An Huynh
Life Purpose in Connection with Buddhism
The purpose of life is a topic that has left many scratching their heads. There are many things in life that people have given the honor of being a “purpose.” Love, passions, etc. People spend their whole lives chasing their life purpose but end up never finding out what it is. The term “life purpose” and its definition has been skewed by the systems we live under today to fit into a different narrative. Buddhism deems that there does not need to be a singular life purpose, as there can be many, but the goal is to live a meaningful life. But under the systems that we live in, living a meaningful life on your terms may be difficult to achieve.
There are four noble truths of Buddhism. Suffering, pain, and misery exist in life. Suffering arises from attachment to desires. Suffering ceases when attachment to desire ceases. Freedom from suffering is possible by practicing the Eightfold Path.
Suffering, pain, and misery exist in life. No matter how you have lived, you have felt some form of this before. Life is full of suffering. While that may seem sad, it is a fact. Given that inevitability, Buddhism acknowledges that the goal is not to be happy all the time, but to live a meaningful life.
Suffering arises from attachment to desires. In our society where we live under capitalism, overconsumption is encouraged. “From a Buddhist perspective, the capitalist motor is fuelled by humankind’s deepest vice: its trṣṇa” (Kreutz). Our attachment to our desires are increased especially because of social media. Social media breeds competition and comparison. People desire to have money, to have a good job, to have nice things, etc. Under the capitalist system, competition between people is encouraged and there is a constant desire to have more than others. Luxury goods are an example. Luxury fashion and streetwear both are a part of the problem. Flashy logos and limited-edition wear serve as status symbols, signaling to others and letting them know that you are better than them. This industry does so well because that’s what people want, to feel better than other people. This desire for excess is what causes suffering.
Suffering ceases when attachment to desire ceases. Through getting rid of our desires, we no longer feel the need to overconsume when it is not necessary. “In the striving process, these corporations incite emotions of maximum greed and desire which fires up the consumerist culture, which desires products that illogically exceed normal human needs. Worse yet, sophisticated and intensive market/advertising campaigns ingrain in the popular belief that happiness can only be achieved from indulging one’s sires in acquiring infinite wealth, and the enjoyment of limitless commodities in terms of quantity and lavishness” (Chau). Since we live under a capitalist system, our desires are effectively targeted through strategic marketing or advertisements.
Freedom from suffering is possible by practicing the Eightfold Path. The Eightfold Path is a guide to the end of suffering. The path goes as follows – Right Understanding (Samma Ditthi), Right Thought (Samma Sankappa), Right Speech (Samma Vaca), Right Action (Samma Kammanta), Right Livelihood (Samma Ajiva), Right Effort (Samma Vayama), Right Mindfulness (Samma Sati), and Right Concentration (Samma Samadhi). “These eight factors aim at promoting and perfecting the three essentials of Buddhist training and discipline” (Rahula). This ethical conduct is “built on the vast conception of universal love and compassion for all living beings” (Rahula). For a person to be perfect they should strive to work on two qualities – compassion (Karuna) and wisdom (panna). When working on these two qualities, one must not neglect the other, but instead develop both equally.
“Right Livelihood means that one should abstain from making one’s living through a profession that brings harms to others” (Rahula). In the past few years, the app called Tik Tok has spiked in popularity. When the pandemic hit, it left many unemployed and scrambling to find a new job. Since Tik Tok is a platform that packages your interests through the use of a specialized algorithm towards each individual user, it makes it possible to share knowledge and information with each other. One topic that has been popular because of the pandemic is financial advice. Influencers on this platform promise “financial freedom” through financial advice. A popular category has been real estate. Many call them Tik Tok landlords. They gain mass followings through videos explaining the financial freedom that they have gotten in their career of real estate or house flipping. These videos reach a massive audience, gaining millions of views, and are shown to the younger generation on the app through personalized algorithms. Videos teaching people how to buy out apartments or houses to flip them and charge renters for a higher price to profit. These personalized algorithms serve as echo chambers for people which makes it easier for young people to validate their personal choices. “In the US, evictions have been estimated to have resulted in at least 10,000 additional Covid-related deaths” (Ashley 2021).
In the present, the United States works under a capitalist system. Capitalism has mixed together the ideas of your labor and your passions. Many don’t live to work, but instead are forced to work to live. With the recent pandemic, there has been a realization of this topic. More recently, labor workers all around the United States have been quitting their jobs because of low wages and other reasons. During the pandemic, many got unemployment which offered a steady flow of cash in exchange for staying at home. This allowed for many to have a safety net and not worry about going back to work to provide for themselves or their families.
The pandemic has opened a lot of eyes for workers. Debates around working at home or in office, pay raise, the 40-hour work week, and more have been popping up often. “A Pew Research Center survey this year found that 66 percent of the unemployed had “seriously considered” changing their field of work… People who used to work in restaurants or travel are finding higher-paying jobs in warehouses or real estate” (Long 2021). Those in the service industry have been especially adamant about their mistreatment. There is a labor movement brewing and service industry workers are on the frontline of this fight. Not simply a labor shortage, but a reassessment of work in America. Working on these hours makes it near impossible to have a work-life balance or to set time for other things like family, friends, etc. Through this continuing cycle of work, one does not have the time nor energy to seek out their “sense” of purpose.
The education system works in a linear path. Elementary school, middle school, high school, college, and then into the workforce. This is the most traditional path for many people. Yet, those that head into the workforce end up unhappy or unsatisfied. Kids are fed the idea of a “dream job” and the value that your labor will have. These jobs do provide money and stability, however, is not the long-term happiness that many seek out. When working at a full-time job, one does not usually have the time to pursue any other hobby because most of their time will be spent at work or resting. This causes many to become disillusioned with their concept of their life goals and dreams. Some leave their jobs to do some “soul-searching” and end up with temporary happiness, until they return to what they had originally.
“Capitalism evolved around the human desire for a meaningful existence, but it offers only short-term happiness” (Kreutz). Many acknowledge that overconsumption of goods is a problem today. Fast fashion is an example of this. Corporations pump out clothes quickly to keep up with trend cycles, and with the introduction of the new social media app, Tik Tok, trend cycles are happening faster than ever. Trends are popular because a large amount of the population likes it, hence the name trend. Since a large amount of people like the trend, others will hop onto it, in hopes of not getting left out. This causes a chain reaction. Capitalism makes it so that consumer goods are directly tied to one’s ego and self-esteem. The possession of these goods are what define we see that defines us. “In Buddhism, wealth itself is not evil, but man’s endless craving for wealth is the challenging issue at hand” (Chau).
Buddhism says that there is no purpose in life. There can be many but there doesn’t need to be one. Those desires end up hampering one’s judgement and influences their actions. Greed will only lead to suffering. You do not need to have a purpose in life, but instead live a meaningful life instead. However, under the Capitalist system that we live in, it may be difficult to live a meaningful live. We are encouraged to compete for jobs or exploit others for money to achieve financial freedom that many associate with happiness. It is your actions that define you. Realize that it is up to you to make your “meaning” of life.
