David Bull - The Meaning(s) of Life

[@rylieshea7466]

I used to watch these videos just to sleep. Now I come back over and over to watch them just because they’re so amazing to listen to. David Bull is the most wonderful storyteller I’ve ever heard.

[@reedmohlman9762]

I'll be honest Dave while I love the woodblock videos, the walkthroughs of the processes and the detailing of the history, the main reason i come back to this channel is YOU. The way you compose yourself, your cadence, your tone of voice, your perspective, your passion, you're a born presenter and I have so much fun watching you gush about your interests. Keep up the wonderful content, we'll all keep watching!

[@theden0minat0r]

I second that!

[@realcomments]

They could have been newspaper clippings for all I care... one might even argue I dislike the general arrogance and snobbery associated with the Japanese "handcraft" culture. I come here for David... period.

[@leonblum816]

Amen

[@barbellsamurai8014]

there is something mesmerizing about him

[@frrascon]

Yeah. David could talk about literally everything and make it interesting.

[@yewty9894]

receiving sacred wisdom from the wizard of printmaking

[@fukcg00gle95]

Calvin & Hobbes = life

[@adamwest8711]

Well, Hobbes was named after a philosopher, so....

[@owenwilliams9758]

Woodblock Warlock

[@chriscadillac8448]

There's nothing Sacred about this.

[@drix4275]

Hecking amazing story he made; from a foreigner dismissed by old, Japanese masters to the same masters gifting him tools when he had proven himself more than worthy. :)

[@seseragistudio]

Wonderful commenting happening here - thank you all very much! Of course I am unable to reply to every comment and begin a ‘discussion’ with each one, no matter how interesting the content, but please understand that I _am_ reading them all, and am happily taking in your viewpoints. It’s fun to read those in accordance with the ideas I expressed, but perhaps even more interesting to read those from people who express alternate/different/opposite viewpoints … this is what I _wanted_ when I initiated this little experiment.

[@fewcans5311]

Your the man Dave!!!

[@TheDrew4321]

I am constantly enamored by the emergence of simple geometry in physics as well. The Fourier transfer is a great example of how the existence of circles, lines, and their simple intersectionality gives birth to the potentially infinite fractal that comprises our universe. Before the molecule, there was the energy of the universe, and perhaps at the center of this infinite spiral is what some call "God", or the tantra of the universe. The sub atomic particles that comprise all matter are perhaps just harmonic bands of energy, which is perhaps an isometrical visualization of a greater pond. Is a string just an extrusion of a higgs point? I am no physicist. I am simply enamored by the emergence of nature in physics. bhagavad gita is about the kind of "duty" you were struggling to describe. Perhaps

[@JasonP6339]

You are the type of person I aspire to be.

[@zatoichiMiyamoto]

@@TheDrew4321 the unified field

[@kojote]

@@TheDrew4321 geometry in reality, check out Romanesco broccoli if you haven't 😊

[@betmynamespookedyou4665]

Stopped everything I was doing and *RUSHED* here upon seeing a David Bull notification!!!

[@Adrastheus]

"There is no destination. It is all about taking our turn in this hugely interesting drama being produced for the benefit of no audience, just for the performers on the magnficent, glorious stage that is this planet of ours" (David Bull)

[@OdinSight]

This is the quote that stuck with me great stuff

[@oasisneko1]

Pretty darn eloquent...

[@-overdooo-]

It's remarkable how aligned this is with so many religious beliefs.

[@JediWebSurf]

This actually scary and makes me sad. No after life? The thought of not existing that's scary.

[@accountnamewithheld]

@@JediWebSurf Why? You don't remember the 50s, before you were born. You won't remember the 2050s, after you've died. We are merely a window to the world, and it's on us to do the best with that window as we can. :)

[@hitandrunboy]

two hour long videos in a week? you’re spoiling us dave!

[@-overdooo-]

I came just to comment this!

[@kojote]

"I'm just a simple woodblock printer" you're completely underselling yourself, Mr Business, Programmer, Marketing Genius, Guitar Maker, Musician, Father 😉

[@kojote]

This comment was Nr 42 😅

[@JasonP6339]

Toy maker, teacher

[@tntboom21]

and after seeing this video; a philosopher as well.

[@genekwagmyrsingh9433]

@@kojote How do you know that, curiously?

[@LGPanthers1]

I think the second part of the video attends to that quite well

[@nostalgia_provider]

I'm a biologist and your comparison of the formation of rivers to the formation of life was great! i loved listening to this with a cup of coffee. Definitely make more videos in this style if you find enough time!

[@fakemoviesrealtrailers7737]

I had a terrible day today. Had to stay over an hour late at work, got really injured, and had to cut ties with a close friend. I’m just glad one of my favorite content creators posted. I really needed this tonight. Thank you.

[@Snarfdiska]

This is by far the most interesting channels I’ve ever subscribed to. Wish I could find it for the first time over and over again.

[@chrisaustin4115]

Spiritual Unfoldment is pretty good too, check it out

[@EGGWISHING]

@@chrisaustin4115 m

[@kevincarlton44]

My favorite videos of Dave’s are those in which he just talks. His wisdom, gentle mannerisms, and ASMR inducing speech are easy to listen to for hours on end.

[@parkerbuchanan250]

I feel like when I watch your videos, I’m not listening to a KZbin personality expressing their passion, but rather I am listening to a friend. Thank you for making these great videos and for expressing your love of print making with the world.

