpose. That's the power in what Mr. Cohen is saying in this video.
steveevolve 1 year ago
Comment removed
dothechange 1 year ago
I'm blown away by how, in the last 20-30 years, "spirituality" has become such an industry. Granted, we are spiritual creatures in addition to being sexual and social creatures; we have this "drive," if you will, to unfold, to know our essence, etc. But here is a guy who has been exposed in various books but who, thanks to the demand of hungry people and thanks to the elaborate vocabulary we've developed in this field, can sell himself as enlightened.
.
ShunyamNiketana 1 year ago
What is the purpose of purpose?
TheAlexander356 1 year ago
I dont believe that even the most intelligent human being could even begin to contemplate what the Creator thinks. How can any of us feeble-minded humans even begin to think of what God is.
3VOLution3NO 1 year ago
You want to know what is the Purpose of life, Read Torah, Bible, and Qur'an, then you will find out what is the purpose of life. Mr.Cohen.
aboanour 1 year ago
In my opinion, Panentheism is man’s best attempt at knowing God (which is impossible – See: Isaiah 55:8-9), whereas with Monotheism God came down to Reveal Himself. Both belief systems are important, the contemplative and the Revelation of God. The difficult part is harmonizing and balancing these unique aspects of life. We have the tendency to think in terms of Either/Or but not Both/And.
FSH345 1 year ago
I wonder if I'm the only one who sees Mr. Cohen in this video trying to buy time to manufacture an answer. The pauses after every "Right?" are a clear giveaway.
God "striving" to create perfection??? Isn't that against the definition of God? What an incredibly simplistic and stupid approach to try to explain the creation of the universe based on purely human concepts of boredom, perfection etc. I guess if you're gullible enough to buy this drivel, you deserve no better.
TheBalanceNow 1 year ago
So the creator of everything that exists in all its inifinite complexity operates on the same human principles of boredom and excitement as you and I do? Does God also have a craving for Nachos from time to time? How about the urge to be popular? Find a killer deal on that big screen TV?
The question was earnest and the answer from Cohen was ridiculously stupid, I'm amazed she bought it at the end but then we're all guilty of laughing lest someone find out we didn't get the joke. Joke!!
TheBalanceNow 1 year ago
incredible peacful? that sounds extremly boring mr. cohen
emmerton 1 year ago
His analysis of conciousness should not make anyway feel nihilistic, quite the contrary. I also found it very amusing that after his beautiful explanation, she asks her question again, obviously not comprehending what was said. Instead of asking what the purpose of it all is, which is human arrogance, we should be asking why do we assume there is no purpose, based on our very limited knowledge of the universe.
fairiebee 1 year ago
if i was never born i wouldnt have to deal with this shit, or the fear of death.
what is the point of the universe? what is the point of being alive for 80 years then dead for eternity? why must we have emotions? is there life after death, or do we cease to exist? WTF? WHY!!!
navynaveed123 1 year ago 5
@navynaveed123 I feel you mate. All i do is think about this and it is driving me crazy. day in and day out.
JiuClaw22 1 year ago
@navynaveed123 .... Ive been there, so have many. Ive found the best medicine is to be humble. I mean truly humble in all situations. That means Accepting what we are. But what are we? However you see it in complex terms....it is always clar that we are having an experience. So perhaps thats where your answers are. In your own personal experience. Dont worry too much about what you dont know, just make the most of what you do. Every day, do what you feel is best. Savour the stages in life. Learn
timmysgonnagetcha 1 year ago
@navynaveed123 The struggle for all life on this planet is to exist through the passage of time. Procreation is the highest of importance, this is why we are driven to procreate with such power and pleasure. The organism of life is very fragile in comparison to the harsh reality of nature. Our pain and pleasure guide us through nature. Emotions are a way for us to navigate through our existence. Many why questions that we conjure up have no answers. There is no evidence to suggest an afterlife.
Meeks861 3 months ago
Death in my opinion will be much like before life. No consciousness. No pain, no pleasure, nothing for eternity. As their was no consciousness before my birth, their will be none after my death. Many of these statements regarding god are nothing more than faith positions. Their is no evidence or reason to believe that an entity of any kind "created" our universe. The purpose of life is what you impose upon it. Live well for their is only one to live. Find your purpose and contribute to life.
