What's The Purpose Of Life?

Elspeth, I don't know if this will shed any light, but Black Elk said that if the universe is infinite in all directions, then anywhere you are is the center of the universe. So at any time the ENTIRE universe revolves around YOU. Yes the kids still monopolize your time, yes, your husband has needs, but YOU are the point that it ALL revolves around. Now, to take that a step further, if you should for any reason not be able to be there for them, then thier world will grind to a stop. And at this point they will have to become the centers of thier OWN universe. But at ALL times you are still at the center no matter what you are doing.
So take some ME time and reflect on being the center, an perhaps read "Black Elk Speaks" he was pretty sharp for an uneducated Lakota man born in the mid-1800s. Washte!

Since when did 'education' connotate to wisdom?

I'll have to look that book up. Afterall I was the kid walking around Jr. high with copies of Light in the Forest, Only Earth and Sky Last Forever and I Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee. About time I read some philosophy as well.

Well Stoirm, not to reduce Roshi-mind to mere environmental factors or anything, but both Newton and Emerson lived in decidedly less harried times. They had a bit more time to devote to rebuilds and rewrites. If I'd written several chapters of a novel and MS Word froze and it all got deleted in a flash, I wouldn't exactly be saying, "but isn't it just a lovely little program?" Hats off to Emerson and Newton however....assuming the stories are true.

Elspeth - I read The Light in the Forest as a kid too! Matter of fact I was just thinking of that book the other day. I'd like to know more about the Eastern tribes, they seem under-represented, though there's some great stuff in 1491.

sorry for interrupting your cozy little chat since all of you seem to know each other, but i would like to add that you must find your own personal meaning of life. It has to be something you're completely interested in/devoted to. I figure you find something worth living for and then you have your meaning. (sounds so simple, right?) I haven't found mine yet, but hey i've got so much life left to live that it doesn't matter so much now! heh i love reading these things.