[@Sm-iw2vh]

I have asked people for a while now, " Nice to meet you, what's your hobbies?” I know it's a bit weird but I can't stand hearing about peoples job or talking of mine, I like the enthusiasm that comes with someone explaining a hobby....I'm sure you learn more about them this way too.

[@TamiAlvord]

This is a great way to get to know people. I’ll have to give this a try.

[@corytohill8396]

Pp⁹ⁿ⁹p⁰

[@corytohill8396]

⁰

[@BrockenSpecter]

I agree with you totally. I'm going to make this part of how I interact with people from now on.

[@GlassesnMouthplates]

Read the title and I can already tell this video is going to give me a brand new perspective to life, if not finish watching it as a new man.

[@ForumArcade]

One thing I think that is underappreciated about Mr. Bull is his gift for oration. He speaks clearly, precisely, animatedly, and coherently, usually without any sort of script (that I can detect anyway). He doesn't wander or lose track of what he's saying. Perhaps his greatest talent is being a compelling narrator. To the points discussed in this video, I definitely understand the desire for stimulating intellectual discussions. Feeling isolated; either having no relationships with others capable of such interactions, or being unable to facilitate opportunities to have them, can cause one to die by inches. Talking to one's self is all well and good, but it does not refine your ideas and your ability to communicate them in the same way that animated discussion can. Make good friends, and talk about everything. Inquire into the nature of time, human experience, and what it means to exist. Life, death, meaning or the absence of it. Right and wrong. Seek understanding. Even if the ideas you develop are incorrect, the sustained effort of developing your understanding will grant you more wisdom and perspective than you previously possessed.

[@adamwest8711]

I once read how the internet has murdered debate. We don’t argue over what is the most popular car in history or discuss which is the wettest city in the world. The answer’s a google search away. I prefer to think that we can now discuss the why and what if the meaning behind a given thing rather than spend time debating the nature of the thing itself.

[@weareallbornmad410]

The questions with clear answers like that are a shitty basis for discussion anyway. It's not a "debate" when you argue over what's the wettest city in the world. It's pure speculation, and - I say this with love - ignorance. Which can be fun, but real debates are fun too. And I think the internet made them a lot more accessible to a lot more people.

[@vashnator]

I am a chemist by profession, and stayed THE WHOLE video and LOVED it... cheers from Berkshire UK!

[@Mdigi1982]

I had the absolute pleasure of meeting David on a recent trip to Tokyo. His shop was beautiful and the art is even more impressive when seen in person. I highly recommend that anyone planning on visiting Tokyo takes the time to visit the Mokuhankan shop. Thanks David!!

[@RReynolds]

David Bull, International Treasure.

[@vashnator]

I admire when in individual has the capacity to speak off the cuff for 1h with no script and be entertaining!

[@Hitman7846]

I’m not gona lie David. I feel like you need a Discord server just so you have that escape to chat with people from other countries. To pick your brain and see what else runs around in a voice chat would be awesome.

[@Igelme]

yeah is not necessarily voice chat, could just chat too in case he finds it weird to talk to strangers online

[@neapanther497]

As much as I adore that idea and would not hesitate to join such a server, my only concern is what kind of people may try to find their way into it and cause disturbances.

[@kandigloss6438]

@@neapanther497 I feel like Dave doesn't really attract those sort of people, and also discord is quite easy to moderate. My thought though is as yes, it may open up more discussion with people, I don't really feel like Discord really facilitates the sort of deep discussion he is looking for. It WOULD be nice to have an actual active Dave Bull Discord though.

[@neapanther497]

@@kandigloss6438 you make a good point

[@hexadecimal973]

Trying to have a conversation on discord when 70% of it's users are trolls

[@dgk8059]

I think I speak for everyone when I say that none of us would be upset if you did videos like these more often lol

[@RyanDB]

This is a beautiful essay on the philosophical idea of "confronting the Absurd" - the recognition that there may not be a "greater meaning" passed down to us from on high, but that doesn't mean that we can't find and create our own meaning. There might not be a plan for us, but we're here. We're together. And we can be happy in that.

[@amarug]

Just a small note base on my own very subjective perception: I have the feeling the issue of direct discussion and honest interaction is slowly changing a little bit. Being exposed to a lot of western media probably helps to orchestrate this shift. Many of the younger people that I met at work, for example, seem to have fewer issues going into "deeper" discussions and expressing themselves more assertively. Of course still in the very polite Japanese way, but still, a bit shifted from what it used to be. Even if you watch a silly reality show like Terrace House, they often have quite candid talks with each other. Of course, this a TV show and they know it should be entertaining, so take it with a grain of salt, but it still reflects a bit what I have seen in younger people.

[@seseragistudio]

Interesting to hear this; my own 'circle' here in Japan admittedly doesn't include a whole lot of 'young people' ... I would love to think that such a change is indeed happening ...

[@nomadsfilmschool]

@@seseragistudio yes, its very interesting to hear your conversation on this in the light of also what the new japanese cinema is reflecting. I am referring to films like Happy hour (2015) which a young film student of mine referred to mii, amazed at the conversations unfolding in the very long film. Changing indeed.🍃

[@kandigloss6438]

@@nomadsfilmschool I don't know if a film should be taken as an example of changing Japanese culture, I've watched quite a bit of non-action anime from the 80s and 90s and from much of them you would think that daily life in japan was not that much different from the west in the way people express themselves and such. Though I am an outsider and do not live in Japan, so I do not have any first hand experience just to be clear.

