"why do I exist, and what is my relationship to the infinite universe that surrounds me?"
After taking care of survival needs, the purpose of life is happiness. The evidence for this is that everything we do is ultimately for some form of happiness.
ddzx:
"the "I" does not inherently exist… instead, the "I" comes to be, i.e., 'becomes'"
I think we are essentially unchanging consciousness (the perceiver) plus a bundle of potentials. "I" is just a handy word for that consciousness plus potentials.
"(i) why is there suffering? "
Suffering is either natural or human made. Natural suffering (disease, etc.) can be reduced by learning about science and medicine. Human made suffering can be reduced by helping each other to survive and be happy and by realising that happiness is our nature when we are free of survival threats and free of deluded beliefs about happiness i.e. that happiness is in the world or in some spiritual realm.
(ii) how can peace come to be?
Peace comes from realising that happiness is our nature and from spreading the understanding that we need to help each other to survive and be happy.
phobos:
"God wants you to live in this cold world only to test you, he will see if you will seek strenght in him. God wants servants and children who are not obliged, but willing. Seek god, comfort in him, rely in him, call his name and you will be saved."
A god who wants us to be his servants and children doesn't seem Godlike to me.
