Living with Intent & other religions

Elmen Lamprecht
Oct 14
8 min read

Intent is the magical part of life that binds everything and everyone together. Intent is that all-pervasive feeling; that intuitive voice that whispers to us every day, telling us that we are all part of a bigger purpose. It is that part of our existence that cannot be explained by our powers of perception but rather by our instinctive awareness. It is that something which we cannot touch but we can feel its touch everywhere in our lives.

This invisible energy has been called many things by various cultures, religions, spiritual traditions and mythologies. Whatever we attribute this power to, our history has shown us that Intent is not found in an isolated, individualistic pursuit of meaning but plugging into the one all-encompassing intention of existence. This intention of existence is a collective purpose that transcends individual meaning but somehow also incorporates all individual meanings. It is a mystic momentum that drives and binds all meanings into one Intent, providing direction for everything. Like a mighty river, unstoppable and unrelenting, dragging everything in its path towards its impending destination.

Intent provides the ‘why’ of everything. It is the Meaning of Life, the purpose behind life. And therefore, to find your own meaning, your own purpose in life, you must Live with Intent. You must connect with the source of all energy to unlock the magical energy inside of you. As you learn more about the intentional why of everything around you, you discover the intentional why about yourself. You do not discover your own destiny by focusing on it. Your Personal Intent only becomes visible when you focus on Intent, the destiny of everything around you.

Religions around the world offer diverse perspectives on Intent and the meaning of life, often rooted in their unique theological, philosophical, and cultural contexts. Here are some of the major religious viewpoints on the meaning of life.

Hands holding religious symbol cards (cross, crescent, star); spiritual text overlay on gray; website link at bottom: beresolute.life.

Christianity

Christianity posits that the meaning of life is fundamentally rooted in the relationship between humanity and God. According to Christian teachings, life’s ultimate purpose is to know, love, and serve God. This is accomplished through faith in Jesus Christ, who Christians believe is the Son of God and the savior of humanity. The Christian doctrine emphasizes living according to God’s will, which is revealed through the Bible and the teachings of Jesus. This involves practicing love, compassion, and forgiveness, striving for moral integrity, and spreading the message of the Gospel. Christians believe that by living in accordance with these principles, they fulfil their divine purpose and prepare for eternal life with God after death. This perspective instils a sense of hope, purpose, and direction, encouraging believers to lead lives that reflect the values of their faith.

Islam

In Islam, the meaning of life is intrinsically connected to the concept of worship and submission to Allah. Muslims believe that humans are created by Allah with the primary purpose of worshiping Him and living a life in accordance with His guidance, as outlined in the Quran and the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad. This worship is not limited to ritual acts but encompasses all aspects of life, including moral and ethical conduct, social justice, and the pursuit of knowledge. The purpose of life in Islam is to achieve a harmonious relationship with Allah, characterized by obedience, gratitude, and devotion. This involves striving to embody virtues such as honesty, compassion, and humility, while seeking to contribute positively to society. By fulfilling these roles and responsibilities, Muslims aim to attain spiritual fulfilment and the ultimate reward of eternal life in paradise. This belief system provides a comprehensive framework for understanding life's purpose, instilling a sense of responsibility, and guiding individuals toward a meaningful and righteous existence.

Hinduism

Hinduism perceives the meaning of life through the pursuit of four main goals, known as the Purusharthas: Dharma (duty/ethical living), Artha (prosperity/wealth), Kama (pleasure/desires), and Moksha (liberation). These goals provide a comprehensive framework for living a balanced and purposeful life. Dharma involves living in harmony with cosmic law and fulfilling one's duties and responsibilities with integrity. Artha encompasses the pursuit of material success and prosperity to support oneself and one's family. Kama signifies the pursuit of love, joy, and emotional fulfillment. However, the ultimate aim of life is Moksha, which is the liberation from the cycle of rebirth (samsara) and the realization of the self's unity with the divine (Brahman). Achieving Moksha involves spiritual practices such as meditation, devotion, and selfless action (karma yoga). By understanding and pursuing these goals, Hindus seek to live a life of balance, purpose, and spiritual progression, ultimately leading to liberation and eternal bliss. This holistic approach provides a rich tapestry of meaning, guiding individuals toward both worldly fulfillment and spiritual enlightenment.

Buddhism

In Buddhism, the meaning of life is understood through the lens of attaining enlightenment and liberation from the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth (samsara). The ultimate goal is to achieve Nirvana, a state of profound peace, wisdom, and freedom from suffering. This path involves understanding and practicing the Four Noble Truths, which acknowledge the existence of suffering, its cause, the possibility of its cessation, and the path leading to its cessation—the Noble Eightfold Path. The Eightfold Path emphasizes right understanding, right intention, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right concentration.

Buddhists strive to cultivate qualities such as compassion, ethical conduct, and mental discipline, seeking to overcome ignorance and attachment, which are seen as the root causes of suffering. Through meditation, ethical living, and the development of wisdom, individuals aim to transform their minds and achieve a deeper understanding of reality, ultimately realizing the interconnectedness of all life. This journey towards enlightenment provides a profound sense of purpose and direction, guiding Buddhists to lead lives marked by compassion, mindfulness, and inner peace.

