Q:

The (hidden?) meaning of "Karate is life"

Sensei Morio Higaonna and Sensei Gichin Funakoshi said in somewhat terse terms "Karate is my life" or, Karate is a way of life.  

What did they mean by this?
Did they mean it in a Zen of philosophical sense? Or is it just like any other art form: put in the effort, interest into it, and you will grok it?  Or did they refer to something occult or mystical?
I am a programmer and I started Kyokushin Karate about 3 months ago. From my personal experience, not much has changed apart from gaining a more positive outlook, one which I think I could gain from daily general meditation. 

A:

I agree with Juann Strauss's reply. But just to add my 2 cents...
When martial arts is the center focus of your life, you'll find yourself constantly thinking about it. You'll be walking down the street, but doing it while being "ready" for any attack at any time. You'll be opening doors by using your whole body instead of just your arm. When nobody's looking, you'll be practicing high kicks in your jeans, jeans which you've purposefully selected to be better able to kick with. When you're nervous, you'll deep breathe just like in your martial arts class. Etc.
But do you get anything deeper out of it? Is there a "way" that it's giving you that will lead you to some profound understanding of the universe?
The answer is no. Not really. If you want something that will really make you think and give you a sense of awe, you should look into philosophy, critical thinking, logical fallacies, epistemology, the scientific method, comparative religions, history, politics and current events, etc. And read books. A lot! Learn about the world. Understand stuff. But don't take yourself too seriously. Challenge your preconceptions. Admit when you don't know something. And be ready to change your mind.
That path will lead you towards wisdom. Martial arts? It might actually kindle this flame, but you need more to sustain the fire.
Hope that helps.

