Miscellaneous - Religion   

Objective of life

CHENNAI: : Scriptural texts reiterate that among the countless livings beings on this planet only man is privileged to realise the goal of liberation from transmigration. This is based on the principle that all other creatures except man can only work out their Karma, which caused that birth. On the other hand, man not only enjoys the result of his Karma but also accumulates more by his actions, which become the cause of future births. It becomes imperative then to put an end to this vicious cycle by utilising this opportunity of having been born as a human for attaining liberation.

Lord Krishna has assured in the Bhagavad Gita, "Great souls, who have attained the highest perfection, having come to Me, are no more subjected to rebirth, which is the abode of sorrow and transient by nature." One of Manikkavasagar's verses highlights how rare it is to be born as a human being. Man alone has been blessed with the capacity of discrimination, which enables him to choose the life he wants to lead. Hence the repeated emphasis by saints to adopt the spiritual path. They also stress that worldly life is sorrowful and sensory pleasures are transitory.

In his discourse, Swami Vedatmananda said the nature of this Kali age was such that it would create impediments to those who follow the spiritual path. So it is necessary for the spiritual seeker to stay attuned to his objective. Like the Sun which dispels darkness, the Supreme Being removes the ignorance of one who contemplates on Him with devotion. The Gita says that he who closes the doors of all the senses and firmly holds the mind in the cavity of his heart and then fixes the life-breath in his head, and remains steadfast in contemplation on God uttering the Pranava (Om) during the last moments of his life, is liberated from bondage.

This may seem difficult for the average person but Lord Krishna assures that for one who always thinks of Him, He was easily attainable. Who are the great souls (Mahatmas) that the Lord meant, who are worthy of emulation? Kuchela (Sudama), His childhood friend definitely; when he went to meet Krishna at the instance of his wife he could only take some parched rice to offer Him due to his abject poverty but his mind contemplated on Him all the way that the Lord rushed out of His dwelling to welcome him.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Cartoonscape
The Hindu Crossword No. 8349
Solution to Puzzle 8348
Objective of life
dated July 19, 1955: Big Four summit opens
dated July 19, 1955: Ghaffar Khan in Frontier
dated July 19, 1955: Envoy to China
Weather

Copyright © 2005, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu