MEANING OF LIFE?

“I am going to venture that the man who sat on the ground in his tipi meditating on life and its meaning, accepting the kinship of all creatures, and acknowledging unity with the universe of things was infusing into his being the true essence of civilization.”
Luther Standing Bear (1868? - 1939)
Oglala Sioux chief

I find it fascinating that such enlightenment filled the mind of many scholars, philosophers, thinkers and intellectuals throughout history. But I don’t think that any of them envisioned that all that thinking and philosophizing would bring us to the world of today.  Not Aristotle, nor Confucius, Epicurus, Lao-Tzu, Socrates, or the Indian in his tipi, for that matter, ever foresaw that the 21st century man will be fighting wars, poverty, famine, inequality and suffering from diseases, epidemics, and …

How did we come to this?  Was it an instance in history that set us astray? Or was it that we really never did become civilized? Despite all the scientific and technological advances, we allow our ego, self-righteousness, prejudices, hypocrisy, and unrealistic expectations control our very existence. Maybe it’s time we retreat back into the tipi and meditate some more. For we have forgotten the kinship of all creatures and the unity with the universe of things. Or perhaps we never did learn it to begin with.