Goal of Human Life

Remember: a human being in the true acceptance of the term is he who is endowed with humanity. And humanity mainly consists in directing the course of one's life towards God and marching towards one's own true welfare. If this is lacking, a man is no better than a brute. Eating food, going to sleep, fear of enemies and danger, copulating with a member of the opposite sex and giving vent to anger—all these traits are found in a beast in no smaller measure than in a human creature. The only feature which distinguishes a human being from a beast is that the former can give his thought to his own welfare, strive towards that end and attain it. He who lacks this discrimination is a mere beast in human semblance.

Remember: man is possessed of intelligence bestowed on him by God and he has been allowed freedom of action. Turning this intelligence and freedom of action to good account, he cannot only grow to be a superman or a god but can even attain the divine state, the supreme goal of human existence. If, on the other hand, he abuses this divine gift, he lapses into transgression and turns a veritable demon. He then becomes a positive source of torment to the living creation by doing serious harm to them every moment by his vilest devilish acts. Consequently he is deprived of God-Realization or salvation.

Remember: such a demon in human garb strives incessantly for securing and enjoying luxuries, making this the sole aim of his life, and remains engrossed in endless worries and engaged in evil practices till the last moment of his life. In this way his human life is not only entirely wasted but he is repeatedly cast into contemptible demoniac wombs and even into the infernal regions, which are worse than the former. Far from being a means of redemption, human life proves a terrible curse for him. This constitutes a most tragic failure of human life, resulting from its perversion.

Remember: there is only one momentous work for accomplishing which you have come to this world and which could not so far be accomplished in any other species. That momentous work is to realize God and for that you are thoroughly qualified. But, forgetting this most sacred object of your life, you are madly running after animate beings and inanimate objects that are sure to betray you in the end, and that you will have to leave behind while departing from this world. You will then have no choice left to you but to repent.

Remember: God-Realization alone is the supreme end of your life. Therefore, perform all your duties for the sake of His pleasure alone. Constantly merged in His thought, worship Him with every act of yours. Do everything efficiently and well; make no slips. Do not spoil your work through sloth or error. But do it for His sake alone. Purge your mind of all hopes and aspirations.

Remember: acts done for the sake of God are only those which are free from attachment and are not motivated by the desire for self-gratification, nay, which are marked by indifference in the matter of result—whether it is favorable or unfavorable—and which are neither prejudicial to the interests of any other creature nor mar anyone's happiness.

Remember: those actions which are prejudicial to the interests of other creatures or mar other's happiness are not intended to please the Lord. They will never bring happiness to you in the end. A man who hopes to attain happiness by marring the happiness of others is really very unfortunate. Such actions evoke His displeasure and bring infinite woes in their wake. Therefore, constantly beholding His presence in all creatures, propitiate Him through benevolent service to all. Never forget the goal of your human life and fulfill your human existence by attaining this goal before you leave this body.

Writer - Hanumanprasad Poddar