• The Purpose of Life
• Be a Partner  ☥

The Purpose of Life

One day, at about ten o'clock at night, a few philosophers, including Dr. Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan and an American one, arrived at Guru Dev's camp, where he was seated in the dark. Although it was not a convenient time, there were allowed in for some minutes, and Radhakrishnan asked Guru Dev to inform him about the truth.

He was told that common sadhanas were not really the thing, for they could not bring the light of God (Brahman). "That light is spontaneous . . . spontaneously radiant," said Guru Dev, adding that the atma (spirit of man) "is spontaneously the form of light and the witness of all."

Ramakrishnan became very happy on learning this. "With how much simplicity did Maharaj solve this difficult problem," he suddenly said. [Bg 239-4, passim]

Many are told that the purpose of life is to progress in a sadhana. A sadhana is typically like a staircase with many steps on it. However, the primary task of old sadhanas is meditation, is samadhi. With some practice, samadhi progresses to be the natural condition of the free soul, the jivanmukta, who has reached the highest degree of subjective experience, says Guru Dev. [Gdm 100]

So to progress, learn deep meditation and practice it straightly. You may note that this approach cuts to the chase, bypassing the time-consuming lower rungs on the staircase of Patanjali Yoga and of the Gentle Middle Way too, through "First things first," and similar great help. First learn to meditate well, then practice it assiduously, and then maybe add other elements of this and that that suits and serves you.

The rest of this article belongs to lower rungs on the ladder.

Through the woods rich in autumn colours

"The purpose of life is a path through the woods rich in autumn colouring." This is a figurative expression.

After you once have started on your journey through life, go for making it a successful journey too, as the spirit within stirs you. If you manage to do right, there should be little remorse. And set yourself higher goals than just serving big guys.

If strong enough to handle good fortune, you should go for it. For if you get or have a fortune, you may give more to less fortunate ones. And good fortune consists of more than only material wealth.

It is a mistake not to go for fruits of your labours and harvest all that is felt to be good. Breathe deeply as best you can and follow your heart and enjoy nature's bounty too. If there is plenty of drama in your life, relax and employ tact a lot.

If you are a "Minerva guy" - for example fond of your home and often in need of using your head - first listen, then talk - that is, first get instructed, then practice afterwards. It is often good. The alternative to the sensible and sound approach is often painful. You may find or evolve your own style(s) anyhow.

Minerva or Athena: ancient culture-defender and a possible old icon of education, science, reason, intelligent activity, arts and literature etc., a wise and prudent adviser, and the goddess of victory.

Athena (Minerva)

Fruitful success makes it far easier for men and women to find one another and stay together somehow. To get together, learn to relax, listen and next talk - or make sound knowledge yours. It is frequently not understood that new things are not essential in the old designs that life runs by - hence, it is a must to overcome the new - think of it in as balanced depth of mind as you get to, and see if there are any other grand-looking conclusions if you dare.

The best short explanation I have: It is to follow something like the Gentle Middle Way of Buddhism. A well balanced, gentle and OK path through life is a lot. In Buddhism it is variously called the Gentle Middle Path, Gentle Middle Way, and the Noble Eightfold Path. It has to be set in motion to work its help.

If you reflect on it, it may stand out that a stout way of living may ride above the use of amulets and astrological bangles that Yogananda used. It may improve our lot, and may thus serve better than maintaining that the purpose of life is to balance the southern and northern moon's node of the birth chart, radix - whether you consider the star signs or the constellations for it. I have done both.

You may figure I am pleased with Buddha's all-round counsel.

A good home means a lot too.

To improve

To improve your life, keep at in throughout life and make changes for the better, for example in your immediate surroundings, those you have some control over. There may be much you can do in the self too - enriching and ennobling your mind, get the blessings that yield very good harvests, and keep the frameworks and momentums that usher in better fares. Adhere to great new beginnings from your source deep within.

After years of development in ways like these, you may stop being a searcher - for being a blessed finder and wake up to your own Presence is much better and far superior. Strive to make such feats solid as time goes by. And if you get rid of many preconceptions, there may be much new to see; better vistas can open up.

As you learn to watch or observe tactfully throughout life, you may find good teachings and get established in them too. All of this can be advocated, even warmly. The best meditation technique is TM, research findings indicate. It has many benefits.

Be a Partner

To be a partner, first be yourself, the one you are. That is the first step. Affirm your dominant needs on the life stage you are in, and grow into a fully-fledged person (Rogerian term) by following up your genuine interests as they appear. That could be good. It is also venturesome. Learn to take care alongside it all. That is much needed too along the road of life.

Those you enjoy expressing yourself to or along with, and exchange thoughts and feelings of value with, may turn into prospective partners. To the degree you manage to dance well together - figuratively at least - you should manage to keep at communicating. You may find it helps and eases the way for both to the degree you enjoy and practice things of value together.

