What should be the goal of life?

The ultimate goal of life for humans is to break-free from the bondage of the material world forever. This bondage of material world can only break through Self-realization. But until Self-realization is not attained, our aim in life should be of Seva-Paropkar (service-benevolence).

Benevolence means using our mind, speech and body, meaning, our thoughts, words and our actions for others.

Using our own for the others

Just like, if there is a mango tree, how many mangoes of its own would it eat? Not even one. On the contrary, its mangoes, leaves, wood and shade are all used for the benefit of others; as a result, it advances to a higher form of life. Even though neem tree is bitter, yet people plant it; because it provides cool shade. Its bitter juice is beneficial as medicine. However, in return, none of these trees demand money or anything else from us. It bears heat and cold, ripens its fruits, gets it ready and then gives it to us. It has no desire to use or eat its own fruits.  

Similarly, we’ve got a human body; if we use it for the benefit of others, then life will become meaningful. If used solely for one's own selfish interests, then it cannot be called a human life. This example of the tree preaches us that offer your fruits to others, maintain an ‘obliging nature’, then Nature will give you in return.

The law of Nature is such that those who use their mind, speech and body for others, their own needs automatically get fulfilled. For example, a tree doesn’t ever have to think about air, water, light or food. Have we ever seen a tree get emotional that there is a river a mile away, so let me go drink some water? No, the tree keeps getting all its requirements fulfilled, right where it is rooted.

Not just serving others, even if one uses their mind, speech, body for their own family members, they receive everything they need. Just like a dog feeds, protects and takes care of its puppies. God resides in those puppies as well. So by serving its puppies, the dog is indirectly serving God. It is a rule that in serving others, one’s own Moh, Mamta and Swarth decreases. The dog automatically gets everything it needs for its livelihood. Moreover, a human can recognize that there is God within all beings and serve them, and in doing so, can receive a much higher reward.

Just as trees and vines in a forest live symbiotically and help each other grow, similarly, obliging each other, complementing each other, helping each other is what the life is for. But in humans, intellect has developed. As a result, attachment-hatred and differences amongst each other have increased. The tendencies to use everything for one’s own desires and selfishness have increased in human beings. Actually, in life, one should maintain a balance of money and should use some portion of their earnings in charity or for acts of benevolence. Nevertheless, benevolence does not happen just by using money for others. Even if we help someone by other means, we say a few sentences which help solve the other person’s difficulties, then that also is benevolence.

Param Pujya Dada Bhagwan says, “Honesty and a mutually obliging nature, this is all that one needs. To mutually help one another is indeed the privilege of human life! In this world there are two kinds of people who are free from worries, one is the Gnani Purush (One who has realized the Self and is able to do the same for others) and the other is the one who helps others.” If Self-realization happens, all worries in the world get resolved. But even if one has not attained Self-realization, by engaging in acts of benevolence, by using one’s own mind, speech and body for others, all suffering, worries and burdens fade away

Have an intent for a meaningful life

If there is anything worth worrying about in this life, it is this that how can this human life be made meaningful? But nowadays, people are more worried about money, children and family, or health. Humans remain surrounded with worries of how do I earn more money, how does my reputation and status increase, how do comforts and luxuries increase, how do I remain secured in worldly life. Worrying and bothering about the worldly life does not change the results of the karma one has to suffer; on the contrary, karmas of lower life-form are bound.

In order for this human life to not go waste, become meaningful, we should use everything we have for the benefit of others. We should maintain an intent that I want to use it all for others, and if that intention becomes a reality, then it’s even better. However, it is not in our hands that worldly worries stop all of a sudden and the act of helping others begins overnight. But “I want to be benevolent; whatever I have, I want to use it for others”, to have such an intent, that is in our hands. If the goal of helping others is constantly in our remembrance, then also a lot of merit karma is bound. And if we intend that right now, that too yields very high results, bringing long lasting happiness and peace in our life.

Param Pujya Dada Bhagwan says that, “There is simply no point to a life without a goal. You earn dollars, and you eat, drink, and enjoy yourself, and you keep worrying all day long; how can that be considered the goal of life? The human life you have received, what is the point in letting it go to waste? So, after attaining the human life, what should you do to accomplish your goal? If you want worldly happiness, material happiness, then you should give others whatever you have.”

In Satyug, people always strived to make others happy. All day long, they would think 'Whom can I help? ‘Whom do I help?’, only such thoughts would come. But in this era, most people think that, “If I give everything away, I will be left with nothing.” Not only that, but in pursuit of material happiness, nowadays people have started adopting vices and corruption. Adulteration in food, drinks and consumables and even in medicines has begun. Consequently, instead of making human life meaningful, people are preparing to go from a human form to the animal life-form.  

Practice the True Religion

Param Pujya Dada Bhagwan says that, “Religion in fact begins with having an obliging nature.’’ He says that, “Religion (dharma) does not mean sitting in front of the idol of God; that is not called dharma. Dharma is to accomplish your goal; that is called dharma. Along with that, if you engage in any practice for concentration, then that is a different matter altogether; however, if you concentrate on this, then it incorporates everything in it. Maintain an obliging nature; decide that, ‘Now I want to keep obliging others.’ Then changes will take place in you.”

Chanting, penancing, performing rituals or visiting temples is good for mental peace. However, if on one hand, we are engaged in religious practices, and on the other hand, we are causing hurt to our parents at home, or our spouse or children are being hurt by us, then that is not true religion. The peace of mind that we are trying to seek by doing religious activities, the same peace is attained naturally by helping others, by not causing hurt to those around us.