The Great Existential Questions

“If I ever go looking for my heart's desire again, I won't look any further than my own back yard. Because if it isn't there, I never really lost it to begin with.” -L. Frank Baum, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

When I was younger, I had a lot of interest in the great existential questions.  Why are we here?  Who am I?  Is this all there is?  As I've learned more and more about emotions, I've come to believe that simply "being" is why we are here.  Life, when experienced only through the mind or through the body, is hollow.  And that's how so many people experience life.  When healthy emotion is added to the mix, life becomes full and wonderful.  No longer do we need to push our bodies or argue endlessly to avoid the emptiness inside.  With emotion, we can sit and stare at a tree and feel fully alive. "Present moment, wonderful moment" is what Thich Nhat Hanh says.  He's right.  Why would I need anything more than what is right in front of me if my whole being is fully engaged?