Finding the Meaning of Our Lives and Expressing It in Our Thoughts, Words and Deeds

Eventually, as we grow and mature, as our powers of reflection and self-examination increase, we begin to seriously consider why it is we are alive, what it is we are here to do and how we can accomplish whatever our lives are intended to be. There are several aspects to this process of growth and development.

When we are born into our human lives, we are immature physically, vitally, emotionally and mentally. In Book I, Canto 1, in his epic poem, Savitri: A Legend and a Symbol, Sri Aurobindo hints at our situation:

“But the oblivion that succeeds the fall, 

Had blotted the crowded tablets of the past,  

And all that was destroyed must be rebuilt 

And old experience laboured out once more.” 

We need to develop our physical, vital and mental framework and capacities, increase their power and perfect their action. This is an ongoing process in our lives. Much of our early focus is dedicated to this aspect of development, and we do not, therefore, usually focus our attention on WHY we are doing all this. If we become fully entangled in the external being and its activities, we may even fully lose sight of any deeper purpose, and we live our lives as virtual automatons, eating, sleeping, studying, working, enjoying ourselves. In many cases we stop the development of our powers and simply try to exist and enjoy ourselves, and in those cases, we distract ourselves with intoxications of various sorts, whether they be drugs or alcohol, mindless entertainment, sex, etc. Others continue developing the instruments of mind, life and body as a way of keeping some meaning in front of them. Eventually neither dissipation nor engagement without deeper purpose suffices, and we then see people turning to the deeper questions of existence, the existential purpose that underlies everything we experience, everything we think, everything we do, everything we care about in our lives.

Once we awaken to the existential questions, we begin our conscious spiritual quest and at some point, we become aware of our psychic being, and get into touch with the spiritual reality, the universal consciousness that develops the universal manifestation for its own intention. Once that occurs, we can begin to sort out with intentionality the actions and focus that help us stay consciously connected to the spiritual truth of our lives, and which help us determine how to express that in a manner that utilizes the capacities, and ever-expanding levels of perfection in action, that occur when we act with understanding and intention.

The Mother notes:

“If we truly want to progress and acquire the capacity of knowing the truth of our being, that is to say, what we are truly created for, what we can call our mission upon earth, then we must, in a very regular and constant manner, reject from us or eliminate in us whatever contradicts the truth of our existence, whatever is opposed to it. In this way, little by little, all the parts, all the elements of our being can be organised into a homogeneous whole around our psychic centre. This work of unification requires much time to be brought to some degree of perfection. Therefore, in order to accomplish it, we must arm ourselves with patience and endurance, with a determination to prolong our life as long as necessary for the success of our endeavour. 

“As you pursue this labour of purification and unification, you must at the same time take great care to perfect the external and instrumental part of your being. When the higher truth manifests, it must find in you a mind that is supple and rich enough to be able to give the idea that seeks to express itself a form of thought which preserves its force and clarity. This thought, again, when it seeks to clothe itself in words, must find in you a sufficient power of expression so that the words reveal the thought and do not deform it. And the formula in which you embody the truth should be manifested in all your feelings, all your acts of will, all your actions, in all the movements of your being. Finally, these movements themselves should, by constant effort, attain their highest perfection.”1

- Santosh Krinsky (USA)

Institute for Wholistic Education, and, Lotus Press 

 

1 The Mother, ‘The Science of Living’ in CWM vol.12