Life, as we know it, seems to be simple but at the same time exhibits
variety of complications. One may think he is living a satisfactory life filled
with all the riches in world and yet his inner conscience yearning for more.
There is always an internal desire in every human being that keeps driving a
person to achieve something in order to reach a stage of contentment. Every
individual feels he lacks “that” in life which, if existed, could lead him to
perpetual satisfaction. Have you experienced it?
Well, then at least for the moment achieving “that” would mean having
led a life of accomplishment. In layman’s vocabulary, “that” is called a goal.
It is the objective of one’s hard work and aspirations. Perhaps, yes, it is
true that successful people in world have emerged victorious in something that
they cherished in.
But can it be said without any doubt that they have attained
the “goal” in life?
Do you say it depends on the individual? Why not? As separate entities,
all of us are different. We have our own lifestyles, carry disparate dreams,
wish for various stuff in life. And when we obtain what we wish for as a result
of our immense efforts, tough situations that we have endured the satisfaction
that occurs is imminent.
It obviously brings pleasure, happiness and gratification. Does this qualify to be considered as reaching the goal of life?
Maybe yes, if we are to confine ourselves within the context of
individuals. But is life, in the context of universe, just a constitution of
individuals? Is there anything binding the individuals that cannot be
visualized? Is there something to be considered as a “common goal” of the
entire human race?
In this context, Swami Vivekananda says “Pleasure is
not the goal of man, but knowledge.” He opines that pleasure is not everlasting
and suggests that it is a mistake to suppose that pleasure is the goal.
He
extends it even further by attributing such thinking to the physical and mental
distress that world is witnessing. But he also indicates that sooner or later
man will realize the truth.
It is then, he advocates, the person who had been
misled that his attainment of pleasure had fulfilled his goal would become
aware that pleasure is only a milestone in the path but not a goal by itself.
In the same vein, philosopher
Adi Shankaracharya notes in his composition
Bhajagovindam as below:
He goes on to say that a
person may go to the Ganges (revered because of its powers to destroy one’s
sins and purify the person), observe rigorous fasts & ceremonies and donate
money towards charity but yet cannot attain liberation even after a hundred
births if the person does not possess knowledge.
So, it is quite evident that there
is a lot of emphasis on gaining “knowledge”. However the next obvious questions
need to be answered, which are “what is this knowledge that great ones are
talking about?” and “How do we gain this knowledge?”
Join
us in our journey to explore answers to these questions.
Posts