[@gaberodriguez7938]

I always love to hear everyone’s personal answers to the big questions, or their philosophies. Especially when it comes to someone as prolific as Dave.

[@sparticusfinch8588]

I’ve recently gotten a job and moved away from home and my family. My father and I have had conversations very much like this since I was young. Now I’m out on my own and I really miss having engaging and deep conversations like I used to with my dad. My issue isn’t a cultural one, but a limitation of my age group maybe. I’m 19, and I’ve found it to be nearly impossible to find a peer that has any interest in exchanging ideas in this way. I feel quite isolated without my father, but finding this video has brought me back to the comfort of sitting with my dad and talking about nothing and everything. Thank you :)

[@philrivera1163]

I could listen to this man read an instruction manual and he’d find a way to make it interesting and compelling. Your storytelling is a gift sir

[@Commonwealth96]

I say you nailed the meaning of life when discussing playing with the stream as a boy. No matter what went in, or how high the obstacle, the stream kept flowing forward. You only played there once with the boy but I bet the stream is still there, still flowing water. Life is always flowing, no matter the obstacle. It was flowing then and it is flowing now. It will flow when you're gone and when your children are gone. The hardest lesson of life is realizing that, one day, you will be the past and your children will be the future. The greatest men plant trees in whose shade they shall never relax.

[@Matcha_Green.]

We are summoned upon the revelations of the Wood carver Oracle

[@zatoichiMiyamoto]

he is like a living “the matrix” character

[@Soccer333bc]

I'm sensing a woodblock print set based on the concept of Life incoming.

[@falcor200]

It'd be special if he carved them himself, so it ties directly to his views, like these thoughts flowing onto the wood to be printed.

[@lisasolier504]

What I find most impressive is his ability to speak with eloquence and understanding, and it doesn’t appear as though he scripted it out. He never really falters or loses his track of thought.

[@ItsDobbie]

That’s what kept me so engaged through the entire thing. There’s hardly any cuts or edits and he just so eloquently unleashes his thoughts without pausing or repeating himself. It’s really quite engaging.

[@SantaFishes101]

that kind of bothers me about a lot of popular youtubers. they'll mispronounce relatively common words, cut after every sentence or thought, and just generally come across as uneducated in the art of spoken/written word. I know it's a different process making a video than writing an essay, as I myself have struggled making videos, but at least learning how to speak eloquently you'd think would be a prerequisite for like...getting brand deals? idk lol.

[@anthonyanzalone]

I originally came to this channel on a "suggestion" from KZbin. I stayed for the wisdom. 👍

[@duxsilvae]

I've read enough stories to know that if someone starts out a conversation with "I'm just a simple [insert type of artisan here]", you're in for a great life lesson.

[@s..o..s..]

Bonsoir ! I never comment on videos but I feel compelled to humbly share my haha moment with life's meaning. It happened when I was lying down surrounded by bugs, animals and birds, weeding the soil in Australia... not only immersed in dense inhospitable nature but a part of the cycle of life. After many days doing this around the same spot, the earth (nature) started to welcome me as one of its own. Birds were waiting on me to uncover insects and insects were all over me, without consequense, without fear. Time stopped, it was seemless, perfect, alive. I had never felt this at the atomic level. I mean, I was just lying in dirt and all these phenomenoms started happening. It's like when you discover night vision. A moment of grace.

[@seseragistudio]

Thank you for sharing this. I myself had a similar experience some years ago when preparing for my print series 'My Solitudes'. I took a light camping outfit to a few different locations in Japan, and had a few 'rules' I followed: I would return to exactly the same spot at different seasons; I would not take any books, phone, etc.; I would not move more than 10 meters from my spot; I would sit and wait ... And so much happened, every day, every time I went back ... _so_ much, and different every time!

[@RealNanoTalent]

Hi Dave, ur friend from Hawaii here again. Hope to meet one day! Great job and success! Been watching you for 5 years! Go Dave! Your knowledge is great.

[@OXXOI77777]

I appreciate the "discussion" Dave - your words do resonate with me, and I think have helped me on the path to crystalizing some innate, underlying feelings into formulated thoughts/understandings. One thing I would add is that, in addition to meaning established "in aggregate" by one's relationships/roles, for me at least, meaning is also established by a collection of specific "keystone" experiences, both good and bad, that one amasses throughout their life. These keystone experience can be many things - the realization of existential goals, engaging with a tangible extension of a core facet of one's identity, defining moments that reinforce one's most important relationships, or perhaps simply enjoying/appreciating a particular aspect of being alive.

[@seseragistudio]

This is an interesting addition. I myself wouldn't be putting those keystone experiences into the 'meaning' category. I have had a bunch of them, and they have very much shaped me (and pushed me in different directions sometimes). I think I am a different _person_ having had those experiences, so perhaps I would talk about them as having shaped my 'character' ... (not my 'personality', which I think was pretty much set in the DNA ...)

[@cmilla111]

It is honestly amazing how he can talk about such a vast topic without a script and not tripping over his words. There are physicists who regularly talk about this subject, but they need note cards, they inevitably talk in circles. Dave’s clarity of mind is something to be admired.

