Mandalam Musings Day 13 - The Purpose of Human Life

 

Mandalam Musings Day 13

The Purpose of Human Life

Human life has a purpose -It is our Dharma or essential goal – the pursuits of finding this purpose in life differentiate human beings from animals. An animal is content with its life if it has a sense of security, fed well, and gets to mate in season. But a human being is looking for more fulfillment in life. Once a person gets an urge to pursue self-inquiry, he is looking for the ways and means to pursue that. Scriptures and teachers help us in this quest. Indian Scriptures have in them a mind-boggling number of Gods and Goddesses (Devatas) in the pantheon – 330 million of them. Why are there so many Gods in the scriptures when the Vedas talk of the Ultimate Reality, Truth or Param Porul, as the One? It is because everyone has the right and responsibility to inquire and know the Truth in his or her own terms—nothing more, nothing less.

Listening - Sravanam- Listening to scriptures by getting together with like-minded people who are moving on the same path or who have already been for a while is essential for our growth. In such Satsangs, we hear inspiring stories and incidents which can uplift our spirit.  From books, lectures, and discourses of Gurus, and other men of wisdom, we hear about the various philosophies and tenets of the Sanathana Dharma – this is Sravanam –intent listening with sraddha.

Contemplation – Mananam – This is the process of pondering over the matter heard in the discourses and at the Satsangs from various sources. This is the process where we critically evaluate whether the information obtained and its practice are conducive to a peaceful and happy life, without inflicting pain upon others. Bhagavd Gita says “Uddhareth Atmanaathmanam, Na Atmanam Avasaadayeth’ – meaning we must raise ourselves by self-effort, and never cause our own decline, for we are our own friend and foe. Mananam gives us clarity to the scriptural and spiritual teachings given by men of wisdom. It is to be noted that not all teachings are suitable for everyone alike and that is the reason why we have so many Devathas and schools of philosophy (Darshanas).

Dwelling on the teachings- Nidhidhyasanam – Practicing the learning thus assimilated after logical contemplation is a sure shot way to live the philosophy, we chose. This may be in the form of rituals to keep us on the path of spiritual inspiration and eventually, it could take us to a state of meditation. In Ayyappa worship throughout the period of Mandalam, we carry out Sravanam, Mananam, and Nidhidhyasanam regularly. The meditative culmination of this is the Darshan of Lord Ayyappa after the Vratham and pilgrimage to Sabarimala.   

Depending on the stage of one’s preparedness in life he ends up pursuing a path of Dwaita, Vishita-dwaita, Adwaita, or a combination of the three. Most of us follow a hybrid practice of spirituality where we go through these three systems of spiritual life daily, moment to moment. During the 41 days of austere life, the Vratham, prescribed for the pilgrimage to Sabarimala abode, we undergo all three spiritual paths and their combinations. Although we want to consciously choose a path to follow, many seekers feel that the path becomes clear and effortless as the self-inquiry progresses.