From Meaning to Purpose
by Zen Master Tan Gong (José Ramírez), PZC Co-Guiding Teacher
Sangha Newsletter Issue 11, Jan/Feb 2026
The new year is here; we take stock and promise new year resolutions. I’ll exercise more, I’ll eat healthier, I’ll try to keep a regular practice. These new year resolutions are goals we set for ourselves as a way to give some meaning and direction to our life but, what is the meaning of life?
Zen Master Seung Sahn once said, “Human life has no meaning, no reason, and no choice, but we have our practice to help us understand our true self. Then, we can change no meaning to Great Meaning, which means Great Love. We can change no reason to Great Reason, which means Great Compassion. Finally, we can change no choice to Great Choice, which means Great Vow and Bodhisattva Way.” The first time I read this I was a bit shocked because the “no meaning, no reason, no choice”, sounded hopeless. This hopelessness is perhaps the hesitation to take responsibility for our actions, for our life, because WE are the ones who “can change” the “no meaning, no reason, no choice”; because WE are the ones who have to practice “to help us understand our true self.”
When we ask, what is the meaning of life? What we are truly asking is, if we are honest with ourselves, what is the meaning of my life? As we practice, we begin to realize that when we put “my” in front of life, in front of our experiences, we become centered on I-My-Me, generating suffering for ourselves and for others. A more meaningful question is one that moves us away from self-centeredness —what is the purpose of life?
Purpose requires a direction. As the dictionary definition puts it, Purpose: the reason something is done. This purpose, is a function of our karma, a function of what we bring to the table, of what we can do in a particular situation. As a doctor, how can I use my knowledge and skills to help not only their health, but my patients 100%? As a chef, how can I transform the elements to make food that is nourishing and restorative? As an artist, how can I use my creativity and craft to evoke, communicate, transform? As a parent or care giver, how can I remain present moment-to-moment and bring love and attention to the joys and struggles we encounter every day?
Our practice is transformative. When we digest this “no choice” we come to the realization that we do have a Choice, that at every moment, the intention behind our thoughts, words, and actions can change the outcome. Our practice allows us to have a purpose, a direction, so we can ask not just “what” but “for whom”. And when we ask, “for whom,” we can then use the energy of our desires to go beyond I-My-Me, turning meaning into purpose, into Great Love, Great Compassion, Great Vow.
Happy 2026!
May you all be happy.
May you all be free from suffering.
And may your practice give you the calm and wisdom we need
To help ourselves and this world.
Join Zen Master Tan Gong (José Ramírez) for practice and retreats.