Man's Purpose in Life

Consciously or unconsciously, we have a deep desire to discover our purpose in life. It has been said often enough, that when a man reaches the end of his life he will look back and know if his life had meaning. When faced with our own mortality, we inevitably ask, "Was it worth it?"

Imagine today, the future You is looking back. Try to anticipate where you're going to be in a few years, and make a decision now that will allow you to look back with complete satisfaction. If you conduct your personal and business affairs through the eyes of your future self, you will instinctively attract those things in life which have the greatest joy and meaning.

Geshe Michael Roach synthesizes this age-old philosophy in a remarkable book, profound in its simplicity: The Diamond Cutter - The Buddha on Strategies for Managing Your Business and Your Life.

"The Buddhist approach to business says that we should walk into the office this way every morning, with the question: 'If I were going to die tonight, is this the way I would spend my last day?'"

Death Meditation

A Tibetan Practice

Essentially, you lie in bed with eyes closed and pose this question. When practiced on a regular basis over a period of time, you will find yourself streamlining your life. Your possessions take on less importance, your free time becomes more precious, idle chit-chat becomes a thing of the past.

Imagine what would happen when you begin examining your career from this viewpoint? Is fear stopping you from quitting your job in exchange for something else you'd rather be doing? Would you be willing to make a little less money, if you could have a career with meaning?

When we look at life from the perspective of the end, it makes living in the present so much more meaningful.

For more information on applying these methods to achieving your personal and professional goals, visit The Enlightened Business Institute.