A Cultured, Educated Life-Part IV

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Finally, education should include true understanding of what the goal of life is. Every science starts its investigations with the many and points to the one truth underlying the many: Physics talks of one energy that expresses itself as many forces, Chemistry talks of the existence of an entity called matter, which express itself as a variety of substances; botany and zoology indicate that all plant life and animal life are truly one. So too to know that one supreme Consciousness is the true nature of all beings is the highest achievement of humankind. Life is a journey undertaken to learn this truth. Once we have understood this truth, we will no longer have to struggle to learn anything more.

This oneness is the destination of all life. Once we realize it, we will end our ignorance about the purpose of life and will not waste our energies in futile and vain pursuits. Life is too precious to be frittered away in unnecessary digressions. The wise know how to choose the straight path towards the final consummation of life.

This is not to say that life becomes a serious, morose affair devoid of all fun and joy. The opposite is true. When a piece of delicate machinery is properly used for the purpose, for which it was invented, it yields satisfaction to the user. A car is meant for travel. The driver should know two things: 'How to handle the car and what course to follow to reach his destination. If the driver does not know how to handle the car or is not familiar with the traffic rules, he will get into trouble. If he knows how to drive and understands the traffic rules, his journey will be comfortable. Still, if he does not know his destination, he will never finish the journey satisfactorily. The going can become long and tiresome; perhaps he will never reach his destination at all !

So too, we know the purpose of life, we can handle the delicate machinery called the human personality and can steer it through life without clashing with the people and world around us. Such a life becomes a cultured life, an educated one.

About the article

This article is written by Swamini Saradapriyananda for the magazine, 'Vedanta Vani' of Chinmaya Mission.