To create heaven on earth.

The Askmoses Answer:

Big Questions

By asking the question "What is the purpose of life?" we have already answered a much bigger question: "Does life have purpose?" For by asking what it is, we are implying that it is. And that is a good thing. The premise of purpose not only validates the question; it also directs us towards finding the answer.

If life has purpose we must assume that life, all of life, and all of existence, has a Creator; for chance has no purpose. And if there is a Creator He would presumably know its purpose. Actually, He would be the only one with the answer to that question.

Meaning vs. Purpose

Meaning is arbitrary. Once an item exists any number of meanings can be ascribed to it. You can use your treadmill as a clothing rack, your dictionary as a paperweight, or your painting as a placemat. If you own it, you can make it meaningful to you in any way you desire, because there need not be an intrinsic connection between the meaning you ascribe and the object you ascribe it to.

Purpose is prefixed. Purpose precedes that which it produces.

Similarly, one can attribute much meaning to and in life. But only He who created life can determine its purpose.

The Midrash Memo

The "Torah predated the world".¹ The Torah illustrates our purpose, it therefore preceded our existence.

The Torah tells us that G-d settled Adam in the garden "to work it and preserve it".² Now if G-d is capable of creating the garden and man, does He really need Adam's assistance? And if G-d is afraid man will ruin the garden, why create man in the first place?

The Midrash says G-d created the world because "G-d desired a dwelling place in the lower worlds."³

This Midrash tells us a lot.

Firstly, it tells us G-d desired: He did not need. He did not need Adam. He did not need the garden. He did not need period. He desired. But He desired with a specific vision in mind. He had a purpose. 

He desired a Dwelling Place: Not a place to visit; a place to dwell.

On the bus you are a commuter, at work you are a professional, in the mall you are a consumer, but at home you are you. Your home is where you dwell. Its walls reflect your taste, and your essence fills its rooms. G-d too wanted a home.

In the Lower worlds.

Worlds that express G-dliness are high. Worlds that conceal G-dliness are low. But worlds that can deny G-dliness, are the lowest of the low.

Welcome to our world. Not just our universe, but our little reality. Each of ours. Humans are the only existence in creation that can deny our creator. Angels express G-dliness. Nature conceals it. But only we can deny it.

Nothing else can make anything for G-d, because nothing else can ruin anything G-d makes.

To be able to enhance the garden man had to have the ability to ruin it. That is why G-d created us with free choice: so we would have the ability to destroy. And that is also why He endowed us with His Torah and its commandments: So we would know how to enhance.

1 Infinite Lane

What does G-d's home look like? It looks like G-d: Perfect.

This world can be perfect. It will be. And you were created to implement that perfection.

A world without hunger, hatred, war, illness, ignorance, and depression. A world blooming with nourishment, love, peace, health, knowledge, and joy. A world that not only reflects G-d's goodness; but expresses G-d's pureness.

G-d created the world with that vision and that potential. Then He created you with the hopes that you would create that reality. A reality that expresses G-d's mandate, rather than our own desires. A world that mirrors G-d's infinity, rather than our own limitations.

G-d calls it Eden. Moses calls it Life. The Prophets call it Moshiach. The Midrash calls it Home.

Your instincts call our planet earth, but your purpose calls upon you to turn that into heaven.