[@seseragistudio]

@cmilla111 Please ... don't praise me too highly here; I _absolutely_ used notes to make this presentation, and specifically to avoid going in circles! And on top of that, I spent perhaps a year (bits of spare time here and there, of course) trying to formulate the ideas I put forward. And then when I was ready to make the video, I rehearsed it a number of times. By the time I hit the red button, I felt pretty familiar with the material. But thank you ... I'll take whatever comes my way ... :-) [Update: more people have asked about this, so here is a blog post showing my basic setup: mokuhankan.com/conversations/archives/2018/08/video_preparation.html ]

[@Laserpuppylord7215]

興味深いお話を聞かせてくださりありがとうございました。 日本で人が集まる時はなかなかこういう話はみんなが乗ってくれませんね。私が知っている日本人の中では3、4人ぐらいはいますが… I came to Japan as a Christian missionary but roughly a year ago I abandoned my faith after giving it some serious thought in light of various scientific and philosophical data. I love having these kinds of talks though and I especially loved your title for the video ‘the meanings of life’. Many religious folk fear that without religion their lives would be meaningless and yet all the while not seeing the multitude of meanings life brings. The meaning of meeting up with people? To talk and enjoy their company. I hope that more Japanese can enjoy the pleasure of rich conversation in our increasingly isolated society. Thanks David!

[@chrisaustin4115]

That's sad to hear. "A little science leads one away from God, a lot of science leads one back to him."-Sir Francis Drake (inventor of the scientific method). Try Spiritual Unfoldment channel it might help you, or CS Lewis Mere Christianity etc. Would love for you to respond so I can discuss these concepts with you

[@Laserpuppylord7215]

@@chrisaustin4115 Thanks for the response Chris. C.S Lewis (one of my favorite authors) would be a great springboard to get right to the nitty gritty of the topic. Since he starts Mere Christianity with the argument from morality that might be a good place to start. He talks of objective morality (the standard we all refer to when in the heat of an argument say) as the straight ruler by which we (so often) unconsciously measure the crooked world. If such morality were to be subjective (merely each persons point of view) then they would have no basis to hold others to account, therefore it must be objective and universal (Forgive me if I’m missing some details as I’m trying to be brief) and if universal, located within a Mind. He develops these somewhat Platonic principles further in ‘Miracles’ to show that ‘mind’ concepts such as morality and logic, transcending nature and yet penetrating and subduing it, point us to a Divine Mind that exists in the supernatural. If you are familiar with his works then of course you will follow his reasoning from transcendent principles, to supernatural, supernatural to Divine, Divine to Miracles, Miracles to Christ and hence ipso facto we have arrived at Christianity. I however don’t feel the necessity to render morality and logic as contingent upon the supernatural and my reasons are as follows. 1) Morality and logic (as definitive systems) as far as we can observe exist only in the human mind, and although we hold each other to account by them, I don’t believe they transcend those minds (in the way Lewis meant). Sports are governed by strict rules that are agreed upon by all the players and yet we know that they have no Divine basis. If a soccer player decides he wants to pick up the ball with his hands and run across the field he will promptly be sent off the pitch and ridiculed by his team mates. It seems to me that society is governed by similar rules and when I think of it this way I see that there is no need to go as far as Lewis (and other thinkers) go in bestowing a divine origin on morality. 2) Order from Chaos and reason from unreason has been a hitch for many when contemplating this matter but has recently been cleared up by the concept of ‘emergence’. This is when the sum of the parts becomes greater than the whole. Examples might be seen in ant colonies where individuals operating on merely chemical stimuli manage to construct complex societies in a bottom up fashion. The exact same thing can be said for humans too when an aggregate of people performing relatively simple individual tasks becomes unconsciously and inadvertently a cultural body that we know as a country, defined by art, cuisine, music and industry etc. One final example might be seen in how consciousness emerges from a profusion of gray matter in the prefrontal cortex. Humans have more gray matter in this part of the brain than any other creature on the earth and therefore it’s not unusual that we should find ourselves as strangers among the animals. We can observe varying degrees of consciousness in other mammals and this correlates nicely with what we observe in their varying cranial development. In conclusion I’d say that with the evidence that we have there is no need to go beyond the natural realm in seeking to find the causes for things like morality. I’m sure there are many other points you could bring up and I am open to discuss them too. (By the way I loved Lewis’ Cosmic trilogy. If you haven’t read it I’d highly recommend it)

[@chrisaustin4115]

Ok. Your response was very verbose which I appreciate you are putting effort in. But your arguments against 1 and 2 seem incomplete. To sum up, both of them seem like this. "I used to feel there had to be a because, but now that I know the process by which something happens there doesn't need to be a because". If my response doesn't make sense I will lay out when I have time this weekend how I think it applies Furthermor I mentioned Spiritual unfoldment 1st and CS Lewis second because experiencing the divine is more important than logic since if one doesn't feel the presence of the Lord, its hard to believe. Similar to believing in a color one can't see

[@Laserpuppylord7215]

@@chrisaustin4115 I’m not trying to disprove the arguments per say, I just feel that they are unnecessary in light of the naturalistic explanations available. Why go the extra mile and infer an almighty omniscient God when nature gives us no such reason to infer one. (Obviously I am making an exception in the case of man’s early attempts to understand the world and his place in it). As for experience I will be brief and say that I have had many ‘experiences’ through prayer, worship, Bible reading, evangelism, etc. and at the time that was enough for me. It would take to long to go through the history of how that unraveled so all I will say is that personal experience is good for personal affirmation but carries marginal weight in persuading someone else of the truth of your beliefs. What are we to believe when three people of different faiths get together and all testify their faith to be true based on their experience?

