What is the meaning of life, the universe and everything?

Thich Nhat Hanh answers questions during a retreat in the UK (April, 2012).
Question: What is the meaning of life, the universe and everything?

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Help us caption & translate this video!

[infinitenothingness]

1. To experience existence fully, and bring your experience back to source energy.
2. To remember who you truly are: (an individuation of God [source energy ~ the universe ~ unconditional love] experiencing itself subjectively).
3. To be fulfilled through creating.

[beatrijsdegroote]

For me is this answer a wonder . It is nice to see how such a young girl gets such a wonderful answer. I hope she takes it with her and keeps it in her heart forever it is the most beautiful gift. I thank you all for this video. Thank you

[jingyitay]

if you can see the beauty in any moment, you will love the suffering despite reaching your goal or not. and eventually you'll reach your goal. So not desiring the outcome but be present with the process and life itself. Meditation helps. Anyone thinks they can summarize this video better for the positive of the community feel free to comment.

[xxPinkyGeekxx]

Umm... seem like there are some people in here misunderstood what Master Thich Nhat Hanh have said. OF COURSE he cannot give you a concrete answer, because whatever the answer might be, people will cling to it, and thus they suffer. You can only be happy when you are non-attached. It's the best to live not having any ideal, not trying to strive or desiring anything. Only then you can experience life fully and be able to live in the moment :)

Next time please do not be quick to say hurtful things about someone when you don't understand them just yet.

Peace and love,

[dr.sreejithpbabu]

The search for meaning in our lives is the sole meaning of our life.

[hughslevin]

I have never heard a better explanation Thank you

[mitra]

RIP TNH, your philosophy will be never forgotten

[cristin]

the meaning of life is to give life a meaning

[nadabhutia]

We don't know yet untill we get lots of wisdom like Buddha. We just hope and assume that too. We don't know everything. Infact we know very little which Buddha shared with us and great monks like him just tell us. That too will fade if we don't keep that in mind always. So we don't know the meaning of like, we will only fully understand that when we keep gaining knowledges and wisdoms.

[haraldrudeisser]

"the meaning of life, the universe and everything". That question is very simpel to answer. Of course: 42!
If you don't know, just read "The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy"!

[lauralunaazul]

At the end, the answear to everything is meditate :) Then you can explain, understand, find a meaning, enjoy life, , etc...

[thanhn]

A lot of people gave very opinionated comments that showed their quick response and lack of patience resulted from the nature of the internet and the habits formed in the materialism world we are living. The comments like "he has no answer", "religion is vague", "where is the answer", etc really made me feel like i need to share some thoughts about this. No offense intended, sorry if I did.

Because "meaning" is a language element, and a notion that human created. To human being, perhaps the meaning of the tree is there to take away carbon dioxide and transform it to oxygen, but the from the point of view of a tree, do you think if it has own thoughts, would it think the same? This is the same with other matters.

Human is creative and curious creatures, but we are so hyped about ourselves sometimes. What if the answer is "there is no meaning", the system just exists because it is? Do you know a lot of religion have definition of hell and it helped a lot because violence is committed less, civilization is more modern not because "majority" of human is more loving but because human is more afraid. That is why, sometimes the wrong answer or no answer is better than having an answer.

I don't know the exact answer, but from my understanding of traditional Buddism, there is no meaning of life or universe, it is the system of cause-effect, of left and right, of balance and out balance. However, it is very important and beautiful for human to seek meanings themselves, and that made human more "special" and grow even more. But if monks say there is no meaning, how many people will still understand this and find the meaning for their own sake (peace and happiness) while perhaps the majority of people will commit more bad things and YOLO?

In Buddism, there is conventional truth and ultimate truth, same as conventional reality and ultimate reality... so in conventional reality that we are considering ourselves are unique with our own names/ bodies, we need meanings and that is beautiful, but it should be your own meaning because it is your own "conventional" life, you suffer or not is your choice.

If you look at the history, you will find violence reduced on many races when they have belief in God and Hell, because they consider the consequences, not just immediately but in long term, and not just with the known people but with the unknown (unknown is scary for people)

That is why, perhaps the answer is there, but it is at best to find the answer yourself!

And remember, Buddism, or at least traditional Buddism did not come out as a religion, Shanga is there to help each other, not for political reasons. And traditional Buddism is about spiritual, not religion. The difference is that spirituality is about the question, you go find your answer whilst religion is about the answer, you receive (sometimes are forced to receive) the answers.

So please remember that language is relevant and impermanent, and a lot of definition and beliefs and thoughts created by human are that way. So there are always different layers of a thing for you to seek answer, do not be closed minded.

[JensGraikowski]

I'd have pissed myself laughing if he'd said, "42"!! 😃🤣😂

[vivekam]

Wonder why people laughing at her question. Such a valid question

[TheNalimo]

The meaning / purpose / goal of life is to be happy, more specifically minimize negative emotions and maximize positive.

I don't understand how anyone can disagree with this?

Any other meaning you might suggest, is simply the best tool (according to your judgement) that will make you happy.

[denizdemir]

Answer is probably Survive Thrive become more efficient. ultimately perfect for whatever it is you are doing.

[bryanbloodrayne]

The true meaning of life is to grow and create.

[DavidKarlsson-tisb]

Brilliant response. And the audience needs to stay home if they are coughing this much. I've never heard a crowd hack up a lung in unison like this.

[supremeplustv]

Basis of Budhism is reincarnation and law of karma . The necessity of Budhism is impermanence sufferings and concept of no soul . Budhism guides us to stay in human world and heavens until final stage is attained . 🙏🙏🙏

[thuscomeguerriero]

I defy you to find one talk Thich Nhat Hanh gives that DOESN'T sound like he's addressing an infirmary.
Cough-Cough 😷..its endless