A partner is someone you can rely on and trust duly, provided you rely on and trust yourself duly too. a partner helps inner and outer prosperity, even growth. Buddha has findings about true friends and false friends. What he says of true friends has transfer value to partners too. Besides, he stages roles for husband and wife and other relationships. You find them here: [Link]

Also, if you learn how to patch together your well selected statements from the following table-essay, you can try to advice yourself about being a partner too, as an auxilliary to Buddha's and Guru Dev's great counsel. Here is an example of how to counsel yourself by patching:

To be a partner . . .
1. Try not to get much and quickly scared (of course)
2. Culture yourself to go on.
3. Remain willing to share and benefit from positive others, and from positive things throughout life.

In sum: To be a partner, try for fit culture for remaining somehow -

These much general directions need to be filled in by "how's" - Telling others just how to do feats like these are what some counsellors make a living from, and self-help books too.

New ideas really happen

We tend to be friendly, and therefore well.

The mind causes the bondage but also causes Liberation. - Ramana Maharsi, The Collected Works of Ramana Maharsi [Cor]

We are very sensitive and emotional and really independent persons.

Individualists and free spirits (Sanskrit: muktas) like new things or are not so much scared by them.

We may not have many friends while we are young, and therefore we have to be careful not to say things that work against us.

Our minds can work in unique ways; our association patterns tend to become increasingly our own. [Mmb 64-66, cf. Link]

We will be able to hold our head high, even at times that are quite rough for the majority around.

Our minds grasp new ideas and concepts very quickly.

If something goes wrong in our lives, we may or may not take the necessary steps to make things right again.

We learn to become careful of our tendency to reflect other people's feelings, if it keeps us from being ourselves.

We must calm down and be a bit more accepting of life as it is, and enjoy studying science, technology and other subjects. And to go ahead with tidy and accurate measures is probably fit for most part.

Some hope to be able to pretend or feigh, but in the long run it easily deteriorates into hypocrisy.

Idealists are looking for something to idealize.

Certain restrictions push creativity towards higher levels

It can be important to us to mobilise a large part of our image of ourselves.

As extremely independent persons we have a need to be loved and supported no matter what we do and who we are.

Our culturing of ourselves or our children needs to be really fun.

We do not try to push others around, but may be adamant in being allowed to do things our own ways.

We quickly rise to influence those around us, for our personality has such an impact.

We are smart rebels with skills in such as yoga, since we may enjoy a mystery which is true.

Being very high-energy persons, we are good at grasping how other people feel and how they react.

One is to remove (such) injuries (to one's health) in order to go on. (4).

Beyond the Self there is nothing to know. - Ramana Maharsi, The Collected Works of Ramana Maharsi [Cor]. Is that so?

Looking at matters logically we reach a higher level of understanding than most people in careers in investigation, and understanding of human behaviour.

Emotional insecurity can make us feel that we don't belong anywhere or to anyone.

Learn from experience so as to make the best out if it

We think it is best to adhere to the likable and worthy beauties of creation.

In making objects of one sort or another, we have excellent taste, although very reserved, and we like everything to be both graceful and practical.

As for religious, spiritual and cultural values we may be quite iconoclastic as we progress through life.

In nature, mammals too are born with innate capabilities, in part for founding families and raising their young in many ways. If our family-forming and family-keeping resources are robbed in a big way, there may be dangers ahead for us.

The main thing is to understand ourselves: Good life can give us quite a bit, but we must learn to live within many limitations.

We are willing to share a lot with those we like.

Proper measure in most things could make our children very proud of us and maybe proud of being too.

To get a great deal of help from others, especially women, should be very positive. (6)

Beauty is as an indication of order in the universe. And we will usually appreciate art.

"He alone obtains liberation who with detachment frees himself." - Ramana Maharsi.

If we value persons according to their incomes and careers, we may succeed in getting positions. This may be what makes the most sense for free spirits that enjoy innovations when it comes to "doing very well".

Our understanding of what must be done and how to do it will get sharper in time, so we should be able to accomplish a great deal for ourselves and others.

One is to remove what is injurious, treating it decently and make the necessarily adjustments on top of that again.

Get and accomplish till you are well off. Then give. That is the Way.

We are attracted to new ideas, and may end up uplifedly attracted to astrology.

We have other aspects of self-discipline to tend to than mere congruence.

We may move so fast that we must learn to set our own standards and follow our own goals, and also teach ourselves some essential self-discipline, such as celebrating things well and deep and long enough.

Basically, true and real confidence shows up by our working best by ourselves, and taking deep, realistic responsibility as needs be. (7)

Astounding sense of foresight helps us act realistically too.

We may be reluctant to leave a comfortable situation and go out to get some work done.

When one obtains realization of the Supreme identity will ignorance be wiped out. - Ramana Maharsi, The Collected Works of Ramana Maharsi [Cor].

Gist

1. New ideas really happen - there often appears something new under the sun.
2. Certain restrictions push creativity towards higher levels.
3. Learn from experience so as to make the best out if it.

Many new ideas try to make something good out of restrictions.