Meeks861 3 months ago
@Meeks861 When someone like Andrew Cohen or Ken Wilber uses the word "God," it means something very different than what a Christian might mean or anyone who adhered to an Abrahamic religion. They speak from a sort of theosophical position, because they've supposedly put the theosophical work in through meditation. The theosophical work in the form of meditation could be related to nonduality. Here's an example:
/watch?v=F9H2RWaKXSk&feature=plcp&context=C3bb9696UDOEgsToPDskLER1wydvAc1NKX0pygBiwF
Hanahleia 3 weeks ago
@claudelebel55 Exactly. It's hypothetical and leads to delusion.
CharmingMan27 1 year ago
sooooo according to this, i was right, life was made for selfish reasons! Its just like man trying to make life in his/her own image. Its all selfishness.
wheelori814 1 year ago
@claudelebel55 It's not hypothetical..it's a fucking cliche.
MrDarcyzPP 1 year ago
So, if you were "God", existing in this timeless bliss, you'd want to do something like....I don't know....create a world where a bunch of leaders imposed taxes and perpetrated other fiscal and physical crimes on unsuspecting 'non-leaders', civilizations, etc.? Bullshit. And why say "God" is perfect? Is that actually true? We don't know, because no "God" has ever shown himself to us, except in heavily pro-God slanted writings. We don't even actually know the people who wrote that stuff.
MrDarcyzPP 1 year ago
@MrDarcyzPP And by extension that means that "God" wanted all of this harassment that now comes from the internet, like advertising all day...like constant change for changes sake...because fucking god was bored. Fine. He/it was bored. I don't care. But it's wrong for this Nimrod (and that is meant literally) to push more lies and try to push agreement from her by saying "right?" everytime he supposedly comes up with a "fact" about why "God" or whatever did what it did to create a reality.
MrDarcyzPP 1 year ago
@MrDarcyzPP pay attention to the truth. there you shall find God. I dont think you have been looking with peace love and understanding. All the answers are within you
SOCRATES012 1 year ago
I think Cohen is the best at explaining spirituality. Everything he says makes total sense to me.
GreatGooglieWooglie 1 year ago
we are all going to die eventually there is no purpose in life
Shelteredkid 1 year ago
his answer makes total sense to me
the times when i've realised complete... whatever...X... i've thought "well, what am i going to do now? there's only one thing to do: go back into the illusion"
it's a choice. from that "god's eye" perspective one realises that suffering is an illusion, and so one is able to affirm the choice to experience it
chipmunkspunk 1 year ago
@chipmunkspunk His answer doesn't even make sense to him..idiot.
MrDarcyzPP 1 year ago
@MrDarcyzPP let's fight. by the dumpsters, after school
chipmunkspunk 1 year ago
guy is rambling off the top of his head not making any sense lol hey cuz god can experience with no time or space. im surprised such an enlightened person can understand a simple concept, the reason no one can find a purpose in life is because the universe doesnt understand what purpose is, it is a man made concept.
buckeyefan2107 1 year ago
Many great saints have said that God wanted to share His state of bliss with others but was alone. Hence the creation. This is just a speculation. Nobody would ever know. Yogananda (who communed with God) never got an answer to that question.
rsridhar 1 year ago
what is the purpose of a moth?
mfjeff 1 year ago
The purpose of life is to serve the unique living God!
jjokonda 1 year ago
I found his response very clear, basically stating that the universe exists because God (not the old man with the white beard) wants to know him/herself in form, not just in being. So then it's up to us to make that happen... to "do God's will", so to speak.
That's a concept that has been around for a very long time, but what it means to bring that spiritual revelation into today's world is an open question. And it's a very exciting one to attempt to answer with our words and actions.
steveevolve 1 year ago
Wow, talk about going off subject. He does everything to make her confused and then says simple things that everyone would agree with, so she says "yes", and that puts her understanding beneath his. It's just a psycological trick to get the upper hand in a conversation. How can God have a mind and thought process and decide based on those? I think adrew Cohen knows alot of spiritual words, but putting them all in the same sentance doesnt make him right. He is confused and confusing.