[@chrisaustin4115]

@@Laserpuppylord7215 But those naturalistic explanations dont address the source. It's like saying since you can see the dominos fall, theres no need to ask who set them up and pushed them. As for varying religious beliefs three people can testify that they know who you are. Either none of them know you, Or 1 knows you best. It sounds like you have an evangelical background. Which was invented recently.You might be surprised what you read if you look into true Orthodox Christianity. It has a lot more to offer to the inquiring mind. As for the origin of naturalistic explanations, what makes you think nature gives us no reason to infer one? If you have a divine experience, since you are natural and you are having a divine experience then naturally thats a reason to infer one. If you look outside yourself almost everything ever created was created by a human with a belief in some sort of divine creator. Thats another reason. There's also the fact that almost no scientific discoveries of merit are discovered by atheists. Even in scientific fields with a majority of atheists. A famous recent example is Kurt Godel Lastly I would argue that you might be like the guy in this video claiming to not be believing a main stream religion but if you breakdown his views he's espousing pretty typical religious beliefs A belief in the apocalypse, a belief in us all being connected in a divine way, a belief we are playing our part in something special, a belief that after the apocalypse something greater will happen hopefully. One can follow those basic premises and their logical conclusion is a divine creator whether or not he is claiming to believe in it is irrelevant. Since where theres smoke, theres fire. It's simply a non Christian belief, that you or he might not recognize as a sort of general shintoism/shamanism/informal theism

[@BrockenSpecter]

This has been one of the most enjoyable and thought-provoking hours I've spent in a long while. Thanks, Dave, for sharing your thoughts.

[@hershelstevens8743]

Hey Dave! Long time listener, first time “caller”. Maybe starting a podcast with guests can give you that conversation and debate you miss? I’d be your first subscriber!

[@humbleonion1578]

Podcast is a great idea

[@deeplyseated7427]

In the end of the presentation you say, we know what happens to us at the end, and that there is no destination, other than dispersing our molecules for the next life forms to use. This is only partially verifiable. None of us knows exactly what happens to "you", or if there is a "destination". The practices proposed by yourself to experience the meaning of life, sense of community etc, are the only possible practical distractions that make sense, in the absence of a truly satisfying answer to "what is the meaning of life" . Truth is we do not know. Great thoughts and challenging concepts in this video. Inspiring. I have not thought about all these things for a long time, mostly due to just giving up trying to figure it all out.

[@MacMhuirich1337]

The Japanese have 'The Great Wave' and us brits have 'The Great Dave' thanks for all your work, Peace and Much Love to you and yours Dave

[@Len124]

I love the prints, walkthroughs, etc., and my interest has grown to the point that I've ordered the tools, washi, got my hands on the ideal wood (not an easy feat in my part of Canada since the start of this pandemic), and begun my own rudimentary attempts at woodblock printing, but none of that would've happened if it wasn't _you_ who first introduced me to it. You're a good storyteller and have an honest and soothing way of relaying events. My point: I find this sort of video incredibly fascinating and it's a more than welcome change of pace!

[@eternalkick]

What a perfect time at night to watch this video alone with your thoughts. I’m so glad I came across this channel

[@hidarisama]

I was listenning to you tonight at the hospital, while takeing care of my mother. She is ill, but we dont know what it is about yet. All I can think about is if I'm being a good daughter, or just good enough for her... thank you for your beautiful talk, it made me company and somehow, comforted me. Thanks.

[@jordancooper7469]

This reminds me of what Oscar Wilde called "To play gracefully with Ideas" I think this has become a lost art. Really looking forward to more of these videos.

[@danielgonzalez027]

It is such a pleasant surprise to hear a hypothesis about the origin and meaning of life that is grounded in science and doesn't include religious nonsense. I think the brevity and insignificance of our existence is precisely what gives it meaning. We are here for a blink of an eye in geologic terms, but we each have the ability to impact the world around us and leave a legacy that lasts far beyond our lifetimes. I will consider my life to be successful if the people who knew me can say that I had a positive impact on their lives when I am gone. I feel like that is the ultimate measure of our lives. Did we make the world we live in better in some way or did we not? Love this channel...thanks for sharing these thoughts with us!

[@matthewsawczyn6592]

"Each man’s life touches so many other lives." _-It's A Wonderful Life_

[@youtubeacc7012]

I come back to this video a few times a year. Brilliant, and encouraging.

[@unascott6492]

Well this was a sweet little drop of nourishing honey! Thank you Dave. Here in the covid ravaged States my share of philosophical chats has been meager lately. So this was wonderful to listen to. I’m also a printmaker and creating prints has been a massive blessing, always, but even more so during the pandemic. It’s keeping me sane for sure!

[@magnuslindstrom1879]

I walked in to your woodblock printing shop in Asakusa around 4 years ago, during the summer. You were asleep, and my entrance woke you up. We talked for a while, about the prints of course but also of life, meaning, and other things that you touched upon in this video. I remember that moment fondly, as it is one of my favourite memories of my trip to Japan, and I'd like to let you know that you made a lasting impression on me with those 30 minutes that we talked. I have been watching your videos since, and you have brought this soul some joy, insights and meaning. Thank you for making your videos, I'm looking forward to the next!

