What Do We Mean By The Highest Good?

Ever wonder why we do what we do? Every action, every goal, every choice—somewhere in the background, there’s a reason. Your alarm wakes you up so you can get to work. You work to earn a living. You earn a living to build a life. But what’s beyond that? What’s the ultimate reason behind it all?

At some point, the chain of purpose has to stop. There must be something that stands on its own—something that isn’t just a means to an end. That is what philosophers call the highest good. Aristotle thought it was happiness, or human flourishing. Sounds good, right? But is that really the full picture? Could there be something bigger? Something beyond just well-being—something… spiritual?

That’s exactly what we’re exploring today. If spirituality is the pursuit of the highest good, then every religious tradition is like a roadmap, a blueprint for getting there. Christianity, Islam, and Judaism point to an eternal afterlife. Hinduism leads to union with Brahma. Shinto emphasizes Magokoro—a pure and sincere heart. Each of these is a different vision of the highest good, shaping what spirituality means within those traditions.

And that brings us to one massive, fascinating question: What about Buddhism? What is the highest good in a tradition that doesn’t center on a creator god or an eternal afterlife? The answer might surprise you. So buckle up—because we’re about to dive deep.