Life's Meaning and Adaptability

24 posts · 4 participants · started May 18, 2019, 10:43 AM

1. RE

   Richard E WarrenParticipant
   May 18, 2019, 10:43 AM

   Question Forum Friends,

   This is the Midwayers’ rephrasing of Jesus’ reply to Ganid:

   …The meaning of life is its adaptability….^{130:4.7 (1434.6)}

   Why meaning? It stops my mind and a feeling of missing the point ensues. Is the quote clear to you? Any feedback/insight is welcome.

   The whole paragraph:

   Life is an adaptation of the original cosmic causation to the demands and possibilities of universe situations, and it comes into being by the action of the Universal Mind and the activation of the spirit spark of the God who is spirit. The meaning of life is its adaptability; the value of life is its progressability—even to the heights of God-consciousness.

   Quote source: https://www.urantia.org/urantia-book-standardized/paper-130-way-rome#U130_4_7

    

   Richard E Warren

2. B

   BonitaParticipant
   May 18, 2019, 3:22 PM

   I think your question is related to my long essays concerning the Life Carriers last year.  All life has a natural endowment of adaptability. Why is that the meaning of life? I think it’s because life is minded and mind is the mechanism for determining meaning, and meaning is the mechanism by which the human mind directs its adaptation toward universe harmony, or attunement.  The two, life and mind, work together.  Life naturally adapts and mind gives it directional meaning.

   65:6.2 There is original endowment of adaptation in living things and beings. In every living plant or animal cell, in every living organism — material or spiritual — there is an insatiable craving for the attainment of ever-increasing perfection of environmental adjustment, organismal adaptation, and augmented life realization. These interminable efforts of all living things evidence the existence within them of an innate striving for perfection.

    

    

3. RE

   Richard E WarrenParticipant
   May 19, 2019, 10:42 AM

   Bonita wrote:

   I think your question is related to my long essays concerning the Life Carriers last year. All life has a natural endowment of adaptability. Why is that the meaning of life? I think it’s because life is minded and mind is the mechanism for determining meaning, and meaning is the mechanism by which the human mind directs its adaptation toward universe harmony, or attunement. The two, life and mind, work together. Life naturally adapts and mind gives it directional meaning.

   Much appreciate the thoughtful reply… Kindly forgive any hesitation to wholly and immediately agree. It sounds as if you’re transferring the definition of life to mind, as in: ‘the meaning of mind is its adaptability’. However mind makes no more sense to this dense dullard than does the use of the word life. Mind may and does discern meaning, we can agree, but my hesitancy comes from not seeing how adaptability defines either life or mind, notwithstanding they are both adaptable, yet so much more!
   

   While pondering the Midwayers’ intentions in rephrasing Jesus’ words, I can’t help putting the word value in the place of meaning, rendering: ‘the value of life is its adaptability’. But then value is used in the phrase that follows the meaning of life phrase: “the value of life is its progressability”.

   The other word that comes to mind is advantage, as in: ‘the advantage of life is its adaptability’, followed by: “the value of life is its progressability”. But then, I’m guessing the Midwayers didn’t ask for my editorial advice because I was only three when the UB was completed. Of course I know better than to second guess the Midwayers’ word choices, yet I’m still not getting the significance of “the meaning of life is its adaptability”, unless perhaps, we stipulate life is infinitely more, encompassing such permanences as personality,  freewill, transcendence, and Paradise.  

   .

   .

   Richard E Warren

4. B

   BonitaParticipant
   May 19, 2019, 11:31 AM

   Rick Warren wrote:

   While pondering the Midwayers’ intentions in rephrasing Jesus’ words, I can’t help putting the word value in the place of meaning, rendering: ‘the value of life is its adaptability’. But then value is used in the phrase that follows the meaning of life phrase: “the value of life is its progressability”.

   Meaning and value are two entirely different levels of reality.  Meaning is a mind level and value is a spirit level of reality.  Life and mind go together.  Life is a pattern, like personality.  The pattern is flexible in that it can modify its response without changing itself.  Mind is what changes life’s direction and urges it toward growth and evolution, or progress, of its associated energy system. (It’s similar to the relation between personality and character.  Personality doesn’t change but character does.)  Growth and progress are interrelated, just like meanings and values are interrelated.  Perhaps it would make more sense if the quote read, “the meaning of life is its cosmic adaptability in moving between potentials and actuals” ?

   100:3.6 The association of actuals and potentials equals growth, the experiential realization of values. But growth is not mere progress. Progress is always meaningful, but it is relatively valueless without growth. The supreme value of human life consists in growth of values, progress in meanings, and realization of the cosmic interrelatedness of both of these experiences. . . .

