In our day-to-day busy lives, we have given up even a moment of contemplation on Him, the humble Creator of the universe. Have we adopted someone as our ideal? Have we set any parameters for our lives? How do we live our lives? What should our personality be? These are the questions we must answer and reflect upon.

Human beings are not only social creatures but also normative beings. As Shri Shri Anandamurti Ji beautifully observed, sanity is the only factor that differentiates humans from animals. Since the very beginning, humanity has strived to establish new dimensions of development. The journey to infinity is unceasing. Yet, in this materialistic world, the human mind is filled with endless imagination, seeking a contentment that often remains elusive. Despite these efforts, dissatisfaction persists as one desire is replaced by another. Physical happiness, being temporary, fades even before its taste can be fully savored. Why is this so? Because the pursuit of happiness lies beyond limitations, whereas the material world is bound by finite means. Not just human beings, but all living beings—herbs, shrubs, trees, and other creatures—are born with the ultimate goal of emancipation. This is the universal wish of all, irrespective of their religion—Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, or others—their ultimate aim is to attain God.

In today’s context, society’s structure reveals how little time people devote to contemplating the Almighty. They treat the idea of God as something to fit into spare moments, much like filling in blanks. During festivities, many believe that merely thinking of God is sufficient.

If one desires to eat a mango, one must make an effort to acquire it—either by obtaining it from others or purchasing it. In the same way, achieving divine realization requires effort. However, we are so engrossed in worldly activities that we have completely sidelined our contemplation of God. Consequently, we have no role models or ideals to guide us. To whom do we pay respect as our ideal? Do we have any standards or parameters for living a meaningful life? How should we shape our rare and precious lives? What kind of personality should we aim to develop? These are questions that require serious reflection and action.

We may be religiously influenced to some extent, but do we truly accept religious ideology and strive to follow it? Have we chosen an ideal for ourselves? To build a civilized society, we must adopt an idealistic stream of thought and agree upon principles to guide our lives. Everything has a specific quality that defines it. For instance, the defining quality of fire is to burn. Similarly, saints and respected individuals dedicate themselves in a specific direction, shaping their lives through their endeavors. They establish ideologies in their lives. The foremost aim of human beings is to achieve emancipation or God-realization and to serve all living beings. This is the dharma or intrinsic nature of humanity. Whether knowingly or unknowingly, every individual is on a voyage to God. Therefore, we must choose a proper and specific direction and follow the path of enlightenment.

Rendering service to the universe is essential. It must become our foremost duty and mission. How should this service be rendered? We must help those in need, especially during natural calamities such as floods, droughts, hunger, cyclones, and earthquakes. Great attention should also be paid to environmental protection through plantation and forest conservation. Keeping the Earth green is inevitable for sustaining life. Serving the hungry, disabled, frustrated, and helpless must be done with proper planning.

“To beggars, cooked food should be given to eat. Giving raw rice or money should be avoided.” 
— Shri Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar

An appropriate plan must be implemented to benefit needy and helpless individuals. It is better to provide essential needs such as food grains, clothing, shelter, education, and medical aid in a well-planned manner to enhance their physical, mental, and spiritual abilities. By embracing service to humanity as a goal, we align ourselves with the Almighty. The welfare of humanity demands it. Efforts in this direction, when firmly believed and sincerely executed, lead to the experience of supernatural happiness.

Goutam Pradhan
Raigarh, Chhattisgarh