Life is what we have. Maybe it has a goal? Or, there may not be any goal? Considering the fact that even the silliest of individuals do not do anything without purpose, we may take it for granted that the Creator, the most intelligent among all, may create something only with a purpose. If there is a goal, then what is it?
An analysis of all our goals points out to only one direction—happiness. Not convinced? Let’s analyse. You ask a child who is playing with a toy gun in a khakhi uniform, “What do you want to become when you will grow up?” You don’t even need to wait for his answer—“policeman.”
“Why do you want to become a policeman?” The answers can be many—arresting all criminals, changing society, making everyone behave, maintaining law and order, ensuring discipline and so on. If you question the child further, if he allows you to, the ultimate answer will be—“If I do this, I will be happy.”
Therefore, the ultimate goal of human life is happiness. If I manage to be happy now, then I have achieved the goal. But, at the drop of a hat, the next moment, some object, person or situation can trigger unhappiness. Only if I have lost a key, I will search for it.
Also, if I have lost a chain that I know I had, I will search for it. So, if we are searching in the world, trying to become something, want to own something to get happiness, then I am functioning from the fundamental idea that I am not happy and I have to find it and be happy.
Alright. Why not settle down for unhappiness, sorrow, misery, pain, incompetency, inefficiency, inability, compulsive behaviour, addictions and so on? What is wrong in being sorrowful? In nature, everything moves in its own direction.
The water that falls as ice blocks from the peaks, melts and flows. It seeks its level and merges with the ocean. It finally evaporates and condenses again to go through the same process. The fire, how much you may try, moves upward. The air, unless you control it, moves about as it pleases. The earth, unless excited by some force, remains still. Space is always the same and gives space to everything to function and express.
So, the human being too wants to be himself. He wants to be happy. Happiness is his nature. The Vedas or books of knowledge show us the way to gain happiness in the world, and Vedanta shows us the path to ultimate happiness—realising our own self.
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