mygodiswithin 1 year ago
Before the beginning was the decision and the decision was TO BE... in space and time... and to know nothing so that a game can exist so that mystery can exist... so that mysteries can be solved and games can be won! :-) So that there is something to Do. Then some games are lost and we go down hill and have smaller and smaller goals and more and more desperation and seek gods to give us help and hope and so we create gods and pray to them... thus there is religion.
okydokysmoky 1 year ago
Mr. Cohen says that GOD was bored with the same kind of routine, so it means that GOD have the same kind of mental structure that we have. For me that sounds quite stupid.
acuaman42 1 year ago
@acuaman42
Sorry but you are misinformed, cause the act of thinking something is stupid is subjective therefore God creating stuff could be wise to do, cause this action has the potential of being looked at of being something wise to do. Not everything has to be so complex for something to do just for it to be looked at of being smart, it could be the very simplest thing and still be wise to do cause its subjective. also as the old saying goes...."the easy way is the right way." :)
Drakeybaby 1 year ago
I like the point of creating reality. But I think we are constantly creating as a whole universe. there is no breakling for billions of years like he mentioned. We are all one subset of a collective consiousness.
mindblast187 1 year ago
Hmmm....
cosmicjazzer 1 year ago
He is right. very narrow reasons to live.
MrKommentaryo 1 year ago
there is a simpler answer to the purpose of life that makes more sense. It's not about finding more beliefs about god and trying to understand life. The purpose being present and alive, awake as it goes along. It's fullfilling and imposisble to create evil intention when you see it is all you.. Now THAT would be a first on this planet. That urge Andrew talks about feels like an Egoic need to be fullfilled. But if he integrates that instead of feeding it with the attention of his followers....
leigongneiquan 1 year ago
@leigongneiquan It wouldn't be a first. It would be Buddhism.
miguelio75 1 year ago
when I was 5 something very bad happened
cjg28 1 year ago
Islam can answer to the question
darkhankz 1 year ago
yea right, same old story. why can't find the answer and help Iraque, and Afganistan? right islam has the answer.
greeg02 1 year ago
You're gonna end up with some "hypothetical" idea any way. Whatever you call Truth, will mainly come from inside of you.
yairz83 2 years ago
Evolution NOW!
Fendefadst 2 years ago
Sigh, I'm going to have to disagree with this video. Life has no purpose. The universe is simply a collection of particles, and energy. If you think you have a purpose for example to have as much fun as you can then ask yourself what's the point of having fun? and even if you can find an answer to that question ask yourself what's the point of that. Putting the fact that there is no god aside and assuming a god exists then that god has no purpose himself. Life has no meaning.
lewiszim 2 years ago
@lewiszim I gotta say, if that's your belief, I actually have sympathy for you.. Because you might aswell give up on life now. Having a purpose behind something is what drives you, especially life.
The meaning of life is whatever you make of it. For most people it's to create another life. I believe you make the best of what you can.
Life was given to us, and maybe it wasn't implanted with a purpose initially, but perhaps that's for us to create our own meaning.
IPredictAMindRiot 1 year ago
Any purpose or meaning is just an illusion, even if you save other lives life its self still has no purpose or meaning. If your asking if I'm sucicidal I assure you I'm not! I live life not for purpose or meaning, not to create another life, but instead to experience select human emotions. It is feeling things such as happiness, sadness, anger, and other emotions that I live for, through the corse of life one will feel all of these emotions at one point.
lewiszim 1 year ago
there is no higher conciousness. you already are. its just you(the mind not the sprit) reconizing it.we are here to experience the physical world. he limits of time and space gives rise to a new meaning of life. we just don't think about it much. just enjoy the ride.
stuckin80ss 2 years ago
Because there is nothing else to do? Really. I have some chores for you if you have nothing else to do.
twobytwice 2 years ago
Consciousness "is striving to create and manifest itself in form. Why ? Because there's nothing else to do". That's funny. It sounds like acting out of boredom.
musiinfsk 2 years ago
It loves itself. It creates the world in its own image. Kosmic narcissism...
There is an intelligence at play in evolution.
musiinfsk 2 years ago
Comment removed
unchaineds0ul 2 years ago
It is clear that satsang with Papaji and exposure to nondualist works has left some imprint on Andrew Cohen, at least on an intellectual level. However, he is not being particularly helpful to the questioner by encouraging them to engage in mental speculation. If he were Papaji, he would point out that the mind cannot truly answer the question of life's purpose; it has to be realised as the truth of who one really is. Cohen has his own mind-made theories, which he cannot convey very clearly.
