God Is The Ultimate Goal of Life - The True Purpose of Existence
Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that human life is a rare opportunity, meant specifically for self-realization. While modern society encourages the pursuit of wealth, comfortable living, and mundane altruism, the Vedic literatures cut through this illusion. They declare unequivocally that the ultimate goal of life is not found within the material world, but in realizing and satisfying the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Viṣṇu or Kṛṣṇa.
The Bewildered Condition
A traveler who forgets their destination will simply wander aimlessly. Śrīla Prabhupāda points out that similarly, conditioned souls are wandering through material existence because they have forgotten the true purpose of their lives, blinded by the temporary glare of material sense objects.
- Men do not know that the ultimate goal of life is Visnu, due to being bewildered by the glaring reflection in the darkness, and as such everyone is entering into the darkest region of material existence, driven by the uncontrolled senses.
- Because of their foolish activities, they are unaware that the ultimate goal of human life is to achieve Visnu, the Lord of the cosmic manifestation.
- One tries to enjoy the five sense objects, namely form, sound, taste, aroma and touch, not knowing the actual goal of life, which is to satisfy the Supreme Lord.
- Visnu is the Supreme Lord, Supreme Personality of Godhead. People, they do not know what is the ultimate goal of life. The ultimate goal of life is to understand the Lord.
Beyond Mundane Philanthropy
Many well-meaning individuals dedicate their lives to humanitarian work, thinking this is the highest perfection. However, Śrīla Prabhupāda clarifies that unless these activities are connected to the Supreme Lord, they fall short of fulfilling life's ultimate goal.
- If all philanthropic and humanitarian activities were directed toward achieving the ultimate goal of life - to please the Supreme Personality of Godhead - they would all be perfect. Humanitarian work without Krsna is nothing.
- The goal of life is Visnu, or the Supreme Lord, or God. That one has to understand what is the Supreme Lord, what is Absolute Truth, - What is my relationship with Him and what is my duty towards Him.
- According to the instructions given by Rsabhadeva to His sons, we should not create a so-called comfortable situation, but must prepare to undergo austerity. This is how a human being should actually live to fulfill life's ultimate goal.
- In the Padma Purana Lord Siva explains to his wife, Parvati, the goddess Durga, that the highest goal of life is to satisfy Lord Visnu, who can be satisfied only when His servant is satisfied.
Puruṣārtha vs. Pañcama-puruṣārtha
Even those who approach religion often do so with the motive of gaining material benefits, a pursuit known as puruṣārtha. Śrīla Prabhupāda emphasizes that true spiritual life begins when one drops material desires and strives for pañcama-puruṣārtha—pure love for the Supreme Person.
- These activities are generally called purusartha. But actually the ultimate goal is to understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This is called pancama-purusartha, the ultimate goal of life.
- The Lord is addressed herein by Dhruva Maharaja as purusartha-murti, the ultimate goal of life. Generally purusartha is taken to mean execution of a type of religious principle or worship of God in order to get material benediction.
- Dear Lord, here is the great King Nabhi, whose ultimate goal in life is to have a son like You. Your Lordship, his position is like that of a person approaching a very rich man and begging for a little grain.
- Sambandha-jnana refers to establishing one's relationship with the Supreme Personality of Godhead, abhidheya refers to acting according to that constitutional relationship, and prayojana is the ultimate goal of life, which is to develop love of Godhead.
Reaching the Destination
The process of achieving the ultimate goal does not require abandoning one's occupation, but rather transforming one's consciousness. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that by controlling the senses and directing one's daily duties toward the service of the Lord, anyone can reach the supreme destination.
- Discharging one's occupational duty as a means of rendering devotional service unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead is the ultimate goal of life. Bhagavad-gita confirms this as the process of karma-yoga.
- One who can control the senses by his mind and intelligence can very easily approach the Supreme Personality of Godhead, or Visnu, who is the ultimate goal of life.
- The ultimate goal of life is Visnu, Krsna. Therefore, either by Vedic regulative principles or by materialistic activities, if one tries to reach the destination of Krsna, that is the perfection of life.
- One must strictly follow the principles given by Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu in this verse. If one simply follows in the footsteps of Lord Caitanya and the Gosvamis, certainly he will achieve the ultimate goal of life, the lotus feet of Sri Krsna.
Conclusion
A human being who uses their intelligence merely to secure comfortable eating, sleeping, mating, and defending is misusing the great boon of human life. Śrīla Prabhupāda repeatedly warns that without knowing the ultimate goal, both individuals and society at large are simply stumbling in the darkness of material existence. Philanthropy, mundane altruism, and prayers for material benedictions (puruṣārtha) may yield temporary pious results, but they cannot free the soul from the cycle of birth and death. The absolute perfection of life—pañcama-puruṣārtha—is to reawaken our dormant love for the Supreme Personality of Godhead. By controlling the mind and senses, accepting necessary austerities, and dedicating our occupational duties to Lord Kṛṣṇa through the process of karma-yoga and bhakti-yoga, we perfectly align ourselves with the true purpose of our existence and achieve the ultimate goal: the eternal shelter of the Lord's lotus feet.
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