The Hindu : Miscellaneous / Religion : Purpose of human life

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Thursday, Jun 02, 2005

Miscellaneous

Miscellaneous - Religion

Purpose of human life

CHENNAI: There is a wide chasm between worldly people and saints about their perspective of life. While the majority have a hedonistic outlook of life, those who are spiritually inclined have the conviction that liberation from rebirths is the end to be attained, and orient all their activities towards this objective. The life of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa illustrates that realisation of God is the purpose of human birth. This saint used to celebrate his birthday in devotional activities like singing hymns and meditation.

Surrounded by his close disciples and devotees he used to revel in chanting the Divine name and those who were present would be enveloped in the bliss of his spiritual ecstasy. There was no doubt that he lived in God and was the personification of divine bliss. In that rapturous state he told his devotees that it was God who had manifested as this cosmos and in some His presence was more. Such messages assured the devotees that there was hope for everyone in spiritual life.

In his discourse, Swami Jnanadananda said even a worldly person would find his mind filled with good thoughts in the presence of saints. Just as when one approaches a blazing fire one can feel its warmth, so also, in the presence of God-realised saints one can find the mind filled with good thoughts due to their spiritual vibrations. During a devotional session a devotee sought the saint's elucidation of a famous Upanishad dictum highlighting the oneness of Reality. He replied that the whole of existence was one but it was very difficult for the layperson to get over the feeling of "I" due to ego. Hence he used to emphasise that devotion was the most suitable means to liberation.

A devotee can consider himself to be a child of God or as His servant so that his relationship with the Almighty will transmute his ego by offering it to the Divine. Thus the ego is of two kinds: that which has been sublimated by devotion and the other that is self-centred. The former one is harmless and in course of time the devotee will be blessed with spiritual knowledge when his mind is purified of its latent tendencies. Sri Ramakrishna repeatedly emphasised that devotion was best suited to this Kali age, as human beings do not have the necessary lifespan and time to adopt austerities.

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