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Dharma & · Today · 23 min

The Difference Between Puzzles and Purpose

Last week I invited people to consider the freedom that comes from letting the big fish in their lives swim free - the career achievements they've been seeking, the idealized family they wanted to build, the self image they've been crafting. After the talk, I found myself wondering what it means to live a life of purpose, even when we aren't casting about, or hooked on the big fish. For answers, I turned to a neighbor who is an astrophysicist and asked him how his colleagues are receiving the news about the many advances Artificial Intelligence is making in their field. He, in turn, pointed me to an interview between Rachel Abrams and esteemed mathematician Steven Strogatz about this very topic. The upshot of this week's talk and the Q&A that follows is that purpose arises from curiosity and generosity and creativity - it's a mind state, not an object. We can lose the object of our interest, and still maintain the curios, openminded attitude that sustains us and gives life meaning. This talk was given at the Riverside Meditation Community, Brookmont Church, on Sunday, October 25, 2026. It follows last week’s talk, Letting the Fish Swim Free. Question for the week: Think of a puzzle you’re working on, or one you’ve had to put down. When you chase it, does your attention narrow or open? Texts & references The Daily (The New York Times), “When A.I. Comes for Your Purpose in Life,” October 13, 2026: Rachel Abrams interviews Cornell mathematician Steven Strogatz about the grief and excitement in mathematics as AI takes on its hardest problems. Ecclesiastes, which Strogatz turned to by way of the Byrds’ “Turn! Turn! Turn!” Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta (SN 56.11): craving as the origin of suffering. https://suttacentral.net/sn56.11 Ānāpānasati Sutta (MN 118): the seven factors of awakening, with investigation (dhammavicaya) second. https://suttacentral.net/mn118 Alagaddūpama Sutta (MN 22): the simile of the raft, a teaching for crossing over, not for holding onto. https://suttacentral.net/mn22 Photo by Erwan Hesry on Unsplash

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Last week I invited people to consider the freedom that comes from letting the big fish in their lives swim free - the career achievements they've been seeking, the idealized family they wanted to build, the self image they've been crafting. After the talk, I found myself wondering what it means to live a life of purpose, even when we aren't casting about, or hooked on the big fish.

For answers, I turned to a neighbor who is an astrophysicist and asked him how his colleagues are receiving the news about the many advances Artificial Intelligence is making in their field. He, in turn, pointed me to an interview between Rachel Abrams and esteemed mathematician Steven Strogatz about this very topic. The upshot of this week's talk and the Q&A that follows is that purpose arises from curiosity and generosity and creativity - it's a mind state, not an object. We can lose the object of our interest, and still maintain the curios, openminded attitude that sustains us and gives life meaning.

This talk was given at the Riverside Meditation Community, Brookmont Church, on Sunday, October 25, 2026. It follows last week’s talk, Letting the Fish Swim Free.

Question for the week: Think of a puzzle you’re working on, or one you’ve had to put down. When you chase it, does your attention narrow or open?

Texts & references

  • The Daily (The New York Times), “When A.I. Comes for Your Purpose in Life,” October 13, 2026: Rachel Abrams interviews Cornell mathematician Steven Strogatz about the grief and excitement in mathematics as AI takes on its hardest problems.
  • Ecclesiastes, which Strogatz turned to by way of the Byrds’ “Turn! Turn! Turn!”
  • Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta (SN 56.11): craving as the origin of suffering. https://suttacentral.net/sn56.11
  • Ānāpānasati Sutta (MN 118): the seven factors of awakening, with investigation (dhammavicaya) second. https://suttacentral.net/mn118
  • Alagaddūpama Sutta (MN 22): the simile of the raft, a teaching for crossing over, not for holding onto. https://suttacentral.net/mn22

Photo by Erwan Hesry on Unsplash

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