Dear divine friend,
What is life? What should be our aim in life? Should we live for others or we should only think about the major problems of the society? This beautiful world is becoming so unnatural now-a-days. What is our duty on this context? Please guide me.
—deepak, india
Dear Deepak,
The purpose of life is to find our way back to our true home, that of oneness in God. The yoga teachings refer to this oneness as “satchidananda,” which Paramhansa Yogananda explained as “ever-existing, ever-conscious, ever-new bliss.”
The most beneficial service and support we can give to others is to be centered within the presence of God. Living a spiritual life is indeed the most practical way of living.
Yogananda recommended that we live a balanced life of inner communion with God along with selfless service. He put this in context with the phrase, “be calmly active and actively calm.”
Each person needs to find peace and joy and within and then act accordingly to be an instrument for those qualities into this world. What is important is that when we do act in this world that we act without the desires for the fruits of our actions. This is the teaching of nishkam karma in the Bhagavad Gita.
If you can, try to be in the company of other truth-seekers who will help support your spiritual endeavors.
In divine friendship,
Pranaba
