What's the meaning of life?
Work.
That's right, work. The simplest, most streamlined, and yet most potently truthful answer to that great question can be summed up in this one little word.
What kind of work? Work on ourselves, work to help others, work that will lead us from ignorance of the Way of Things to the attainment of Knowledge. This is what it's all about.
I must admit, when I hit upon this discovery it was not what I wanted to hear at the time. The realization was a depressing one to me. I didn't like work, and to think that that was "what I'm here for", well, I winced. But I've loosened up since then, and I've learned that it's a labor of love and not necessarily like stacking cans or washing dishes (although mundane work is a part of it).
Working on yourself includes: Reading books, being creative, experiencing beauty through nature, art, music, straightening out your psychological problems, interacting with people and animals in a genuine way (not like a jerk), observing your thoughts and actions, and, most importantly, learning as much as you can about science, philosophy, and religion.
Working to help others includes: Being as aware and considerate of others as possible, listening, giving of yourself whatever is needed, developing understanding, being a good friend.
As for the work that leads from ignorance to Knowledge, from Samsara to Nirvana as it were, that is what the remainder of this little book is taking a stab at. I'm not implying that I've got all the answers, not by a longshot! I've got a few, though, and I might as well share them, otherwise what was the point of discovering them?