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At the outset, I want to make it clear — or in other words, be aware that I am not — that these are my current thoughts, not a conclusion after my 60+ years of experience with life.
There are several objectives people hold about what they want out of life. And for the post today, I want to get the “bear” out of the room first. Let us keep aside the concept and role of God. I want to analyze the data I have at this time and keep anything based purely on beliefs outside. For once I go into that, several more schools of thought will tamper with my thinking.
What I know for sure are my personal experiences and those of people from whom I could learn.
The Birth of Awareness and the Sense of Self
When we were born, we were primarily occupied with making sure that we feed ourselves. We may not have known anything about death, but survival came to us instinctively.
Then the awareness of “self” came. And I am wondering if this self was actually an induction by elders. Parents and others started calling us by our name, and also induced a “you” or “me.”
They made me develop the idea that I am unique and an identity different from the universe around me.
The world started asking me if I wanted something, whether I look good or bad, whether I should be doing this and not that, whether I achieved something, or whether I failed in something. And in the process, they also introduced the concept of happiness — that I would 'recognize' my happiness over others.
Oneness and the Illusion of Separation
Today, Advaita tells us that we are all actually one entity. There is no “you” and “Him” or "they". The entire universe is comprised of only one and nothing more.
Jiddu Krishnamurthy, one of the greatest philosophers, and one who had spent an entire life solely focusing on understanding self, says we are all one. The ego of the self should go away.
He said that if we all have sorrows and happiness and experience life so similarly to others, how could we be different entities? He suggests that when we let go of the ego of self, the world becomes good for all. He saw the commonality across all humans, and therefore professed that we are all one.
Interconnectedness of Human Life
I, for myself, realized that there is great networking between all of humankind. Everything I have done or that has come to me, I realized, has happened because of something else. It may be an event conducted by somebody or an action of someone either directly or indirectly.
I cannot think of one decision or action I have done which did not have an influence from the result of something else or of an action by somebody. We live and act in a highly interactive network of people and the universe.
Today, quantum physics tells us that all particles are connected, even if they are separated by thousands of miles. With all this, it becomes very clear that there is no really independent self.
Do We Need Independent Objectives?
And if this is so, does a person need independent objectives that are good for him, or should they be those that are good for all or none at all?
If we are all one and connected anyway, a selfish goal would adversely affect others — and due to inter-dependencies, it will eventually come back to us anyway.
The so-called Karma Siddhanta (philosophy) perfectly fits here. Then is it not good enough to live life as it comes to us rather than pursue something?
If I try to be the best at something, then I am also making someone else “less best” than me and creating an impression in that person (and more) that they are less best.
Living Without Burdened Objectives
Can’t we just live life as it comes, without objectives and goals? Just do karma spontaneously, and not worry about the result, as the Bhagavad Gita says? Is it really necessary that there are some larger goals and aspirations in life and we pursue them? Is a person who pursued and achieved an impossible goal happier than one who hadn't had any major goals in the first place? If both people are equally happy, then does having goals matter at all? I was watching an interview the other day, when one of two very close friends, one achieved a lot through hard work an strong ambitions, while the other was leading a simple life all along. The achiever now feels there was nothing wrong with the approach to life by the latter who settled for simple life and enjoys the time and relationship with his small family. Knowing fully well that leading the life the hard way, he was able to achieve a lot - of becoming a multimillionaire and a very popular person, yet he was unwilling to give the same hard life for his kids, and allowed them to enjoy things that they already have and not struggle. He has put one tiny square plug after another to fill a round hole, and now thinks all this is not necessary for someone to be happy. That is, if that is the end goal. And I feel it is so for all, including monks who find happiness in leaving everything else out. THINK.
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