“What is our purpose ?”
As kids, we are not bothered about purpose of life and enjoy life as it is. We are always looking forward to the current day, and may be next day. We are not worried about future. Our biggest fear usually is exams but that is also a passing phase. Independent of the naughtiness levels, we want to be recognised as ‘good’ kids, both at home and school.
As young adults (15 – early 40s), we are always looking forward to the life ahead of us. The future excites us, opens up opportunities, makes us hopeful and we look forward to what it holds for us. The energy available is often infinite and there is an eagerness to explore the ‘next best thing’, either personally or at work.
At mid-life (40 – 60s), we are mostly worried and anxious about the life ahead of us. What does the future hold ? The past seemed more better leading to nostalgia. We search for purpose in the present, with lack of clarity in what we do or what we want to do. Responsibility burdens us and there is lesser excitement. Future looks bleak leading to more anxiety. ‘Follow your passion’ is sold as a cure-all medicine, putting additional stress on the anxious mind. This typically is the mid-life crisis.
As we navigate to the senior phase of life (70+) , there is lesser anxiety as responsibilities wane. There is no crisis but often a sense of fulfilment (or disappointment) of past, and an acceptance (or fear) of the future reality.
“What is our purpose ? Does our existence have any purpose ?”. This is the question that keeps popping up often during out mid-life. As mere mortals, we may never find the answer to that question in our life time. We can only be guided towards a “perceived purpose” and this often leads to choices that we have to make along a path that can lead us to that destination.
In the course of the choices we make, there are broadly 2 paths – that of darkness, often characterized by selfish actions arising out of greed, anger, lust (materialistic) or that of selfless service (dharma) - either spiritual (Jnana) or action (Karma). We may not be able to pursue a single purpose, but can travel down the chosen path (sometimes alternating between the paths), finetuning and changing ourselves. What we expect as “purpose” can only be measured once we disappear, based on how our lives influence others based on the path taken.
Both the paths can lead to a purpose. At extremes, taking the dark path (demonic) can make us an example of what not-to-be and taking the bright path (dharmic) can make us an example of what to-be. Our impact is measured by how (and how long) we are remembered by our succeeding generations and for what “purpose”.
Every life and non-life has a purpose. A plant, animal, stone, sand, etc. has a purpose. Most often, we are all just a bead in the chain of purposes, a medium to carry traits and learnings. Our purpose can only be determined by how we live in the present, based on actions of past and what we carry into the future.
Includes references from Bhagavad Gita