ThatRabblerouser 2 years ago 2
God never created a universe. He shows himself in the universe even while hiding himself in the universe which is not a different thing from God. Purnam idam purnam adah purnat purnam udacyate purnasya purnam adaya purnam evavashishyate. (What u see is God and what lurks behind it is God, from God comes God, take a piece of God from God and God remains whole.)
IpsaPaphum 2 years ago
"Billions of aeons of no time"??? What are you talking about Mr Cohen?
IpsaPaphum 2 years ago 2
The purpose of life is to enjoy oneself. This was revealed to me when I was smoking a reefer. Everything is ok. You may call it banal. When you see it, it's profound :)
IpsaPaphum 2 years ago
The purpose of life, is life itself.
Philos2006 2 years ago
Another way of stating the same is: There is no purpose to life
hellocarnatic 2 years ago
Very similar to Neale Donald Walsch's description of the purpose of creation described in his book Conversations with God. We are all God trying to re-member or recreate itself/ourselves as God. It's an awesome theory!
Asgoodasgod 2 years ago
You're all missing the point. He's speaking in simplistic terms about "god" because the the human mind cannot comprehend the fact that we ARE god, or a manifestation of god, playing "hide and seek" with one's self. God is just a term that is being used here to describe the universe/multiverse. All of Cohen's "insights" are just a rehashing of Zen philosophy made popular by Alan Watts in the 1960s.
marnouk 2 years ago
A beginning cannot happen without an eternal past : the assumption of compulsory eternity
shahzadb 2 years ago
His comments seem to correlate exactly with the Islamic belief that God's reason for creating was that He was a hidden treasure and loved to be known, so he created. We are the ones who can constantly be increasing our knowledge of God and our relationship to him. As a muslim I completely understand what he's talking about. I think he's right on.
caliyya 2 years ago
One more point: Andrew talks about no-time before the universe was created. How does he know? Time always was, is, will be. Again, it's a human construct, so either it always existed/exists, or never existed/exists. Can't be both.
hellocarnatic 2 years ago
how do you know? As far as I understand it, in his view time is within a oneness of everything, time passes within an eternel one moment. I think the problem is linguistic, because he uses BEFORE. I guess he does it just to simplify and get understood, though I have to say that your comment shows that this way of telling it has surely weaknesses. btw,:
Fendefadst 2 years ago
Btw: If everything is constructed, then what is with the thought that everything is constructed? A construct as well, or what? What if I say that i know that i dont know, how then can I be sure about that If I cannot know it? If I cant say anything about anything I cant say anything about not being able to say anything about anything, right : ) Just some thoughts, my friend..
Fendefadst 2 years ago
Yep, that's why all this shall remain a mystery. More honest to admit it, rather than come up with some fancy theories, as religions and other belief systems (including Andrew's, I may add) seem to do.
hellocarnatic 2 years ago
I dont think its a religious system. By now its based on integral theories(see ken Wilber). That means its base is far beyond belief, rationalism or (de-)constructivism/nihilism, which in myviews are all STEPS. The nihilist/(de-)constructivist turn you are prsenting in my mind is the most crucial step to understand today TO ACTUALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT f.ex. Andrew is saying. Get it? His perspective comes AFTER, religion comes BEFORE ratio and deconstruction : ) : ) : ) : ) cheers
Fendefadst 2 years ago
Andrew still hasn't answered the question about purpose of life satisfactorily. 'Unmanifest to manifest' etc etc sound more like verbal jugglery.
Why can't people accept that perhaps life has no purpose at all? What is the purpose of a mosquito? a flower? bark of a tree? Why should human being alone have some special purpose?
Human-centered thinking will keep human beings on a special pedestal.
Thus missing the point.
hellocarnatic 2 years ago 13
(Btw: i am not a student : ) a) no one is saying that nothing else is purposeful(though i think that we are higher developed than our ancestors(animals, plants..) b) the purpose idea here is bound to your own existential decision, intention, intuition, poetic capacity and consciousness-optimization. It is not a purpose given to you. After you realize your unity with everything around you, you adopt the will an wind of the uni-verse around you as YOU SEE IT.
