The Purpose of Life

Man has forever sought answer to this question: What, after all, is the purpose of human life? Why have we been put in this world? Seers and gurus have been contemplating this eternal question for centuries, and the one thing that is perhaps common to all their teachings is the belief that the purpose of life is the attainment of peace; that is, such peace that does not suffer from the fear of change.

The next logical question that comes to mind after hearing this is, “How can one attain everlasting peace?” This can happen only after a thorough investigation is made concerning the nature of the body and the life force that is within it. But really, who has unlimited time to contemplate the meaning and purpose of life? The short cut is to delve into the most current “greatest” and “best” self-help book on the top seller list and hope for the best. Or even shorter is to assume our “peace” comes through our worldly possessions.

Most of us focus on the attainment of material desires in the hope that only they—these inanimate objects—can bring peace and fulfillment to our lives. The fact, however, is that just as the world and its objects are perishable, so too are our lives. So to “extend” our lives or to “improve” the quality of our lives it is often recommended that a little effort will go a long way toward attaining the peace we are most desiring.

According to several seers, the “worship of god” or the “universe” and “expansive knowledge of ones being” is the only way of obtaining freedom from mental unrest. But is it? If we are always looking outward to find peace, how is it we are gaining inner peace? Inner freedom? Freedom from the perishable net is realized the moment a person finds her inner truth and the courage to truthfully express her desires. Part of this inner peace is being able to understand and accept that all events and experiences in our lives are in divine timing and perfection—even when the opposite seems to be true.

Unfortunately, most of us worship “god” or “higher beings” with the hopes and intentions of receiving worldly accomplishments. Those accomplishments may bring temporary joy but cannot and do not bring us imperishable peace. Our actions must reflect our inner truth so that our outer world begins to resemble our deepest desires. If an individual could “worship” her own being, her own essence as much as she does an external being, then inner peace and the purpose for life become abundantly obvious.

There are several seers who have argued that god alone is true and the world is unreal—that is, a mere illusion. Thus real joy lies in the search of that which is true. A more appropriate approach might be to accept the truth that lies in selfless love and in the seeking of knowledge and self-love. True material goods are necessary to flourish while living on earth, but focusing on worldly possessions and goods only distracts us from experiencing the real joy of life. The joy we hold in our hearts when we are able to love ourselves is something we can easily share with others.