There is a thought that the purpose of life is to
achieve happines. After all, even the Constitution
of The United States promises "life, liberty and the
pursuit of happiness".
Man is the only animal that laughs and weeps, for
he is the only animal that is struck with the difference
between what things are, and what they ought to be.
Maybe the journey we're on is primarily one of suffering.
Without suffering a person would remain unconscious,
infantile and dependent.
Yet many of our addictions, idealogical attachments and
neuroses are flights from suffering.
One in four North Americans identify with fundamentalist
belief systems, seeking to unburden their journey with
simplistic black and white values. Another twenty five to
fifty per cent give themselve to one addiction or another.
The remainder have chosen to be neurotic.
James Hollis.