Fendefadst 2 years ago
@hellocarnatic Typical douchebag approach. Whatever being there is can have whatever approach it wants to this question. If I want to ask it, it does not mean I rule out other species. Any one has the right to ask this question and get the true answer...which neither this asshole or you (read: douchebag) are providing with your rhetoric.
MrDarcyzPP 1 year ago
@hellocarnatic Also, I suppose that life not having a purpose even begs the question more. If no purpose, then why is that? See, asshole douchebag? I suppose not, you fucking robot.
MrDarcyzPP 1 year ago
Well said. I agree. Humans came only recently and are well on their way to become extinct.
prajna8 1 year ago
@hellocarnatic "Why should human being alone have some special purpose"
Andrew, & many more probably would say it´s because humans only have self-awareness, can be conscious aboth their consciousness.
Agree; I reckon the question is by far more intelligent than the answer.
Respect to that girl.
HIHIMIII56 1 year ago
@hellocarnatic Humans may have a special purpose, because we're the only creatures that are aware of our own consciousness. Other animals have thoughts, but we can watch our own thoughts
pushover1 1 year ago
@hellocarnatic you have a very wonderful point of view,but i actually disagree with you, i think and believe that everything in life have a purpose, nothing just exist to live or to do stuff..and as soon as you think and feel that you have a need to have bigger purpose in life and that you where made for , you really do.. i know my words may look confusing but i hope you get my point..best regards :D
bofhd89o 1 year ago
She looks like Anna Paquin from True Blood!
kasuskasus 3 years ago
were in quaranteen 3rd dimensional hell hole
heal2012 3 years ago
there is nothing like GOD words. These are words of an IDIOT. GOD character is created by humans to create purpose in life.
purehuman2008 3 years ago
God has always been, and always will be. He is the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. The worlds were not formed without Him speaking them into existance. Genesis 2:4
"These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens". When you look at a painted picture you know there has to be an artist. This is the same concept with creation all the way down to the intricate depths of the sea.
perfectlamb1 3 years ago
I do not know whether you know the difference between what is physical and what is imagination. if you do not know first know it.
secondly, you reason everything including GOD,SOUL etc. these are not even theories.Failed Hypothesis.After all Bible is written by humans and saying that they are GOD words.we are all not created, evolved.Go to school again to know this.
purehuman2008 3 years ago
well put ph2008. He said god may have pondered creating the universe for eons and eons, but how did god do this if time was only created when the universe was created? perfectlamb1 "Intelligent design" is the same as evolution or survival of the fittest. Darwin always made more sense to me than the bible. I remember being 3 yrs old asking my mom "if god made us, then who made god?" I've always thought like this. I guess "GOD" made me this way!?!
jhbossman 3 years ago
purehuman2008,
Quantam science proves that material interaction infact is impossible. This is science and verified by science. There is a creative process so get your self out of the empirical science dark age and wake up.
scoobydoo84 3 years ago
I reckon it is the same situation as when people believed the earth was flat. Our knowledge of science has just not reached the point where it is possible to disprove god. But I believe that this day will come soon. Don't take this comment wrong, I respect your belief, I just don't follow it myself.
MerryChristmas1988 2 years ago 2
Mankind was NOT created to live as robots under the rule of Almighty God, but we have been given the priveledge of life and have been given free will to live a life for Christ (or reject Him) and understand He is our Father. We were born to worship our Creator and to live by His standards, only then will His plan and purpose come forth in our lives. God Bless
perfectlamb1 3 years ago
you make an obvious contradiction. How can you say that the choice to either accept christ or not accept christ is even remotely close to being "free will"? how is having 2 choices free will? it is in fact ridiculously constrained.
muphart 3 years ago
Free will is either believing in God and His Laws or not believing in God or His Laws. There is no other way to look at it! There it is laid out for you in plain english, black and white for you to choose.
As for me and my house, WE will Choose life, we will serve the Lord!
perfectlamb1 3 years ago
that is actually not the meaning of "free will". but i see in color so it was foolish of me to try to explain to someone who only sees in black and white
muphart 3 years ago 2