The Resolute Life

Throughout human history, we have sought to understand the spiritual aspects of life. At times, we have conflated the scientific and the spiritual, particularly when scientific explanations were insufficient (e.g., attributing divine qualities to celestial objects or frightening natural events). Not all unexplained phenomena are spiritual, just as not all observable events are strictly scientific (e.g., miracles). Nevertheless, in our collective spiritual journey, religion has played a crucial role in our efforts to comprehend the mystical. Religion represents the oldest tradition for exploring spirituality and provides a valuable framework for explaining the unknown and the inexplicable. It remains an essential tool for expanding our awareness of higher Intent.

While the Daily Life of Resolute Beings refers to Intent, it acknowledges that the transcendent energy permeating our existence could indeed be a deity. Given our imperfect understanding of spirituality, no one can assert absolute and complete comprehension of this dimension, nor can anyone definitively claim that this energy does not originate from a god. What we can collectively agree upon is the undeniable presence of a higher power, though our human understanding of this power continues to evolve.

For this reason, the Daily Life of Resolute Beings does not view religion as a relic of prehistoric humans who, failing to understand the world around them, attributed natural phenomena such as thunder, rain, drought, and death to supernatural beings. Indeed, we have often misattributed many occurrences, mistakenly assigning responsibility for events like droughts and volcanic eruptions to our gods. When faced with personal, world-altering events such as death, we have attributed them to divine actions, even when human causes were evident. Our experiences with cruel and unforgiving fathers and loving, caring mothers have led us to project these qualities onto our gods. This reflects our fallible human understanding of the ethereal and the supernatural, and our attempts to grow our awareness of the Energy that is omnipresent and all-encompassing.

Yet, we cannot claim with absolute certainty that droughts, volcanic eruptions, thunder, death, life, evolution, and many other observable phenomena are not influenced by the spiritual dimension. While science excels at understanding the physical world, it often falls short in explaining the mystical. Science itself could be another misattribution of divine characteristics, a misunderstanding of the true workings of the universe. This is not to cast doubt on science—its achievements in explaining our physical, observable reality are remarkable and must be embraced. However, we must acknowledge that, just as prehistoric humans made errors in comprehending the physical world, science could also be erring in its understanding of the spiritual.

Acknowledging that humans are fallible and have made mistakes in understanding the spiritual realm does not mean we should doubt its existence. Instead, it emphasizes the need to continuously reassess our understanding of both the spiritual and the physical. Thus, even religions must reevaluate their interpretations of their deities in light of our collective human progression in understanding through both perception (science) and awareness (spirituality).

Our comprehension of this higher power has evolved significantly over the past ten thousand years. It is also reasonable to believe that our understanding of deities like Yahweh, Jesus, Allah, Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva, as conceived two thousand years ago, might have been imperfect. In fact, our concepts of gods and spirituality from just a hundred years ago could also be flawed. As we gain more awareness of the spiritual, our religious beliefs must grow and evolve to reflect this ongoing enlightenment.

To be clear, the argument is not that all historical spiritual wisdom is wrong and should be discarded. On the contrary, we can only deepen our understanding of the unseen, the intangible, and the mystical by building upon thousands of years of spiritual wisdom. The argument is that just as we continuously reassess our understanding of the physical world, we must also reassess our understanding of the spiritual. We cannot remain stagnant in our spiritual comprehension. Our perception of our deities must grow and expand so that we can fully embrace their power.

Therefore, the principles outlined in the Daily Life of Resolute Beings support this resolute journey for all religions. Christians can use it alongside traditional spiritual practices to uncover and perhaps rediscover God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. Muslims can use it as a guide towards spiritual purity, complementing (not replacing) their understanding of Allah. Hindus, Buddhists, and Shinto followers can also benefit from its teachings. The Daily Life of Resolute Beings aims to enhance your religious and spiritual life, fostering deeper connections and greater enlightenment.

Last words

Throughout history, the mystical energy within us and around us has been known by many names, but regardless of the label, it has always pointed towards a collective purpose that transcends individual meaning while simultaneously encompassing it. To find your own purpose, you must first discover the purpose. This means connecting with the source of all energy to unlock the magic within yourself.

Religions around the world offer diverse perspectives on this Intent. These perspectives, while different in their approaches, share a common thread: they all seek to connect individuals with a higher power and a greater purpose. The Daily Life of Resolute Beings supports this ongoing journey across all faiths. It encourages a continuous reassessment of our understanding of both the spiritual and the physical realms, recognizing that our comprehension of the divine has evolved over millennia and will continue to do so.

By embracing the principles outlined by The Daily Life of Resolute Beings, individuals from all religious backgrounds can enhance their spiritual lives. Christians, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, and followers of other faiths can use these teachings to foster deeper connections with their deities and the greater Intent of existence. The Daily Life of Resolute Beings aims to nurture this journey, promoting greater enlightenment and a more profound sense of purpose in life.

If you found this blog valuable, please forward it to someone in your network who will also benefit from its message. Life is amazing but hard, and we all can benefit from sharing knowledge and wisdom that can help us life a Resolute Life.

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“The Daily Life of Resolute Beings” integrates philosophical insights with practical advice, encouraging readers to adopt a mindset of abundance, purposeful resource management and meaningful connectedness in pursuit of their goals. Order your book at any of the following sites: