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.
yes. but a consideration is: 'is what we take to be happiness also a source of suffering? is there a happiness without suffering?'
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I think we are essentially unchanging consciousness (the perceiver)
the same consciousness when you were 4yo? the same consciousness as yesterday? if so, show me that consciousness of yesterday? what about when you sleep? what happened to that unchanging consciousness?
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Suffering is either natural or human made. Natural suffering (disease, etc.) can be reduced by learning about science and medicine.
disease is not suffering. suffering is when you cry or even consider committing suicide because you have lost something
Human made suffering can be reduced by helping each other to survive
ultimately, when you or your loved one's face inevitable death, there is the condition that can generate suffering. no one can help you reduce or be free from suffering here except your own intelligence & mind or even your own faith
another cannot help you
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.
when a dying person is afflicted by a dreaded painful debilitating disease, such as cancer, where they require morphine, is 'happiness' their nature?
what you are calling 'happiness' may not be the same as 'peace'
peace via acceptance may occur when dying from painful cancer but happiness, as a feeling, may not occur