
Is there a higher purpose to the universe?
From The Ten Thousand Things by Sam Ellis, Joe Loh and Ali Catramados
June 30, 2025 · 1h 0m · Season 4 · Episode 13
About this episode
Sam and Joe explore the concept of a higher purpose in the universe through Zen philosophy and personal experiences.
Sam and Joe discuss this quote: Behind the sometimes seemingly random or even chaotic succession of events in our lives as well as in the world lies concealed the unfolding of a higher order and purpose. This is beautifully expressed in the Zen saying "The snow falls, each flake in its appropriate place." We can never understand this higher order through thinking about it because whatever we think about is content; whereas, the higher order emanates from the formless realm of consciousness, from universal intelligence. But we can glimpse it, and more than that, align ourselves with it, which means be conscious participants in the unfolding of that higher purpose. Eckhart Tolle - A New Earth This episode includes a personal reference to AA. I fully respect the tradition of anonymity and am speaking only from my own experience, not on behalf of AA. - Joe Image: Kirill Pershin
People in this episode
Hosts: Sam Ellis, Joe Loh
Topics covered
- higher purpose
- universe
- consciousness
- Zen philosophy
- personal experience
- AA
Keywords
- higher order
- consciousness
- Eckhart Tolle
- Zen saying
- AA
- personal experience
- universal intelligence
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: AA
Books & works: A New Earth
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