What is the purpose of life?
Before going into the subject,
let me be clear that I am not preaching but I am trying to share my
understanding with you regarding the subject.
The basis of our understanding
is Knowledge. Then what is knowledge?
The data we collect from the
entire existence and convert it into fragmented information. Then the
fragmented information is defragmented and arranged systematically so that it
is precipitated as knowledge. The knowledge when applied and tested transforms
into wisdom.
For example; Good, bad, Rama,
is, boy, girl, a… something like that is called the data. We acquire the data
from our surroundings. When we assemble this data into a meaningful form, that
data becomes information. “Rama is Good, Rama is bad, Rama is a boy” When it is
defragmented and systematized as per our perception, the information becomes
Rama is a good boy or a bad boy. Then we are applying and testing whether Rama
is good or bad it gives a clarity i.e. wisdom. Up to knowledge we are dependent
but by acquiring wisdom we become independent. Once our intelligence is ignited
we try to assimilate the knowledge and wisdom we become interdependent.
A book gives us information.
When the information is digested it becomes knowledge and practice blesses us
with wisdom.
Normally, it is said that we
are human beings. But, Osho says that “we are not beings but becomings”. Being
is static and becoming is dynamic. Frankly speaking the becoming is also the
part of being, because the “being” represents the entire existence and
everything is part of it.
So, we are dynamic and the
basic nature of dynamism is to achieve something always. Therefore, it is
preached that achieving is success but not achievement.
So the purpose of LIFE is
achieving something till our last breath no matter whether it is small or big.
What to do or achieve is our choice which decides our role in this planet. But
doing should be our character or nature.
Every human, by nature would
like to lead a Purposeful Life, a Peaceful Life, a Meaningful
Life and a Fruitful Life. But it is not displayed in everybody’s life. Why? Because, to understand
the essence of the life, we need to invite certain additions, deletions,
modifications and corrections, into our life but we are not doing that. How it
is done? It is done by listening, watching, discussing and thinking. Listening
to the great thinkers preachings, watching silently the happenings and
observing the great people’s habits, discussing (not arguing) the subject with
enlightened people and thinking from the angle of our natural acceptance.
Most of us, we are operating
our life through our Preconceived notions. We acquire such preconceived notions
from our family, teachers, society, books, preachings or from our experiences. We
make certain presumptions and do not allow our mind to think beyond it. Our
thoughts, our desires and our expectations are under some limitations and under
the control of our preconceived notions. We are limiting our beliefs to the
letter of the scriptures and forgetting the spirit of the scriptures. So it is
creating confusion in our mind.
"స్వధర్మో నిధనం శ్రేయం, పర ధర్మో భయావహ" అంటుంది, భగవద్గీత. ఎంత
గొప్పదైనా పరధర్మాచరణ భయప్రదమైనదే. మనధర్మాచరణలో మరణం సంభవించినా మేలు. ఇది ఆ మాటల
కర్ధం. కాని పరధర్మం అంటే ప్రలోభాలచేతగాని, భయం చేతగాని ఏ
పని చేయడమైనా పరధర్మాచరణగానే భావించాలి. అలాగే మన అంతరాత్మ ప్రబోధానుగుణంగా
నిర్వహించే పని స్వధర్మంగానే భావించాలి. ఇప్పుడు అదే శ్లోకాన్ని
నిర్వచించుకుంటే... ఎవరో చెప్పారని ఏదో వస్తుందని చేయడం కాదు, ఏం చేయాలనుకున్నా అది నీ అంతరాత్మ ప్రబోధానుగుణంగా చేయమనే ప్రబొధ అర్ధం
అవుతుంది.
Actually, we need to
understand the purpose from our natural acceptance. And it should be verified
whether it is giving mutual happiness or not i.e. happiness to our self and others.
When it passes through, these two tests that becomes realisation. Realisation
gives us clarity i.e. a real understanding.
But most of us, most of the
times accept that realisation and practice from preconceived notions. That is
happening. For example when someone asks us “everybody is to be respected or
few are to be respected” we say every one is to be respected but in practice we
do not respect everyone. We have our own reservations.
We cannot be desire less or we
cannot be silent. But, our desires and our activities can be purified. So the
purification of our desires, thoughts and expectations is the purpose of our
life.
Emerson says that the purpose of life
is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, and
to have it to make a little difference that you have lived and lived well.
The utility is the measuring jar of
the purpose. The utility of a pen is to write irrespective of its cost. Whether
you purchase it for Rs. 3 or Rs. 30000, that doesn’t matter, but it should
write. So utility is the second one in defining the purpose of life. So use it
or lose it, which is our option.
Normally, we are more attached to our
success or failure. We are annoyed with our failure and enjoy our success. We
become over enthusiastic and stake without anticipating the repulsions, in both
the cases.