[@dancingvirgil]

That must be the most well organised shelf I’ve ever seen.

[@Falcrist]

Dave, your gift for storytelling shines through even when you're talking about natural philosophy and... the meaning of life.

[@shiracldshx92]

That accidental ASMR that keeps on giving. I can listen to you just reading the headlines and not get bored.

[@gojocko6164]

Dear Dave, you are an eloquent writer and speaker. It is a pleasure to listen to you examining life.

[@aaronwatch3214]

What strikes me about the 2nd part is how Japanese in perspective it seems- thinking mainly about the social group and your place within it. There is discussion in linguistics about Western cultures being noun-oriented (talking about things) and Asian cultures being verb-oriented (talking about actions and interactions). You emphasize interaction.

[@OrpheusRex]

A light almost abstract transfer. Meticulously cutting and chiseling away at the fibers of conscious experience, a delicate cutting of idea here, a scraping of theory there, a rough chiseling of memory, the form slowly takes shape. The finished product undeniable, complete, yet seemingly depthless in detail and story. I see that only the finest of wood was chosen here, Dave. Neat right angles seemed so difficult. A good keyblock at least. The satisfaction gained from such a result seemed well worth the effort. Perhaps what you did here for me was not so simply a chore or exercise, but a function of a well examined life. I very much appreciated this print.

[@russboorman]

Thank you David! Fantastic video of deep thoughts and ideas. I love philosophical discussion and you’ve covered many thoughts that I share. A nice diversion from your usual videos. As a Canadian I understand your desire to talk in this way. I’m eager to hear more.

[@TheSingularitarian]

This is just wonderful. Thank you for sharing your wisdom, and your art with the world.

[@ChrisSmith-wh6bq]

I completely agree with the video title. David Bull IS the meaning of life.

[@carolineisherwood2165]

Who needs TED talks when we have David Bull. Dave you are magnificent, and you definitely make our world a better place!

[@oblivion476]

Love your channel, Dave.

[@KVM117]

I had the pleasure of being in Asakusa during my long-awaited first trip to Japan, and only after returning to the States did I realize I was maybe 4 blocks away from the Mokuhankan shop. Needless to say, I was deeply disappointed about not being able to visit. I truly hope to stop by the next time I find myself lucky enough to be in the area, and I truly hope I’m able to meet David himself. He is an inveterate artist of the highest caliber, and I treasure his offerings made here on KZbin-especially those that wax philosophical such as this! My deepest appreciation to him and the whole Mokuhankan crew, and best wishes from an aspiring scholar of philosophy!

[@scoobylol1987]

It’s interesting to hear your ideas are so similar to another one of my heroes the great Alan Watts. I wonder if maybe this type of discussion could become a monthly item? Or a podcast perhaps? Without wishing to add even further to the workload, although it might also be a cathartic thing for you, if you’re missing that depth of conversation!

[@JanneSala]

For a "simple woodblock printmaker", you have a depth of knowledge and wisdom on an impressive variety of topics, coupled with the eloquence to portray it beautifully. You truly are a joy to listen to and learn from. Thank you so much for making these kinds of talktative videos, I hope to see more!

[@captainkrunch5302]

23:50 i agree with that. Always makes me smile a little when people are like "look at the hand/eye/whatever, it was designed so perfectly", when the truth is - they would say the exact same thing if it was different. Some people look at things with all kinds of religious biases like this, they see a stone in a river and think it was designed to be the shape it is, when it fact it was there for so long it was formed to fit perfectly - same with everything else around, with us, with life...

[@psyguyorami]

Dave, I, like many others in this online community, have come to regard your videos and experience as priceless! You're spreading a valiant and positive message for those you don't even know, and that, sir, is legendary! Thank you for this video, amongst your many, that give us food for thought. ✌

[@MicahtheGreat777]

Not what I expected... nice! This reminds me of one of my favorite philosophers Alan Watts, with the "roles" and "dramatic plays" and "just as an apple tree produces apples, our planet produces people". Likewise, I feel this is a fairly Western-style explanation of Eastern philosophy. It's great. Maybe if you do another similar video, you can explain it in a more Japanese mindset, because it seems you've done woodblock printing so long you're kind of hitting that Musashi level of knowing the way in one thing so well that you see it broadly, and therefore in all things. But that's a guess, I don't know how you came to these philosophies. Thanks.

[@maxxranchero634]

This was phenomenal. Thank you for this David. Your interactions with us, your audience, is greatly appreciated!

[@delphine965]

Who thinks this video can be an ASMR video ?

[@ChairmanWang]

I discovered Dave while watching PBS one morning and was delighted to find that he produces content on KZbin. It only goes to show the importance of trying to experience something new every day, even if It's a TV show. You never know when you'll find something like this.

[@Euroliite]

Certainly not the direction I expected you to take when answering the question. It's odd that we tend to analyse the role of other organisms in the environment in such way (like your tree example) but don't tend to apply that to ourselves. Perhaps our consciousness and free will complicates the question and clouds the similarity.

[@dawgpost90]

There is something really peaceful and soothing about Dave's disposition. It's really admirable.