   The whole quote again:

   130:4.7 Life is an adaptation of the original cosmic causation to the demands and possibilities of universe situations, and it comes into being by the action of the Universal Mind and the activation of the spirit spark of the God who is spirit. The meaning of life is its adaptability; the value of life is its progressability — even to the heights of God-consciousness.

   Life is an adaptation to causation which is provided by Universal Mind and activated by the same source.  Misadaptation causes disharmony, chaos because it is meaningless – without meaning.

    

    

    

5. RE

   Richard E WarrenParticipant
   May 19, 2019, 11:44 AM

   Bonita wrote:

   Meaning and value are two entirely different levels of reality. Meaning is a mind level and value is a spirit level of reality. Life and mind go together. Life is a pattern, like personality. The pattern is flexible in that it can modify its response without changing itself. Mind is what changes life’s direction and urges it toward growth and evolution, or progress, of its associated energy system. (It’s similar to the relation between personality and character. Personality doesn’t change but character does.) Growth and progress are interrelated, just like meanings and values are interrelated. Perhaps it would make more sense if the quote read, “the meaning of life is its cosmic adaptability in moving between potentials and actuals” ?

   It would. The apparent incompleteness of the phrase seems to be what’s bothering me.

   Life is an adaptation to causation which is provided by Universal Mind and activated by the same source. Misadaptation causes disharmony, chaos because it is meaningless – without meaning.

   Unreal is another word the authors use. So does it follow that, ‘the meaning of reality is its adaptability?’

   .

   Richard E Warren

6. B

   BonitaParticipant
   May 19, 2019, 11:57 AM

   Rick Warren wrote:

   So does it follow that, ‘the meaning of reality is its adaptability?’

   Maybe, perhaps if you define adaptability in this case as the elliptic symmetry of reality and curvature of all relation concepts.  Can’t forget that there are three levels of finite reality and meaning is only one.

7. RE

   Richard E WarrenParticipant
   May 19, 2019, 12:40 PM

   Bonita wrote:

   Rick Warren wrote:

   So does it follow that, ‘the meaning of reality is its adaptability?’

   Maybe, perhaps if you define adaptability in this case as the elliptic symmetry of reality and curvature of all relation concepts.

   That has cosmic and philosophic appeal but seems devoid of the personalness with which freewill life is always associated. Not trying to be argumentative, just relieved of confusion. You’re advice not to overthink the authors’ statements might well apply here. The subject will, I hope, be open for discussion on Mansonia where greater minds of longer life abide.

   Can’t forget that there are three levels of finite reality and meaning is only one.

   Thing and value being the other two?

   .

   Richard E Warren

8. B

   BonitaParticipant
   May 19, 2019, 8:26 PM

   Rick Warren wrote:

   Thing and value being the other two?

   Right.

   Your question: So does it follow that, ‘the meaning of reality is its adaptability?’

   I think that falls into the same category as God is Love but love is not God.  The meaning of reality is different for each individual personality on each different level of reality manifestation.  Does that make reality adaptable?  I think it makes meanings adaptable, whereas reality simply is what it is.  Otherwise, the reality reflexes would also be adaptable and that would set up some problematic inconsistencies.  Either something is real or it isn’t.  Right?

9. NN

   Nigel NunnParticipant
   May 20, 2019, 3:40 AM

   Bonita suggested:

   “Perhaps it would make more sense if the quote read, “the meaning of life is its cosmic adaptability in moving between potentials and actuals” ?

   Rick replied:

   “It would. The apparent incompleteness of the phrase seems to be what’s bothering me.”

   Me too. If taken cold, and out of context. But this may be one of those moments where attempting to use native language would have been too clumsy? So they go zen, wrap intensity in simplicity, and trust we’ll make the leap back to 115:2.2,

   “Value is a unique element in universe reality. We do not comprehend how the value of anything infinite and divine could possibly be increased. But we discover that meanings can be modified if not augmented even in the relations of infinite Deity. To the experiential universes even divine values are increased as actualities by enlarged comprehension of reality meanings.” (1261.2, 115:2.2)

   thanks Rick and Bonita for this refreshing provocation!
   Nigel

10. RE

    Richard E WarrenParticipant
    May 21, 2019, 12:54 PM
    Nigel Nunn wrote:

    Bonita suggested:

    “Perhaps it would make more sense if the quote read, “the meaning of life is its cosmic adaptability in moving between potentials and actuals” ?

    Rick replied:

    “It would. The apparent incompleteness of the phrase seems to be what’s bothering me.”

