The aim in life

[Guest guest]

The aim in life determines the content of sadhana.

 

For most people the aim is to have a secured, stress free, healthy life

and so we are engaged in sadhana/endeavors of earning money, educating

our children, etc. Thus, sense pleasure, some hankering for name and

fame, and family and social security become our sadhana for whole life.

 

For a few, quest for knowledge in the field of science, art or

literature, etc. becomes sadhana. Such creative artists endure many

hardships and they sacrifice sense pleasures to excel in their

respective field of inquiry and research.

 

For a rare few, however, spiritual achievements in the form of self

realization or glimpses of suprasensory truth becomes the only aim in

life. Accordingly his/her sadhana takes the form of readings from

scriptures, life stories saints and sages; and later begins

contemplation and meditation on what he/she has conceptually

accepted to be true.

 

Thus whole life becomes sadhana, with intense yearning to realize the

Truth and corresponding austerities and tapas, discrimination and

renunciation. In these successive stages of sadhana the sadhaka or

aspirant has to forgo -sacrifice- minor pleasures for higher ones.

The artist or the scientist relinquishes physical sense enjoyment,

while spiritual aspirant gives up both sense pleasures and mental

-emotional joy in favour of spiritual bliss.

 

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