Message #23373

[Jitendra Hydonus]

So seeing these distractions from the real purpose of life. One may ask what is the "real" purpose of life.

Amma: The real purpose is to experience what is beyond this physical existence.

However, each one looks at life differently. Most human beings see life as a constant struggle for survival. Such people believe in the theory "the fittest will survive." They are satisfied with a normal way of living-for example, getting a house, job, a car, a wife or husband, children and enough money to live. Yes these are important things, and we need need to focus on our day-to-day lives and to take care of our responsibilities and obligations, small and big. But there is more to life, a higher purpose, which is to know who we are.

Questioner: Amma, what do we gain by knowing who we are?

Amma: Everything. A feeling of complete fullness, with asolutely nothing else to gain in life. That makes life perfect.

Regardless of all we accumulated or are striving to acquire, for most people life still feels incomplete-- like the letter "C" This gap, or lack, will always be there. Only spiritual knowledge and realization of the Self [Atman] can fill this gap and unite the two ends, which will make the letter "O". The knowledge of "That" alone will help us feel well-grounded in the real center of life.

Qeustionere: Inthat case what about the worldly duties that peole have to discharge?

Amma:  No matter who we are or what we are doing, the duties we are doing should help us reach the supreme dharma, which is oneness with the Universal Self. All living beings are one because life is one, and life only has one purpose. Owing to identification with the body and mind, one may think "To seek the Self and attain Self-realization is not my dharma; my dharma is to work as a musician or an actor or a businessman." It is o.k. to feel this way. However we will never find fulfillment unless we direct our energy toward the supreme goal in life.