    Me too. If taken cold, and out of context. But this may be one of those moments where attempting to use native language would have been too clumsy? So they go zen, wrap intensity in simplicity, and trust we’ll make the leap back to 115:2.2,

    “Value is a unique element in universe reality. We do not comprehend how the value of anything infinite and divine could possibly be increased. But we discover that meanings can be modified if not augmented even in the relations of infinite Deity. To the experiential universes even divine values are increased as actualities by enlarged comprehension of reality meanings.” (1261.2, 115:2.2)

    thanks Rick and Bonita for this refreshing provocation! Nigel

    Likewise, Nigel. Appreciate both your inputs. The topic paragraph was written by the Midwayers. And we are told that “there are many great minds and mighty spirits among the Urantia midway corps.” Hope someday to meet the writer for more discussion.
    

    Life is an adaptation of the original cosmic causation to the demands and possibilities of universe situations, and it comes into being by the action of the Universal Mind and the activation of the spirit spark of the God who is spirit. The meaning of life is its adaptability; the value of life is its progressability—even to the heights of God-consciousness.

    Quote source: https://www.urantia.org/urantia-book-standardized/paper-130-way-rome#U130_4_7

    Richard E Warren

11. MK

    Mark KurtzParticipant
    May 21, 2019, 3:58 PM

    Rick, et al,

     

    Have you considered the Midwayers and likely most other authors’ writings were vetted by the Melchizedek Revelatory Director? Could there truth in saying a supervisor’s advice was needed, say for wisdom?

     

     

12. RE

    Richard E WarrenParticipant
    May 22, 2019, 9:38 AM

    Mark Kurtz wrote:

    Rick, et al, Have you considered the Midwayers and likely most other authors’ writings were vetted by the Melchizedek Revelatory Director? Could there truth in saying a supervisor’s advice was needed, say for wisdom?

    Good point, Mark. Can’t think of any reason why the Melchizedek’s would not be the final gate-keepers of revelation. Interesting side note to this topic, they are adaptability personified:

    
    …There is no phase of planetary spiritual need to which they do not minister….
    ^{35:2.7 (386.5)}

    Another word came up (thinking about this topic of the meaning of life) that word is versatility, which is virtually identical in meaning with adaptability. I think we can safely extrapolate and say, ‘the meaning of life is its versatility’? But is that any clearer? The meaning of life would appear to these unelightened eyes to be God’s attempt to share divinity and creativity. I just don’t get that unqualified adaptability is the meaning of life. Will keep at it.
    

    .

    Richard E Warren

13. B

    BonitaParticipant
    May 22, 2019, 10:47 AM

    If it’s about versatility you’ll have to pass the adaptability trophy to the masters of versatility who are Ancients of Days.

    18:3.8 Aside from the Deities and their Paradise associates, the Ancients of Days are the most perfect, most versatile, and the most divinely endowed rulers in all time-space existence.

    But after doing a search for versatility I have to say I think the Infinite Spirit is the most versatile and the Infinite Spirit is the source of of the universe streams of both life and mind.  (Not going to reproduce all those quotes if you don’t mind.)

    Hey, wait a minute.  I just realized Rick that you used the phrase “unqualified adaptability”.   I don’t think that’s right, or at least I don’t understand it. Did you see somewhere the use of the word “unqualified” to describe either life or adaptability?  What do you mean by that? Isn’t life itself a qualifier?

     

14. RE

    Richard E WarrenParticipant
    May 22, 2019, 12:27 PM

    Bonita wrote:

    …I just realized Rick that you used the phrase “unqualified adaptability”. I don’t think that’s right, or at least I don’t understand it. Did you see somewhere the use of the word “unqualified” to describe either life or adaptability? What do you mean by that? Isn’t life itself a qualifier?

    Yeah, I guess life is at least a partial, major qualifier. But I had in mind the qualification we agreed upon early in the thread, where you wrote:
    

    “…Perhaps it would make more sense if the quote read, “the meaning of life is its cosmic adaptability in moving between potentials and actuals” ?”

    .

    Richard E Warren

15. NN

    Nigel NunnParticipant
    May 23, 2019, 10:46 AM

    Hi all — a few more thoughts:

    In the last few papers authored by the revelatory commission (papers 115-118), the authors have a lot to say about two complementary levels of experiential achievement, and actualization:

    1. the level of mind wrestling with matter (NN: meanings?)

    2. the level of spirit orchestrating mind (NN: values?)

    The first level (mind-over-matter?) seems to get associated with meanings; the second level (spirit-over-mind?) gets associated with values.

