What is the purpose of life?

So now that we find ourselves in this human form, and in this material world, what are we really supposed to do with it? Everybody at some point in their life wonders why God created this world and how they got here, and what they are meant to do. The world is obviously meant for those who have a taste for bodily existence in which they can try to enjoy the pleasure of the senses. So the material creation is manifested for the sense enjoyment of the conditioned soul. It is the playground for those who want this form of existence. What this means is that the infinitesimal living being has the limited free will to think of himself as he likes. That is also one purpose of the illusory energy that the tiny spirit soul has the independence to pretend to be something other than what he really is. Then he projects his beliefs and his self-image out into the world around him. Thus, it is as if he becomes a world unto himself. And this is the world of maya, illusion. One cannot trace out the history of when some of the living beings first wanted to enjoy material nature, but the cause is there. So to fulfill that desire, out of compassion the Lord provided the material creation.

However, we often find that the pleasure of the mind and senses only goes so far; it is limited, temporary, and does not really satisfy the soul, which is the real identity of the living being. So, with compassion, the Supreme Lord also creates the material manifestation in a way that can give the living beings a chance to work out their material desires and understand their real spiritual position. By following the proper instructions that the Supreme provides, the living being can be delivered from the repeated cycle of birth, death, and the suffering in materialistic life by regaining his original spiritual consciousness and eternal position. So whenever you don't know what you are supposed to do in life, or whenever you do not remember who you are, you simply read the instructions that have been provided by the Supreme Being. Don't think the Lord created this world without giving us the means to get out of our confusion, or get out of this world altogether.

So the basis of the material creation is to give the living beings the chance either to follow their material and bodily desires and cultivate more gratification of the temporary senses, or progress toward ultimate liberation through spiritual progress. Everyone has the independence to make that choice. No one is forced to do one or the other. However, short-lived sense gratification can be achieved even in the animal species. Therefore, the topmost use of human life is to engage in the advancement of Self-realization. This is also explained in Srimad-Bhagavatam (11.9.29), which says that after many lifetimes one finally achieves a human birth. Although a human lifetime is temporary and can be short, usually only 60, 70, or maybe 100 years, it affords one the opportunity to reach the highest perfection in spiritual life. One lifetime is all it takes to make the necessary spiritual advancement to enter the higher realm. This is the way a sober person should act in order to prevent falling back into the cycle of repeated births and deaths by chasing after his sensual desires.

Once we again engage in genuine spiritual practices, which are the natural activities of the pure living being, our normal state of being can be reawakened in which we are fully satisfied in spiritual bliss. It is simply a matter of making the connection and linking ourselves to the Supreme again. This state of being is attained when one reaches the pure activities of the soul, which is devotional service to the Supreme Being. However, when we are covered over by the physical body with a materialistic consciousness, our desires become polluted with lust, anger, greed, and foolishness. We think that making the mind and body happy is the ultimate goal of life. We think if we supply ourselves with all of the demands of the mind and body, then how much happier can we be? Thus, the soul inside is forgotten, and we are unable to experience the supremely blissful state found in regaining our spiritual consciousness. Then, we go through life somehow feeling empty and unfulfilled and having no clue as to why, even if we have everything we think we want. Therefore, engaging in the practices that allow us to regain our spiritual consciousness is the ultimate goal of human life.

Thank you for reading

Hare Krishna