[@Xababla99]

As someone studying both physics and philosophy at university, I would much rather hear a wood block print maker talk about the meaning of life than any philosopher or physicist.

[@jofox1186]

Dear David, Thanks for sharing your thoughts and ideas. It was lovely to listen to you for an extended period of time and hear your views. My thinking on this subject is along the same lines. Thanks again, Jo Fox

[@Dom21221]

The first few minutes explains exactly what I was thinking. I don’t wanna disrespect anyone don’t get me wrong but I always don’t get the hype about Japan, southkorea etc. If you travel there once a year for a few weeks to buy some pikachu merch and eat sushi in fancy restaurants well that doesn’t reflect the country of course. My student colleague always said: their blinded by their own discipline. Everything has to be perfect and it reflects the society of them. It’s like talking to a robot. No wonder why they have one of the highest suicide ratings on this planet. There are no interactions and everything gotta have his orders like Dave said. It’s like living in a bubble. No disrespect like I said. I’ve been there many times in my life as a student so I think I can talk about this

[@adamwest8711]

I know what you mean but it is a mixed bag. The Japanese also have an extremely successful economy, extraordinarily low crime rate and strong sense of personal responsibility. Conversely, Japanese office workers are some of the least productive in the world because being seen to be there for a long time is given more weight than what you actually achieve. It’s a fascinating culture but not one I would choose to live in permanently.

[@Jesse__H]

It sounds like a nightmare to me too, although I'm unwilling to suggest that it's inherently problematic, as you have done, because I've never been there and experienced it for myself. But the idea that you don't enter friends' homes, and don't express (or even have!) personal opinions on big, important topics ... well, it runs entirely counter to my (western, American) understanding of what friendship and interpersonal connection mean in the first place. Here, we _share our minds_ with one another. That's what it means to grow close with someone, to me. You learn about them, what they really think about things, and, through your interactions, you gradually change yourselves and each other, in myriad ways. I'm absolutely fascinated by the information and perspective Mr. Bull gives in the intro to this video though. I'd love for him to talk about Japanese culture at length from the perspective of a western immigrant. Just because I don't understand it on a personal level doesn't mean I'm not interested - quite the contrary, I'd love to learn more!

[@Elviloh]

@@Jesse__H I guess it's because most people who like japan culture fell in the excessive "it's perfection". It's by no mean perfect, but they achieve something that suit the majority of the people. If you look at small countries you'll find this too, like Switzerland for example. Their country is mostly beautiful mountains and lakes, they have a strong sense of respect for nature and life. They also have an effective society, democracy, backed up by a shared culture which give them consensus. Culture is the keyword : if you have mixed cultures, its harder to make everyone to agree, that's what you find with mass migration. People tend to protect their culture, and fear for their way of life. Japan is a pretty closed country, being an island, and wary about foreigners. It's normal they seem to be less stressed, as they don't have much disturbance and are defending their culture. Future will tell if this hold in an overpopulated world, or if they turn full nationalists and build a wall around the country.

[@creker1]

"No wonder why they have one of the highest suicide ratings on this planet" popular misconception. Looks at actual statistics. It may be a problem worth fixing but 2016 numbers put Japan at 30th place near Sweden and US.

[@adamwest8711]

@@Jesse__H you should consider watching the abroad in Japan channel. It’s a very different style but he discusses a lot of the intricacies of Japanese culture. For example, he talks about how many Japanese hotel receptionists will go out of their way to avoid telling you they have no room available. Instead, they will keep looking at their computer screen or shuffling papers and giving subtle hints until a Japanese customer would realise what was going on and would quietly leave without the receptionist being shamed by having to admit that they could not fulfil their role. The desire not to contradict someone spills into everyday conversation too and the really unusual responses given to things. So, for example, you may ask ‘do you have a dog’ and you could well be told ‘maybe my dog is dead’. A truly bizarre response by western standards but a reflection of how much they strive for harmony and to avoid the word ‘no’.

[@natemills6220]

this was such a welcome blessing Dave!! i've found that in the lockdown of the Covid-19 pandemic i have greatly been missing these discussions as well. your wisdom and insight is greatly appreciated

[@bryantt1960]

This man needs to slap *unintentional* [ASMR] on the end of his videos! Double the viewership.

[@adamwest8711]

He would have had 80,000 people complaining about ‘bee hive’ 🤣

[@orion7741]

A huge NO! to asmr. No no no no NO!!!! Keep that stuff out of here.

[@adamwest8711]

@@orion7741 it’s unintentional. They’re not suggesting the channel changes just that Dave’s audience would grow quickly if he added that tag to his videos.

[@meat_coolant]

Really happy for you David. It gives me a lot of hope to see a man with such a humble attitude to go along with his talent being able to make his passion a lifelong career. It was your videos that made me develop an interest in linocut carving (I don't have the money or tools for hard cherry lol). I hope you continue with many more beautiful works and that your channel receives the attention it rightly deserves.

[@gsg1805]

That was a weird way to say 42

[@seseragistudio]

@Gaby www.asahi-net.or.jp/~xs3d-bull/essays/1994/grandad.html

[@sierrabianca]

I don't know about the 'meaning' of life but the meanness of life seems to be that people like you are so rare!! This talk was a pure joy, start to finish. A deep running river for sure, possibly inevitable, definitely and thankfully unique.

[@chewbone]

Dave, If you're starting a cult..... sign me up!

