Man's Search for the Purpose of Life

Man's Search for the Purpose of Life

Man is in search of happiness, but has no peace of mind. Even if he succeeds in achieving his objectives, he remains dissatisfied. His search for peace and happiness, therefore, never ends. Saint Augustine says that God gave us the senses for using them properly, but we misuse them by indulging in sensual pleasures; whereas the bliss for which we should have striven remains enshrined in scriptures only.

Man is an ensouled entity gifted with body, mind, and intellect. He takes good care of his body for the sake of his domestic, social, and political well-being. Intellectually, he has made strident advances. He has successfully explored the earth, oceans, and space and has made atomic bombs. A single atom bomb can destroy millions. Strangely enough, with all his achievements he remains ignorant about the prime source of energy from which his body and mind derive their strength - soul - his true self. He has so much identified himself with the body that he is unable to distinguish his soul from the body. In fact, he does not know that his real self is something separate from the body. Have we ever thought about the propelling force in us? Have we recognized the indweller of the house?

Soul is a conscious entity. Just as any essence has its basic source, soul too has an ultimate source — the Oversoul — a vast Ocean of All-Consciousness. The entire universe is His manifestation. The soul is identified with the material body by constant association with the senses. Man does not know that he can have true happiness only when he is able to disfranchise the self in him from the outer vestures. He is so much entangled with the mind and body that he ever remains unhappy and restless. Soul being conscious and body being material, these cannot coexist amiably.

We pretend to be religious by reading the scriptures without knowing their true import and by offering ceremonial prayers at the places of worship. All that we worship is physical health and worldly riches. We aspire for material well-being and not for God-realization. It is said that once Majnu, a legendary lover, was told that God wished to see him. Majnu replied if that was so, God must come in the form of Lila, his beloved. Most of us offer our prayers to God only because we want to fulfill our worldly ambitions. We seek God's blessings to become physical and intellec...

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...piritual experience will continue to grow until a luminous form of the Master appears within. He will talk to you and guide you. On getting proper guidance from the Master, devote adequate time to meditation and mold your life according to the Master's teachings. We must have tenacity of purpose as we cannot afford to slacken our efforts in our present state when we have yet to rise above body-consciousness.

Finally, Swami Ji explains what is Naam (the Word), what is the destination, and what is our ideal? He says that our aim is to merge our soul with Sat Naam (true Word), the Eternal Nameless God Power. We have first to rise above body-consciousness and get the lowest link. After gradually traversing the various higher planes, the soul will finally reach where there is nothing but All-Truth. The three regions—primal, subtle, and causal are destructible. Beyond these three regions is Satlok or Sachkhand which is the abode of the Almighty. This is our goal and we must achieve it. Jesus Christ a the time of leaving His immortal frame, instructed His disciples first to accomplish what He had taught them. The human birth has given you a golden opportunity. Make the best use of it.