What is the purpose of life? If all of us need to die at some time, what is the purpose of living? These are questions that we have asked ourselves at one time or another.

One thing is definite, however. All those who have lived a meaningful life had lived a happy life. Hence, it is not over-simplified to say that the purpose of life is the pursuit of happiness. Not superficial nor shallow happiness, but the happiness that is not easily affected by events that happens to us. Not just pursuing the happiness of oneself but the happiness of others as well.

Can Money Buy Happiness?

No? Think again. Researchers at the University of British Colombia and Harvard Business School found that you can buy happiness after all, only if you spend the money on others. Have you ever noticed how great it feels when you have willingly donated to charity?

This brought to mind a story of a man who was granted 2 wishes before he died. First, he wished to visit Hell. When he was there, he noticed that everyone in hell was always hungry and frustrated. They were served food but anything that they touch with their hands burns. They were given a special spoon to feed themselves, but the problem is that the spoon is 3 feet long. With a 3-foot long spoon, there is just no way how they could eat from the spoon.

This man next wished to visit Heaven. Not surprisingly to him, everyone in Heaven was contented. He soon discovered something interesting. Just like in Hell, everyone here also has to eat from a 3-foot long spoon. However, unlike in hell, everyone in Heaven used their spoon to feed each other instead.

Although this story is nothing more than a fable, it offers us an important perspective on how we could live a happy life. What differs those who live in Heaven from those who live in Hell is, the approach they take towards each other.

Those who have found life meaningful are those who are willing to spare their time or money for others. It is like lighting a lantern in the dark to shine the way for others. By doing so, they found their own path being lit up.

The concept of "Value Creation" and the Meaning of Life

Those who left something meaningful for later generation also tends to live a happier life. This brought us to the concept of creating value in our lives.

Kant has defined Value as "truth", "beauty" and "good". Tsunesaburo Makiguchi, an educator who lived during the first half of the last century, did not agree. He believed that value can be created, and since truth is a statement of how things are, it can't be created. Makiguchi substituted "gain" for "truth". Having found a new definition for value, he advocated that the pursuit of happiness in life is related to the ability to create value in one's life.

Take this hub community as an example. The existence of this hub community is not deniable and therefore it represents a truth. Someone who finds this hub community enjoyable is creating the value of beauty. Another person who publishes a useful hub for the benefit of others had just created the value of good. You may even benefit from this hub through affiliate advertisement or deriving new knowledge. This is the value of gain.

On the other hand, someone else may use this hub community to create something totally opposite to the values of beauty, good and gain. Makiguchi defined these actions as anti-value.

Although the example quoted here refers to the hub community, the concept can also be applied to other sphere of human activities -- in work, family, society and etc. A person who is able to realise his true worth in life and is able to create values in life lives a meaningful life.

To die a good death

The fear of death is real. Human beings are the only creature who are ever conscious of their mortality. To some, the fear of death affects the very foundation of their lives. While different religion offers different explanation to what happens to us after we die, they seem to agree on one common point. They agree that death is the settlement of one's life account, and that those who live a meaningful life certainly cope better with their impending death.

Researches on those who have experienced "out-of-body experiences" and those who was resuscitated after being clinically-dead seems to support the point mentioned above. Those who went through those experiences have reported having their entire life flashed before them as if watching a video in fast-forward mode. They also reported having seen a light brighter than those they have seen before. While those who have lived a meaningful life are happy to see this light, those who has lived a life they regret finds this light a torment.

It is not easy to die a happy death. To die a happy death, one has to live a meaningful life. To live a meaningful life, one has to realise his true worth and create values. None of us know when we will die. While we can't decide how or when we will die, we can certainly decide how we should live our lives. Since we need to die at some time, isn't it better to die knowing that we have lived a meaningful life?