That's Life...

Most everyone has, at one time or another wondered about the meaning of Life. Usually they are searching for their purpose in life, but have you ever wondered what the meaning of the words used to define Life mean? Let's look at the meaning of Life.  

The ancient Greeks had three main words for life which are: 

• bios (physical life). This word refers to the physical, material life or to one's (physical) lifetime. It is the root of terms such as "biology".

Life as we know it has a physical aspect.  It is the way by which our physical life, our bios, experiences the physical aspect of our universe. Through various biological processes our bios self-regulates to maintain a stable, constant internal environment despite external changes. This serves as a crucial aspect for bios survival by keeping vital functions balanced through negative feedback loops involving sensors, control centers (like the brain's hypothalamus), and effectors (muscles, glands). It's a dynamic equilibrium, allowing adaptation, with disruptions often being termed disease (abnormal function) or pathology (a system of symptoms associated with a disease). 

• psuche (soul or psychological life). This word refers to the mind, emotions, and will. It is the ancient Greek word for soul, life, breath, or self.  Psuche, or as we most often spell it psyche, is a core concept in philosophy and religion where it refers to the animating principle, inner being, seat of emotions, or a living person. It encompasses the vital force, personality, and the spiritual aspect of a being, distinct from the physical body. It is the vital force or breath that animates a body. It is the seat of desires, feelings, affections, and moral character. It is the inner person or personality; the spiritual part of a human, distinct from the physical body, capable of eternal life. 

Driving or piloting our physical aspect (our bios) is our psuche (psyche or soul). It is our “inner ME”, our animating principle, inner being, emotions and other psychological concepts which compose our “beliefs”, our “faith”, and ultimately our “desires.” Psyche drives or pilots our bios on the path of our physical world(s). It is the decision maker for our lives.

• zoe (divine or eternal life).  Zoe signifies a greater, divine, and eternal life. It is used to describe the uncreated, eternal life of God. The name Zoe was adopted by early Christians, who associated its meaning of "life" with the concept of eternal life through faith.  
  
  
  Zoe is the general term for "life," representing a full and complete existence, including: the state of being alive and animate; the more profound sense of life, often referring to the divine, eternal life believers receive through faith; and it also signifies the essence of living and includes concepts like joy, peace, and meaning. In the New Testament, zoe is frequently used to describe the spiritual life and eternal life given by God through Jesus Christ, as in the verse, "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full" (John 10:10). 

Zoe means inherent, divine, or eternal life (the quality of existence) and psuche refers to the set of guiding principles that is our soul, our bios pilot. Bios refers to the biological, social, or biographical life (the mode of living).

Zoe is the "sum total" of life itself. It encompasses our “beings at work” (our physical aspects taking action), our “spirited beings” (the passions, spirited and courageous aspect of life and the drive and force within), and our “being” the “vital energy" that was shared with our physical aspect (a portion of the total energy of the cosmos that allows our physical aspect to operate in our physical universe).

Various concepts that relate to this concept of vital energy include: prana, chi (Qi or Ki) , mana, shakti, kundalini, pneuma, anima or animus, vis vitae, aura, inner light, soul, lifeblood, life force, spirit, living force, vibration, vibe, and probably more.

So ONE way to describe life is:

1. A bios is given life and becomes a living being.
2. Over time a psuche develops to help guide our bios on its physical journey.
3. The zoe is the sum total of it all: our bios, our psuche, and the divine vital energy that was "issued" to us.
4. At some point, for almost all, the bios wears out or is destroyed in some way, but the vital energy of the divine and the psuche that developed from our experiences, returns to the divine.  For energy can only be transformed, it cannot be eliminated into nothingness.

That's Life....