The Fundamental Problem of Life

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Every human being at one point of time or the other has to face that fundamental question which cannot be evaded - what is the purpose of life? The lower forms of life - plants and animals do not seem to face this problem. They appear to be blissful in whatever condition they are. "A cow will never tell a lie, but it will always remain a cow," said Swami Vivekananda. The animal has no choice, it lives by instinct. But, a man may commit a hundred crimes and still have the potential to be transformed into a divinity. It is this capacity to make choices, to think, to reason and to act according to his will, that set apart a human being. It makes him different and special in the ladder of natural evolution.

This capacity is also the root of all human misery, for every moment presents a choice to the human mind and making a choice also involves resolving a conflict. Should I do this or not? Should I go for engineering or MBBS? Should I become a software engineer or an MBA? Should I marry or not? The human mind is a battlefield of such conflicts.

The moment one conflict is resolved, another crops up. To use a mathematical expression, life is an 'indeterminate and infinite series' of conflicts. Caught in this cycle of topical conflicts, human beings forget the fundamental purpose of life.

It is this fundamental problem of life that Vedanta seeks to solve, for in its solution lie the solution to all other conflicts. Solving this problem is the true purpose of life. One cannot turn away from this problem, ostrich-like, and expect happiness or peace in life through symptomatic cures. A poor man beset with problems born of his inadequacy may ask why there is so much suffering in life; and a rich man who has all the material comforts at his disposal may also be devoid of happiness in life.

Vedanta declares that solving the fundamental problem of life equips us with immense inner strength to face and solve all the other problems. It does not promise a utopia or a magical solution but awakens the mind with a new vision of life, which is beyond all conflict and want.