[@DrMillerfan]

Just watched this again, and at the end when you said “ till next time” I got emotional. Thank you for what you do.

[@miiks...5...3...9...]

"people will accept that you express ideas they may not agree with" oh boy, I can tell you haven't been in the west for decades LOL

[@Olli399]

People will accept that you express ideas they may not agree with but they will definitely disagree with the idea.

[@phillblake6829]

Definitely one of my favourite KZbinr and people. I don’t think it’s possible to watch one of your videos without learning.

[@sweedaal]

Wow Dave. This Video is such a wholesome contribution to an ever ongoing discussion. Your authentic desire to share your thoughts and your confidence in delivery make this a joy to watch. Even more than just joy, a feeling of safety, friendliness and acceptance in a time that frankly leaves a lot of people isolated and cut off. All this broadcasted to a (I assume) predominantly younger audience, which needs to cope with their own unique set of challenges in this society. Let me say I'm sure you are the scratch that satisfies so many itches of people all over the world feeling intellectually and emotionally unstimulated. You are the dad to all our daddy issues. Thank you.

[@faceater24]

Thank you for sharing your thoughts. Having reflected uppon these questions myself for decades, I NEVER went in this direction. You oppened a door of possibilities for my mind to wonder, and perhaps to finaly rest. Thank you again !

[@nhereveri]

I was looking for introductory information to woodcut and after watching the 3-hour tutorial where you create the work of the Japanese lady taking a bath, I have continued with this presentation. You have eloquently conveyed various ideas that I have carried with me for much of my life. I hope this message comes to you feeling happy and healthy.

[@Terkzorr]

Just last week I was on a spree watching many different Meaning of Life videos here on KZbin, from gurus to old philosophers. Now I decided to check your channel again for new videos and never expected you would have made a video of your own about this. Thanks for this. :-)

[@BubaShrilanki]

Hello Dave. Wishing you well mate. Thanks for the insight.

[@HaliburtonHound]

Came to hear another fresh piece of paper being peeled away from the block. I recieved so much more. Thank you David.

[@pbartmess]

This is a very generous offering. Thank you so much for taking the time to deeply consider these thoughts and then create this presentation. If you feel moved to do this again, I believe it would be most welcome. We need more wisdom shared.

[@Jamerton1]

I really can't tell you how much I needed to hear this. Thank you for taking the time to share your wisdom and experience.

[@CKM-gf3ik]

I love that at almost 40 years old you decided to reinvent your entire life on the other side of the world and then successfully did it.

[@Ashley-uk4ld]

Well, David, here I am in my 72nd year and finding that what you are saying in this video has really only become apparent since I retired from work 7 years ago. Since letting go of my 9 to 5 job I have, I think, gained more insights into life and nowadays am trying to follow a more creative life. From writing to ink painting and possibly (next) printmaking, my journey is providing many, many interactions! Great video. I have subscribed to follow your printmaking work but as always it feels like I have much to catch up on! 🙋‍♂

[@arcane_ironic]

I've been home, sick, possibly with covid for about a week now :( , but Mr. Bull's videos have gotten me through most of it. Thanks for keeping me sane and bringing a little light for these desolate days!

[@Artractive_]

Still come back to watch your fantastic videos. Your rambles and talks are so wonderful to listen to. I love hearing all about your passion for Japan and printmaking. keep dreaming big and chasing your dreams David! And Thankyou for all these amazing videos you bring. I watch them all the time :)

[@Dr_Mel]

Alright, David I've hit the pause button. So I've taken that time to respond to part one. You make the exact same points I do about asking questions about the meaning of life -- it's the same question as "what's the meaning of rocks". No one asks that. Everything is the product of motion. A cosmic dust cloud was blown out and expanded and from there the inevitable, as you say, has happened. The real hang up for me isn't the meaningfulness of my presence here, it's the particularity of my understanding of my presence. I am, definably, here and conscious. Consciousness is for me a big brain buster. The two questions "where, in this, am I?" and "what, of this, will I"? In other words, the macro level of me gets lost when you pick it apart enough to brain cells and hormones, you get further away -- it's only me when it's all put together. And then, in that case, what part of this is my will? What part of this isn't an automated machine I'm just riding along in and then, isn't my own consciousness part of that ride? Can I unthink myself? And again, going back to your point about the inevitability of life and the mechanical nature of its existence, it's mechanical, too, that I think these thoughts. And now I've finished part 2: As I mentioned, the meaningfulness of my life here usually doesn't worry me. It's instantly washed away when I think about the people in my life who've come and gone, who've had a profound impact on my life, are completely unknown to most other people. Their lives are as good as "unexamined". It's a "tree falling in the woods not making sound" scenario -- the point of asking is only the point of defining that moment, it wasn't to truly qualify the moment. Moving through life is, to me, about trust. Trust in myself to keep moving, to trust the feelings I have about life that are given to me. And trust in others to help when I need it. And the word I think you may have been reaching for at the end is Nature. It's our nature to care for others, do our part in society, it was our nature that brought us to the people in our lives or drove us away from them. We did those things because we wanted to do them, but it's not really a choice, either. It's our nature to be transformable by others, as well.

[@Lulu-iv4ln]

David, thank you. I am disassociating today for whatever reason and I just really needed EXACTLY this, from exactly YOU. I'm a big fan, hoping to stay in Japan next year. Wish you well!