purpose of life

March 3, 2007

Is there a purpose for life?

Narasimha in his initial post wrote " highest purpose (

of Vedas) is self-knowledge and that is why Vedas are its swaroopam "

If I derive the point that Vedas have a purpose so should living

beings. If living beings have a purpose, what is it?

* To maintain jeeva rasi (ecosystem): There should be more

than that.

* To understand Vedas and attain self-realization: Then

why did the Supreme Cosmic being not create just one human being

and impart all the knowledge in one shot.

As you may recognized this is a layman's question.

Please write on this basic question as this would help me

concentrate better in my prayers.

Any suggested readings is much appreciated.

PS: The knowledge that is being shared in this thread is useful

especially for someone who cannot interpret the Vedas written

in Sanskrit.

March 18, 2007

Dear Kishore,

> Is there a purpose for life?> > Narasimha in his initial post wrote "highest purpose (> of Vedas) is self-knowledge and that is why Vedas are its swaroopam"> If I derive the point that Vedas have a purpose so should living> beings. If living beings have a purpose, what is it? > > * To maintain jeeva rasi (ecosystem): There should be more> than that. > > * To understand Vedas and attain self-realization: Then> why did the Supreme Cosmic being not create just one human being> and impart all the knowledge in one shot.

Yours is a loaded question. Let me try to give a simple (and simplistic) answer.

Supreme cosmic being (Brahman) does not create or destroy anything. Supreme cosmic being has no gunas (attributes/qualities/properties) whatsoever. Though all possible objects, qualities and attributes lie within Brahman as a pontentiality, Brahman himself/herself/itself does not have any attributes. At time minus infinity, there was just Brahman and no objects within. The whole universe was filled with Brahman and nothing else.

Then a minute part of Brahman developed an ego (I-ness or sense of "I"). Sense of "I" requires some attributes. So, this part of Brahman formed an identity based on certain attributes. As a minute part of the ocean may form itself as a wave and think of itself as a small wave instead of thinking of itself as ocean (which it really is), this being thinks of himself as a different being from Brahman.

Thus, several gods with various attributes come into being. Please note that they are all different from Brahman and limited in their scope, bound by the attributes that they have given to themselves.

The creator Brahma (different from attribute-less Brahman) comes into being like that from the Supreme Cosmic Being. The attributes he thinks of when coming into being and forming an ego make him create various other beings in this world. He sees it as his purpose.

When we have a dream in our sleep, we fashion a small part of Brahman as various dream objects with certain attributes. Similarly, Brahma fashions a minute part of Brahman as various world objects - such as you and I - with certain attributes.

These objects (you and I) have a sense of "I" based on the attributes imagined by Brahma and they go on interacting with other objects (just as objects we see in our dreams interact with each other).

As we experience and interact with more and more objects, the sense of "I" becomes very very dense. After a while, we totally forget that we are actually attribute-less Brahman. We think that we have certain attributes and our attributes determine our purpose in life.

One of the purposes dictated by the attributes taken by Brahma when he came into being was to create some other deities. Those deities are also made from minute portions of Brahman with several attributes. Those attributes decide some purposes for them. These purposes have been designed so that there is some order in this world.

The world is hence full of beings that are limited by various attributes. The attributes decide the purpose of the being. If everybody fulfils their purpose, there is some order in the system. Thus, your first answer is valid.

However, all these beings are nothing but parts of Brahman, who have forgotten that they are attribute-less Brahman and fancy themselves as objects with various attributes.

Based on the rules made by gods when Brahma was creating all these objects, we keep on accumulating karmas (actions, carried out due to the attributes) and keep on reaping the fruits of those karmas.

Thus, we keep on moving from one set of attributes to another set, change from one body to another, serve one purpose after the other. This is a pontentially endless cycle.

The conditioning of the mind is weak in gods like Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva etc, who too are serving various purposes dictated by their attributes, and they can meditate on their true nature for a small time and fully realize that they are just Brahman. We, on the other hand, change so many bodies and go through so many experiences that the conditioning of the mind becomes so dense that it is difficult to realize the nature of true self. The sense that "I am this body and I am different from others" is so strong. Still, it is possible to overcome the conditioning and realize the true self.

When a yogi reaches samadhi, it is possible to perceive that the entire world, including oneself, is just the attribute-less Brahman and that there are really no objects. In other words, it is possible for us to escape from the dreams/imaginations of Brahma. As as a part of Brahman is stuck in our dreams as an object with specific attributes, we too are stuck in the thoughts of Brahma (creator) as objects with certain attributes. We can escape from that and realize our true nature.

To answer your question on why Supreme Cosmic Being creates all this confusion, the supreme cosmic being does not do or want or think anything. It is the limited manifestation called Brahma (creator) that does this. He knows no better, because the attributes he originally thought of for himself compel him to do so. However, he left the scope for all the objects fashioned by him to realize their true nature.

To answer your question at a more practical level, this is what each person can do: (1) Keep doing the duties that come to you naturally. (2) At a subtler level, question yourself who you actually are. Think "am I this body? Did I exist before this body existed? Will I exist when this body is given up?" Cultivate detachment to the body and tell yourself that you are the attribte-less Brahman.

If you do not understand all that I wrote, do not worry. This is actually high level philosophy explained in simple terms. It may be difficult for some to understand or appreciate.

Best regards,Narasimha-------------------------------Homam manual and audio: http://www.VedicAstrologer.org/homamFree Jyotish lessons (MP3): http://vedicastro.home.comcast.netFree Jyotish software (Windows): http://www.VedicAstrologer.orgSri Jagannath Centre (SJC) website: http://www.SriJagannath.org-------------------------------