At some point in our lives, many have pondered over the deeper meaning of life. Some think life is the sum total of everything we have or what we own – friends, family, property, vehicles and so on. Others think that life is what we do – love, play and work. So what constitutes life, and what is its significance?

Sometimes, even with all our education, we are unable to grasp the meaning of life. It’s a perpetually intriguing and mysterious play of actions and circumstances, and each individual needs an answer to it. Life can be as simple or as complicated as we make it. Its vastness and intricacy is near impossible for an average human being to figure out. We are brought closer to this introspection when we face the various challenges life throws at us. It is then that we ponder over questions like – how to understand life or what is the purpose of this life? Our ancient spiritual wisdom from the Upanishads points us towards simplifying this complexity, so we can navigate successfully through the course of our living.

Is life perishable?

As living beings, we are confronted with the cycle of birth and death. We know that the lifespan of any living creature is limited, but what we sometimes don’t reflect upon is that this is only a transient change, and not the ultimate end to ‘life’. All great seekers, before enlightenment, inquired into this – if one is to live and die, then one is helpless within the confines of creation, and life may, in fact, be meaningless.

When the body dies, it takes up another form. A body is never alive in and of itself; it pulsates because it has a ‘life-force’, which vitalizes the inert matter constituting the physical self. This life force is called the jiva, according to Vedanta. In common terms, we call it the ‘soul’.

The soul is eternal. It forms the core of our being. When we talk about ourselves, we are referring not to the body but the soul. The body is akin to the clothes that the soul dons to take form. When one body dies, the soul takes up a new body; it inhabits many bodies in its lifetime. In this vein, the Bhagavad Gita beautifully points out, “Just as people remove their clothes and wear new ones, the soul drops one body and picks up another one.”

What is the purpose of life?

On any given day, our mind is persistently planning for a future that we know nothing about. We live in fear of tomorrow, and plan for it rather optimistically, knowing fully well that it is impermanent. We are always trying to be greater or bigger, not realizing that to be infinite is our nature. While living up to our potential, we feel fulfilled and happy. So if we discover our infinite nature, then we will surely encounter bliss. In short, the true purpose of life becomes to discover ourselves.

But does that really happen, and so easily?

Seeking our true selves with inquiry

Since the soul carries our karma, the actions from our past life create our present fate, and our current actions will give birth to our future destiny in forthcoming lifetimes. Asking ourselves the question again and again, “What have I done with my life thus far?” is a sure step towards gaining clarity and the correct perspective on the necessary actions as we go forward.

Inside the uncut diamond of our life lies the brilliance of wisdom, bliss and immortality. With the tools of right knowledge and unflagging determination, we have only to cut the diamond, on all sides, all aspects of our life, such that it shines forth to radiate light and beauty all round.

Everyone’s purpose in life eventually boils down to seeking peace and happiness. And what we seek doesn’t lie outside, but within us ¬– our own infinite potential that we live with every day but are oblivious towards. Each one of us is infinite, yet each is also unique. Our seers and Rishis point us towards the highest goal there can be – to aspire to be more a part of our own infinite nature. Throughout the scriptures too, the infinite nature of a human being has been highlighted to comprehend the very purpose of life.

Swami Swaroopananda
Global Head, Chinmaya Mission

Born into different circumstances, we share a constant throughout existence – the goal to live a worthy life. There are some who constantly seek inspiration to achieve this goal, and some who possess everything they need to be excellent. However, despite all this, some feel a sense of insecurity about their path to excellence. They are overwhelmed by all the uncertainties that surround them, on a daily basis. Since we are all not alike, sudden adversities and bleak situations beget different responses amongst us. It is natural to feel a sense of anxiety, and lack of clarity when faced with making life-altering decisions. Is it possible to overcome these tough battles of the mind?

We get many chances in life to refresh our knowledge, and strive to become better versions of ourselves. When we find an opportunity to ponder over this ability, we can reflect upon our past achievements or failures with dispassion. The hidden lessons to be learnt from prior experiences guide us towards this goal of excellence.

Is being the best about being excellent?
An analysis about the collective lives of human beings, brings the realization that each and every one wants to be good. By this, I mean that we all want to appear ‘good’ in society. Even Kamsa and Ravana who represent evil in our scriptures, wanted to be seen and perceived as good people with virtues. Not just wanting to be good, most of us want to be seen as the best. However, is being the best akin to being excellent? The answer to this is that being the best is inevitably in comparison with something else. It is imperative to understand that to be the best is not always possible. However, to do our best is definitely possible. Being excellent, on the other hand, is giving our best to a given task, to the best of our knowledge and ability, to bask in the glow of fulfillment afterwards.

What is excellence and can it be exceeded?
Excellence is a quality of being outstanding, of being exemplary. This aspiration, when combined with equal efforts, leads to greatness. Since humans are mired in society’s expectation of perfection, sometimes the desire for excellence may be suppressed or even given up due to feelings of inadequacy, jealousy and a weakened emotional state. Let me share the story of Arjuna. His practice, determination and undying love for his skill made him the best archer. Arjuna achieved excellence multiple times. But what happened to him right in the middle of the battlefield, when he needed to put that excellence to test, and exceed it? He experienced mental conflict, despondency and the unwillingness to attack and kill his elders and teachers. Even though one part of his life was resolved and had attained fulfillment, his emotions around relationships remain unresolved. To overcome this strife, he needed to exceed his own excellence.

Combating fear and failures
Arjuna’s pathos on the battlefield of Kurukshetra has remained a significant moment for centuries thereafter. It was here that Lord Krishna imparted the knowledge of Bhagavad Gita, also known as ‘The Song of the Divine’. Krishna’s lessons from the Upanishads and the Bhagavad Gita helped Arjuna to drive away his feeling of despair and transcend his state of depression; the negativities which had prevented him following his Dharma. Krishna reminds Arjuna – when you get what you want, there is a sense of happiness, yet when you are able to express your potential to the best of your capacity, there is an inner sense of peace and satisfaction that supersedes the happiness of attaining the object of your desire. This state of infinitude is devoid of distress, comparisons and dissatisfaction. It is here that we can find contentment and peace.

The ultimate lesson of excellence
In this karmic world, our ultimate focus is to live life to the fullest, to achieve the greatness we aspire for. We live from goal to goal, feeling happy when we get what we want. However, our joy is dependent on that which leads to temporary contentment. This requires a delicate balancing of many aspects of life and can hence be daunting for many. Very often, one failure drowns us in misery, ruining our chances for success. Self-introspection provides us the clarity to recognize our potential, so it can be channelized into actions where we can actualize our potential every time. The continuous pursuit for excellence ensures that we continue to grow mentally and spiritually. The decision to invest our best efforts in meaningful actions is the path to transformation. Exceed your excellence, be your own competition, and be the best for yourself.