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In this rare clip from 1972, legendary psychiatrist and Holocaust-survivor Viktor Frankl delivers a powerful message about the human search for meaning -- and the most important gift we can give others.

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By Jess & LingLing

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Hinduism
Is there an afterlife?
Hinduism teaches that any attempt to find permanent happiness in this world is maya (an illusion). Hindus believe that a person's atman (spirit) is permanent and cannot change while the physical body is not permanent and can change. The atman is reborn many times, this is samsara (reincarnation). The atman also recognises karma which travels through reincarnation- whether you were good or bad in your past life.

Why do people die?
Death is a natural event so that the atman can move nearer the ultimate release from rebirth, moksha.

What is the purpose of life?
According to Hinduism, the meaning (purpose) of life is four-fold: to achieve Dharma, Artha, Karma, and Moksha. Dharma is the environment around us, and finding meaning in it is how you partly find the purpose of life. Artha includes career, skills, health, wealth and prosperity. It implies that finding and achieving these would again partly lead to the meaning of life. Karma is the sum of a person's actions in this and previous states of existence, viewed as deciding their fate in future existences, therefore helping them find meaning. Moksha is the ultimate release from rebirth and moving away from normal existence which is why you try to achieve the other three.

Where does life come from?
Life is believed to come from the sacred sound Aum, the first sound at the start of creation. Hindus believe that brahman (the one ultimate reality) has three functions and these are shown by the three gods, Shiva, Brahma and Vishnu.

Where does evil come from?
Evil as well as good, along with suffering is considered real and caused by human free will, its source and consequences explained through karma.

How can I hope?
Hindu hope to eventually achieve Moksha, ultimate rebirth. This saves them from normal life. Achieving the Hindu ideal.

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Buddhism

Is there an afterlife?

Buddhists believe in life after death because the Buddha taught that human beings are each born an infinite number of times, unless they achieve Nirvana.

Why do people die?

In the teaching of the Buddha, all of us will pass away eventually as a part in the natural process of birth, old-age and death and that we should always keep in mind the impermanence of life.  The life that we all cherish and wish to hold on.

However, death is not the end of life, it is merely the end of the body we inhabit in this life, but our spirit will still remain and seek out through the need of attachment, attachment to a new body and new life. Where they will be born is a result of the past and the accumulation of positive and negative action, and the resultant karma (cause and effect) is a result of one's past actions.

What is the purpose of life?

A Buddha is one who has attained Bodhi; and by Bodhi is meant wisdom, an ideal state of intellectual and ethical perfection which can be achieved by man through purely human means. The term Buddha literally means enlightened one, a knower.

Where does life come from?

Existence is endless because individuals are reincarnated over and over again, experiencing suffering throughout many lives.

Why are we born?

As long as this kammic force exists there is rebirth, for beings are merely the visible manifestation of this invisible kammic force. Death is nothing but the temporary end of this temporary phenomenon. It is not the complete annihilation of this so-called being. The organic life has ceased, but the kammic force which hitherto actuated it has not been destroyed. As the kammic force remains entirely undisturbed by the disintegration of the fleeting body, the passing away of the present dying thought-moment only conditions a fresh consciousness in another birth.

Where does evil come from?

Most Buddhists believe that the negative actions and beliefs of human beings such as greed, anger and ignorance give rise to evil. These three things stop Buddhists from reaching enlightenment.

Buddhists do not believe that human beings are evil, but they generally accept that humans create suffering through their greed, anger and ignorance.

How can I hope?

At first glance, Buddhism offers little hope. On the other hand, if the Buddha was capable of infinite compassion, why would he deny hope to those that follow is path? Hope is an important antidote to fear.

Hoping for a lot of money, fame or success is obviously advised against in the Buddha's teachings. But what about health? If you hope to live your life without a terminal illness, you are going to be disappointed at least once.

On the other hand, when you are struggling with some disease that has, say, 50% chance of a recovery. Can you hope to be in the good 50%? Again it is a setup for disappointment, but it may help to get through tough times. However, I find it hard to hope for such odds. It feels like a lottery.

Why be good?

The aim of Buddhism is not to judge what is good and evil, but to minimize human suffering and pain. Buddhism teaches that the main source of human pain and suffering is desire. It gives a broad definition to desire: this may include food, material things, status, etc. The reason desire leads to pain is because if we are unable to attain it, or somehow lose the things/people we love, then we suffer.

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An atheist is a person who disbelieves or lacks belief in the existence of God.

Is there an afterlife?

Atheists believe that once you die, you are simply gone from the earth. There is nothing after life and therefore, life should be awed in all its beauty and wonder. This is a quote from an Atheist,

“I don’t believe in the after life, I believe this is it and I believe it's the best way to live”.

Why do people die?

Life is hard work - whilst it brings happiness and a sense of accomplishment. By living forever one would be stuck with many burdens. But by dying, one is freed from all burdens.

What is the purpose of life?

It is important to appreciate life in the now. Not to take anything for granted and just to appreciate the pure beauty and joy in life.

We should contribute to the world because when you die, you will be gone forever. So do good and be remembered for what you have done.

Where does life come from?

Atheists believe that we started as a single cell, there was then a chemical process which created human life. It is believed that our existence has always come to be from the same process called reproduction.

Why are we born?

Atheists believe we were born due to the built-in desire for sex. Reproduction occurs from the gene that wishes to reproduce in our parents and ancestors.

Where does evil come from?

Atheists believe that a loving God would not deliberately inflict evil and suffering on the world. They have no objective basis for labelling things as right and wrong.

How can I hope?

Christians have many hopes, many of which are ambitious and near impossible. Atheists still have hope but are more realistic in what they hope for.