Five Fundamental Questions
Who are you?
This question covers matters of personal identity. What do you see yourself as, as compared to how you define yourself in terms of others - and indeed, how much you accept others' definitions of who and what you are? What do you want? This is the question addressing one's needs, our wants, our desires. What do we need, as compared to what we think we need? What do we desire, as compared to what we need? And are you sure that these are your desires, rather than desires foisted on you by others? Why are you here? The philosophers' favourite fundamental question. This is the question that gets the asker delving deeply into their raison d'etre. Do you believe that your life has a purpose? Do others think your life has a purpose? And what does the universe think? Where are you going? If you have a purpose, answering the previous question, are you doing something to edge closer to achieving that purpose or not? Are you achieving your purpose or not? Is there interference holding you back? Is someone or something trying to deflect you from achieving your purpose so that you can be used to accomplish theirs? To whose ends are you being used? Do you have anything worth living for? A very important question. The above questions all focus on you, the asker. This is the first question that asks you what is important to you that is external to you and your life. It is also the first chance to ask the questions above to this external influence. Who are you? - Who are you to me? What do you want? - And how do I figure in it? Why are you here? - And why are you so important to me? Where are you going? - And is my purpose part of the achievement of yours? Do you have anything worth living for? - And does that include me? Whom do you trust and serve? Two questions, both linked: Whom do you serve, and whom do you trust? Like the fifth question above, these look at one's relation with an external influence: at one's connections with others. Whom do you serve? - In other words, to whom are you responsible? How many of your actions and decisions are you responsible for, and how many of the keys in your life are in another's hands? Whom do you trust? - Are those keys in the right hands for you? Do they have your best interests at heart? Do they have their own best interests at heart? Do they even understand what is at stake when they use those keys?
