“What’s the point of life? Why am I doing this? What is it for?”, you ask yourself and forget it and then you go on to the next pursuit of happiness.
My claim is that your question can be answered and the answer to your question is that you are chasing the wrong thing. There is in fact nothing to pursue. Now this is not so simple as it sounds. You need to do your karma and you need to work and be detached to the results of your works as well as pursue nothing.
I would like to make a distinction between pursuing some goal and doing something not for the goal because you are already satisfied with what you have and you want to do something.You instead do it because that’s your life’s purpose or dharma or duty. Do you see the difference? In the first case there is pursuit and in the second case there is “play”.
https://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/1501668.Alan_W_Watts
“This is the real secret of life — to be completely engaged with what you are doing in the here and now. And instead of calling it work, realize it is play.” -Alan Watts
I use the word “play” in a similar sense as Alan Watts uses the word.
In the ancient days of India the duty of man was clearly defined. They did not have much freedom to choose. But now in this 21st century world you have the freedom to choose what’s our life’s purpose or dharma or duty. If you think saving the whales and endangered animals is your life’s purpose, then that’s what you may do. No one will stop you. But you do need to remember that that’s your dharma and you must do it as if you are doing it without attachment to the results.
The term “without attachment” here is a bit tricky though. It may seem like neglecting the consequences or becoming lazy but that’s not at all what is meant by the word “without attachment”.
To understand how you may lead a life of purpose,dharma or duty and work without attachment, please read the book The Bhagavad Gita with The Commentary of Sri Sankaracharya.
It means “realize it is play”. It means that you may do your work and enjoy it truly and with that playfulness comes the joy of life and you no more worry or become greedy for the results of your work.
As you observe yourself and your thoughts and actions more carefully, you will realise how much judgement,manipulation and attachment is there in your life. I also have them and most people have them too.
But now another question may come up in your mind that isn’t stopping or removing this attachment the goal of life? Isn’t spiritual enlightenment the goal of life?
My answer is find out for yourself.
Its paradoxical. On the one hand there is no goal and on the other there is the goal of enlightenment.
My personal opinion is that spiritual enlightenment is not the goal. Its the consequence of realising that there is no goal. In fact realizing that there is no goal is Spiritual Enlightenment.( its my opinion and not the absolute truth)
You may listen to me and believe that there is no goal. But if you are still unhappy with your life or if you think that if you get something then you will be happy, then you have not realised the truth about my claim. But more on that later in another post.
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