A common thought process in the minds of many seeking a higher state in life is to build a mental concept of a purpose in life. The argument they put forward is a rather sketchy one that we are born, or brought to this earth, because God had reason to do so. This approach simply lays the responsibility of one’s existence and the outcome of their action on God, punting unworthiness as God’s will.
The Eastern non-dual philosophies take a completely different approach, quite scientific, logically manageable and transfers the accountability of ones action and progress back to the self. Swami Prabhavananda’s lecture on Self effort ties very well to his lecture on the Lesson of Life.
Another non-dual preceptor Nisargadatta Maharaj expounded that we are born as nature’s mechanism of propagation of life. There are situations when Nature decides to manifest itself in the human form with a special task, to re-direct mankind in general towards a greater good. However, such manifestations are rare and are known as Avatar (incarnations) & Uddhava (realized souls).
The Supreme Goal of Life
This is a transcript from Sw. Prabhavananda’s lecture on The Supreme Goal of Life dated 09/14/1969 possibly at the San Francisco Vedanta Temple or at the Vedanta Society of Southern California.
OM! there the sun shines not nor the moon or the stars nor the lightning
where is fire thou shining every other object shines in this universe it is thy light that illumines the hearts of the sages and devotees shine thou in our hearts
manifest there in all thy glory and dispel all darkness and ignorance. OM!
Peace, Peace, Peace
The supreme goal of life is, first I must tell you a Hindu legend. The Divine Mother, the Mother of the Universe, has two children – Kartika & Ganesha. Karthika is outgoing and is the God of worldly success and prosperity and also is the god of warriors. Ganesha is contemplative. His mind is inward, devoted to Divine Mother.
One day the Mother held a treasure of a necklace before them and she announced this
whoever amongst you would go round the Universe speedily and come back to me, will receive this treasure of a necklace. Karthika immediately went in a spaceship, I might say, around the Universe and of course he was confident that he is the one who is going to get the treasure. And then Ganesha took his time, slowly went round the Mother, bowed down to her and Mother gave him that treasure of necklace.
Now Karthika comes back and he sees Ganesha is wearing that necklace. Now this legend is rather symbolical and please remember that both of them are children of Divine Mother. Now I’d say Karthika represents science and technology and Ganesha represents
religion or spiritual life. Karthika probes into the outward Universe and Ganesha probes into the inner Universe.