The Purpose of Human Life

IV

If you learn to die by rising above body consciousness, you will attain Life Everlasting.

All Saints tell us that God has bestowed us with three forms:

• physical, 
   
• astral and 
   
• supra-mental or causal.

We are already active at the physical plane, Pind, through the senses. After leaving the physical body, the soul acquires the astral form. With the astral senses it can traverse the astral plane – And. Similarly, after attaining supra-mental form the soul can enter into the causal plane – Brahmand. It is beyond these three planes that the soul gets self-knowledge. It is only at that stage that you will be able to know who you really are.

Swami Ji says:

This is the most opportune time to attain peaceful bliss by avoiding the fire of ceaseless desires.

The world is being consumed by invisible flames of fire.

Guru Nanak has prayed:

This is the fire of desires that has spread all over.

Although we are its victims, we are unable to perceive it. Only Saints know the real magnitude of this fire. Yet only human life is capable of getting away from this blazing furnace. That is why human life is considered to be the crown of creation. But without sincere effort in the right direction, there can be no salvation. For instance, if we have to avoid scorching heat, we have to find shelter in an air-conditioned room. In our context, the air-conditioned room is within us. We shall have to withdraw from outside and enter into it to find blissful solace from all the miseries of the world. This is high time that we introvert ourselves. If we miss this God-given opportunity, we are no better than beasts. The human body has a worth so long as the soul dwells in it. We should make the most of it while it lasts.

Man is enveloped by flames of passionate desires, anger, greed, attachment, and vanity. One can escape himself from delusion only by contacting the Word within. The most important task before us, therefore, is to withdraw our attention from outside and get attuned with the Divine Melody within. Then comes Eternal Peace in the form of the Word.

Whosoever has accomplished this essential task is really successful in life. Otherwise, any amount of learning, name and fame have no real meaning. It is high time that we learn to rise above body consciousness and know the Real Self in us.

Contemplate the form of Satguru, and serve Him true, and He shall lead thee away from all harm.

Swami Ji

Swami Ji now tells us how to link the soul with the Naam-Power. He says that three steps should be taken to rise above body consciousness.

First is Simran (contemplation), continuous remembrance of the Almighty. Second, service to the Master. Third, control of all desires.

We are always busy in contemplating worldly affairs. If we have to establish a contact with the Word of God, we must first constantly remember Him by any Name of our choice. This should be our first and foremost ideal by inculcating the habit of His contemplation every moment of our life. We have to replace worldly thoughts by contemplating the Word.

Contemplate on Him alone ceaselessly; so much so that you begin to feel the pangs of His separation. Thus, the first step is His remembrance. Remembrance leads to Love which, in turn, results in pangs of separation. This creates a strong urge for the Beloved.

Only One to remember and to sigh for; sing ceaselessly His praise alone. Meditate on Him with all the Love in thee.

Gurbani

Simran should be undertaken with intense Love for God. Love brings concentration. One forgets the whole world while contemplating one’s beloved.