    In Rick’s “Midwayer” quote, a variable is what the author intends to imply by “life”. Are they referring to the sort of life projected into a time-dependent material arena, where the outworking of purposes and plans requires extraordinary adaptability? If so, then for all this (meaningful) evolutionary effort to have any value, there’d need to be a path along which to progress (i.e. progressability)…

    “Life is an adaptation of the original cosmic causation to the demands and possibilities of universe situations, and it comes into being by the action of the Universal Mind and the activation of the spirit spark of the God who is spirit. The meaning of life is its adaptability; the value of life is its progressability — even to the heights of God-consciousness.” (1434.6, 130:4.7)

    Here’s a paragraph that seems to put “adaptability” and “progressability” side by side:

    “The bestowal of life renders material-energy systems capable of self-perpetuation, self-propagation, and self-adaptation [NN: adaptability?]. The bestowal of personality imparts to living organisms the further prerogatives of self-determination, self-evolution, and self-identification with a fusion spirit of Deity [NN: progressability?].” (1301.3, 118:7.6)

    Are “adaptation” and “progress” the heart and soul of experiential achievement — actualization of the Supreme?

    Nigel

16. RE

    Richard E WarrenParticipant
    May 23, 2019, 10:02 PM

    Nigel Nunn wrote:

    Hi all — a few more thoughts: In the last few papers authored by the revelatory commission (papers 115-118), the authors have a lot to say about two complementary levels of experiential achievement, and actualization:

    1. the level of mind wrestling with matter (NN: meanings?) 2. the level of spirit orchestrating mind (NN: values?)

    The first level (mind-over-matter?) seems to get associated with meanings; the second level (spirit-over-mind?) gets associated with values. In Rick’s “Midwayer” quote, a variable is what the author intends to imply by “life”. Are they referring to the sort of life projected into a time-dependent material arena, where the outworking of purposes and plans requires extraordinary adaptability? If so, then for all this (meaningful) evolutionary effort to have any value, there’d need to be a path along which to progress (i.e. progressability)…

    “Life is an adaptation of the original cosmic causation to the demands and possibilities of universe situations, and it comes into being by the action of the Universal Mind and the activation of the spirit spark of the God who is spirit. The meaning of life is its adaptability; the value of life is its progressability — even to the heights of God-consciousness.” (1434.6, 130:4.7)

    Here’s a paragraph that seems to put “adaptability” and “progressability” side by side:

    “The bestowal of life renders material-energy systems capable of self-perpetuation, self-propagation, and self-adaptation [NN: adaptability?]. The bestowal of personality imparts to living organisms the further prerogatives of self-determination, self-evolution, and self-identification with a fusion spirit of Deity [NN: progressability?].” (1301.3, 118:7.6)

    Are “adaptation” and “progress” the heart and soul of experiential achievement — actualization of the Supreme? Nigel

    Mighty fine meaning/value circular dot connection, Nigel, harmonizing well with Bonita’s earlier comment re reality and life: “…if you define adaptability in this case as the elliptic symmetry of reality and curvature of all relation concepts.”

    ***

    Richard E Warren

17. B

    BonitaParticipant
    May 24, 2019, 1:19 PM

    Nigel Nunn wrote:

    Are “adaptation” and “progress” the heart and soul of experiential achievement — actualization of the Supreme?

    Perhaps that’s another way to describe power personality synthesis?

18. RE

    Richard E WarrenParticipant
    May 27, 2019, 10:28 AM

    Bonita wrote:

    Nigel Nunn wrote:

    Are “adaptation” and “progress” the heart and soul of experiential achievement — actualization of the Supreme?

    Perhaps that’s another way to describe power personality synthesis?

    That phrase, “power personality synthesis” doesn’t appear in the UB, but “personality synthesis” appears twice:
    

    ^{101:6.6 (1112.2)} With man, the eventual fusion and resultant oneness with the indwelling Adjuster—the personality synthesis of man and the essence of God—constitute him, in potential, a living part of the Supreme and insure for such a onetime mortal being the eternal birthright of the endless pursuit of finality of universe service for and with the Supreme.

    ^{118:10.3 (1304.5)} It would appear that, in the Supreme Being, all phases of universe activity are being partially reunited by the personality of this experiential Deity. When, therefore, we desire to view the Trinity as one God, and if we limit this concept to the present known and organized grand universe, we discover that the evolving Supreme Being is the partial portraiture of the Paradise Trinity. And we further find that this Supreme Deity is evolving as the personality synthesis of finite matter, mind, and spirit in the grand universe.

    This thread must include the Supreme, seems like, him being the result/consequence of the age-long adaptation of life to the divine mandate of perfection. One might surmise from this the Supreme IS adaptability personified, and the synthesis of divine will and divine ends wrought by infinitely diverse beings.

    .

    Richard E Warren

19. B

    BonitaParticipant
    May 27, 2019, 11:26 AM

    Rick Warren wrote:

    That phrase, “power personality synthesis” doesn’t appear in the UB, but “personality synthesis” appears twice:

    That’s because you forgot the hyphen.

20. B

    BonitaParticipant
    May 27, 2019, 11:30 AM

    I remember starting a topic on the subject of power personality synthesis back in 2011.  Guess it didn’t make much of an impact.  I did collect all the quotes at that time so I have them at the ready if you’d like me to post them.

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