"కర్మణ్యేవాధికారస్తే
మాఫలేషుకదాచన" అంటుంది, భగవద్గీత.
కర్మల నాచరించుట యందే మనకధికార మున్నది కాని దాని ఫలితములపై మన కధికారము
లేదు. మన పని మనం నిబద్ధతతో చేస్తూ
వెళ్ళడమే మంచిది. దానికి నిర్దేశితమైన ఫలితం మన ఖాతాలో
పడిపోతుంది. దీనిని విశ్వసించాలి. కాని విశ్వసించం.
The
centre of operation of life should be the “TRUST” and the periphery should be
the “DOUBT”. But we operate it in reverse.
Much
we are focusing on the result and ignoring the process which is distracting our
attention and even our perception. Detachment in attachment is the third aspect
of our purpose of Life.
What we are today is the gift of the
society. So, we should show our gratitude towards the society. Whatever, we
could, we should give to the society. This is the forth face of the purpose of
life.
Purpose is followed by the
performance. Performance is the output of our intensions. When our intensions
are good, our competence will increase. Otherwise it will decrease. So always
we should try to purify our intensions.
Normally,
we display three types of personalities. What we believe ourselves,(Capacity)
What the society endorsed with,(Adopted) Our real SELF(Potentiality).
The purpose of Life is to realise our real nature,
to realise our origin, to utilise the instrument i.e. our body in a right way
to reach our destiny.
Our
Upanishads say that we have come from the first and foremost energy which is
omnipresent, omnipotent and omniscient. Therefore, we are not created by the
god but manifestation of the Ultimate. So we have acquired all the qualities
that a god or the almighty or the ultimate possess. The difference is that we
are covering such qualities under certain coverings like EGO (Edging God Out),
hatred, arrogance and selfishness etc. Once we dis-cover our coverings, we
understand the purpose of life. Learning and understanding how to discover is
the process or the journey we undertake.
So our journey is… అసతోమా సద్గమయ, తమ సోమాజ్యోతిర్గమయ, మృత్యోర్మా౨మృతంగమయ
i.e. from nonexistence to existence, from ignorance to enlightenment and from
mortality to immortality.
Right utilisation of
instrument can only add life to our AGE. The birth and death are not in our
hands. But between these two ends there is a life and that is in our hands. I
mean how best we can live we can decide, we can plan and execute.
As per Indian philosophy, the
result of the “karma” we have to experience. Though, it is inevitable, there is
an option that we can enjoy the result or envoy the result. Perception matters much in the
process.
Chankya says” …
ఏక ఏవ పదార్ధస్తు త్రిధా భవతి వీక్షతి
కృపణం కామినీ మాంసం యోగిభిః కామిభిః స్వభిః!
చాణక్య నీతి-
14-16
వస్తువు ఒకటే...
కాని చూచే వారి దృష్టిని బట్టి వివిధ రూపాలుగా కనిపిస్తుంది. స్త్రీ మూర్తి ఒకటే..
కాని యోగులకు ఆమె శరీరం తమ సాధనా మార్గంలో అవరోధంగా ప్రతిబంధకంగా కనిపిస్తుంది. అలాగే కాముకునికి అనుభవించ దగిన భోగ్య వస్తువుగా కనిపిస్తుంది. అదే ఒక కుక్కకు ఆరగించదగిన మాంసం ముక్కగా కనిపిస్తుంది. స్త్రీ మూర్తి ఒక్కటే ఒకరికి తల్లిగా, ఒకరికి భార్యగా, మరొకరికి చెల్లిగా, ఒకరికి కూతురిగా ఇలా ఎన్నో రూపాలలో కనిపిస్తుంది.
Once there were three people engaged
in the construction of a temple. One trespasser stopped and asked the first
person “What are you doing”? It was hot summer and the person was tired in his
work so annoyed and replied “Are you blind or what, I am earning my
livelihood”. The same question, the trespasser, put to the second person. He
said”. It is my responsibility to feed my family for which I need to work and I
am working. When the same question put to the third person, he replied “I am
enjoying the holy work of constructing a temple to my lord. The process I am
enjoying and as a bonus, I could feed my family”.
This is the attitude or the perception
of the three people who are engaged in the same work. As per their attitude,
they are blessed.
After certain time the child of the
first person became a stone-cutter and second one became an Army officer and
third one became a renowned Architect.
The attitude of “doing what we
love and loving what we do” would be better and that assures us best utility of
the instrument we are blessed with.
This
writing may go up and have no end…
Our
life is a means for us to understand the purpose of our life and make it a
fruitful, meaningful and peaceful one. Dropping our ignorance and becoming
innocent is better option to understand the underlying concept. Child likeness
is always better than childishness. Be a Shiva. That is, which is not is Shiva.
It is nothing but ecstasy. Enjoy it.
Wishing every success…..
Palakurthy Rama Murthy
