The Basis of Meaningfulness

If something does not exist, how can it be sacred? Sacredness depends on existence, and the essence of the sacred is in recognizing and honoring this fact. When we become so absorbed in our lives that we forget to see the profound beauty of existence, we lose our connection to the sacred. It’s not that some things are sacred and others are not — everything is sacred, but we sometimes fail to realize it.

Recently, I’ve been deeply reflecting on what I want to move toward in 2024. I’ve spent a lot of time journaling, setting goals, and planning projects. During this process, I came across several questions from the philosopher Daniel Schmachtenberger:

• What is sacred to you? What does sacred mean?
• What are you devoted to? What does devotion mean?
• What is the basis of meaningfulness?

As I began to answer these questions, I had a clear realization: the most sacred thing is existence itself. The basis of meaningfulness is existence. Something is sacred simply because it exists.

If something does not exist, how can it be sacred? Sacredness depends on existence, and the essence of the sacred is in recognizing and honoring this fact. When we become so absorbed in our lives that we forget to see the profound beauty of existence, we lose our connection to the sacred. It’s not that some things are sacred and others are not — everything is sacred, but we sometimes fail to realize it.

This echoes the principle of "content vs. context," which I’ve been contemplating for years. Spirituality is not tied to any one thing; it’s the foundation of all things. Sacredness stems from the mere fact of existence, not from the qualities of any particular thing. For instance, something that inspires us is not necessarily more sacred than anything else.

Devotion and Meaning

When I asked myself, "What am I devoted to?" I couldn’t find a specific answer. So, I then asked, "What does devotion mean?"

This brought another realization: the essence of devotion is recognizing that our personal concerns are less important than something inherently meaningful, perhaps even sacred. I feel that wisdom is deeply intertwined with sacredness, devotion, and meaningfulness.

Sorrow and Awe

In the past three months, I’ve found myself moved to tears by the sheer beauty of life more than ever before. It happens unexpectedly, and I’ve been wondering why. Perhaps it’s because I’ve come out of a "dark night of the soul," where everything seemed meaningless, and the fear of death was overwhelming.

But now, I feel like I’ve come through to the other side. As I was recently reminded: "The depth of our joy is relative to the depth of our sorrow." The intensity of my fear of death has found a counterpart in the awe I feel for life.

Active Participation in Life

Another insight I’ve had recently is that meaningfulness requires active participation. There is no fixed meaning that we just stumble upon. Meaning unfolds through our engagement, through action. Meaning arises when we actively live, ask ourselves questions, pursue our goals, and overcome challenges.

Meaning is not static; it requires movement and engagement. Even in the depths of despair, meaning can be found if we are open to it and participate fully in our existence.