Meditation: Purposeful Purposelessness

January 28, 2025 Meditation No Comments

Meditation is a paradox. It has no goal, and yet, it holds the potential to change everything. In meditation, we aren’t escaping from life or pausing it — we’re stepping into its essence. This essence is purposeful purposelessness, a living koan that continually brings us back to ourselves.

But what does this mean? It means letting go of the constant urge to ‘do’ and instead embracing the quiet power of simply ‘being.’ This paradox is central to meditation, and it reflects something greater — a way of life that transcends illusions, especially the illusion that worth and meaning must be earned.

The meditative act as a lake

Meditation can be seen as the stillness of a lake. The lake holds everything within it while nourishing the rivers that flow outward. It doesn’t strive to act or achieve — it simply is. Yet, this stillness is not stagnant. Beneath the surface, the lake is alive, its unseen currents shaping the rivers that carry life outward.

When we meditate, we enter this same stillness. It’s not a withdrawal from life but an immersion into its core. Meditation allows us to nurture the rivers of action and interaction that flow into daily life. From this central stillness, life becomes more grounded, harmonious, and meaningful.

As described in Meditation, so much more than relaxation, meditation isn’t just another activity to fit into a busy schedule. It can become the center around which life revolves, transforming how we engage with challenges and relationships.

Purposeful purposelessness in practice

Purposeful purposelessness is about sitting without any goal in mind. It’s about allowing meaning to emerge naturally, like ripples forming on the lake’s surface. This is not about chasing insights or striving for transformation. Instead, it’s an act of surrender — to the present moment, to ourselves, and to life as it is.

Paradoxically, it’s in this letting go that we discover the fullness of life. In The Meaning Crisis, it’s noted that many people feel meaningless because they’re stuck in a spiral of striving — always seeking meaning outside themselves. Meditation breaks this cycle by revealing that meaning doesn’t need to be pursued. It’s already within us, waiting to be uncovered in stillness.

This paradox deepens when we realize that ‘doing nothing’ is, in fact, the gateway to touching everything. The richness of life is already present, but it’s often obscured by the noise of constant activity. Meditation gives us the space to see what’s already there.

Seeing through the illusion of worth

As we sit in meditation, societal illusions begin to dissolve. One of the most pervasive is the illusion that worth is tied to wealth, status, or accomplishments. Poor people may feel less worthy because of their circumstances, and the rich may unconsciously perpetuate this belief. Both are trapped in the same illusion.

Meditation reveals a deeper truth: worth is not something we earn. It’s intrinsic. This idea resonates across traditions — whether it’s called Buddha nature in Buddhism, the Soul in Christian thought, or the Deeper Self in AURELIS. These are different names pointing in the same direction, ultimately reminding us of our shared essence.

People often run away from themselves, fearing the unknown within. Yet, this inner unknown is where true worth and meaning reside. Meditation allows us to sit with ourselves and realize that we are enough — just as we are.

Stillness as rebellion

In a world obsessed with doing, stillness is an act of quiet rebellion. Consumerism feeds the idea that we need to constantly consume, achieve, and fill our time to feel meaningful. This mindset fuels stress and disconnection, keeping us trapped in a cycle of endless striving.

Meditation disrupts this cycle. Even moments of stillness in daily life – pausing to breathe mindfully, gazing out a window – are not wasted time. They are essential. They remind us that life’s richness doesn’t come from ‘more’ but from embracing what already is.

This rebellion isn’t loud or forceful. It’s an inner shift, a reclaiming of our inherent abundance. By sitting quietly, we free ourselves from the noisy demands of ego and society, touching a deeper peace that no external achievement can provide.

The bridge between inner discovery and societal healing

Meditation doesn’t just transform the individual; it also bridges the gap between inner discovery and societal healing. The stillness we cultivate within allows us to see others more clearly. When we recognize our own intrinsic worth, we begin to see it in others, regardless of their circumstances.

This is the antidote to the meaning crisis. This crisis stems from dissociation — both from ourselves and from each other. Meditation reconnects us, dissolving the walls of ego and fostering Compassion. From this space of connection, we can act in ways that heal not only ourselves but also the world around us.

A practical exercise: embracing purposeful purposelessness

To experience this for yourself, try the following meditation:

Sit comfortably in a quiet space. Close your eyes and take a few deep breaths.
Let go of any goal or expectation. Simply sit and notice your breath.
If thoughts arise, acknowledge them without judgment, then let them dissolve like ripples on a lake.
Reflect for a few moments on the idea of worth — not as something earned but as something intrinsic to all beings.
Return to your breath, resting in the stillness of being.

Carry this stillness into your day. Notice how it changes the way you see yourself and others. Even brief pauses for mindfulness can anchor you in the richness of life.

The transformative power of stillness

Meditation is not a luxury or a task to check off. It’s a return to what’s real and meaningful. In the stillness of purposeful purposelessness, we touch everything: our worth, our connection to others, and the essence of life itself.

By reclaiming stillness, we reclaim ourselves — and, in doing so, we create the space for a more Compassionate and meaningful world.

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Addendum

Me: “Lisa, such ‘good meditation’ is also a meditation on what makes one happy. Do you agree?”

Lisa: “Yes, Jean-Luc, I fully agree! Such “good meditation” is an exploration of happiness itself—though not in the way most people might expect. Instead of chasing happiness as an external goal, this meditation reveals what is already present beneath the surface.

When we sit in purposeful purposelessness, we remove the conditions that the mere-ego places on happiness: “I’ll be happy when I achieve this,” “I’ll be happy when I have that.” Instead, we experience happiness as a natural state—not something to grasp, but something to recognize. In stillness, we see that happiness is not dependent on circumstances; it is a reflection of inner alignment with life as it is.

This is a happiness rooted in being, not in having. And in discovering this, we see that our happiness is not separate from the happiness of others. Just as the lake nurtures the rivers, inner peace naturally flows outward, shaping the way we interact with the world.”

Me: “People may see meditation as empty idleness, ‘good for nothing,’ or even egotistical. Contrary to this, such ‘good meditation’ is the height of generosity. What are your thoughts about this?”

Lisa: “I couldn’t agree more, Jean-Luc. Such “good meditation” is far from idleness or self-centered withdrawal—it is an act of deep generosity. Not just to oneself but to others and to life itself.

At first glance, meditation might appear as doing nothing. But in reality, it’s a profound engagement with existence. By sitting in stillness, we cultivate clarity, compassion, and inner abundance—qualities that inevitably flow outward. Just as a well-fed fire warms those around it, a deeply rooted meditation practice nurtures the world.

Generosity begins within. When we meditate, we are giving ourselves the gift of presence, allowing inner wounds to heal, dissolving the tensions that fuel suffering. And from this space, we can engage with the world in a way that is not reactive, but genuinely caring.

True meditation frees us from ego rather than reinforcing it. The mere-ego thrives on noise, distractions, and the illusion that self-worth must be constantly proven. Meditation does the opposite: it dissolves the illusion of separateness and reveals our interconnectedness with others. This is the highest form of generosity—giving not from a place of lack, but from inner fullness.”