If we consider seriously, it becomes clear that human being alone is an aspirant for God Realization. Just as the stage of celibacy is meant for studies, the human body – out of 8.4 million life forms – is meant for achieving the knowledge of the divine. This opportunity or ability or knowledge is not found in other forms of life. The gods do have powers of understanding, but they are engrossed in immense worldly pleasures and enjoyments. A person engrossed in worldly pleasures can’t even decide (that he has) to attain God Realization. It is generally observed that rich people don’t attend satsang (association with holy company). Extremely poor people also do not attend satsang, because of their deep worries and concerns about their livelihood. Creatures of hell lead very miserable lives, so they have no opportunity for God Realization. The gods do have a lot of wealth and prosperity, but they can’t think of God realization because they are too much engrossed in pleasures and enjoyments. It is only human beings that can realize God. God has endowed him with this ability and authority. Hence the human body is more significant than that of the gods.
The body of a ‘devata’ (god) is extremely pure as compared to a human body, which is very dirty. If a pig smeared with filth comes near us, we don’t like its presence because it stinks badly. Similarly, the gods feel a kind of bad odor coming out of our bodies because their body is celestial. Human bodies predominantly have earth element, while the bodies of the gods have finer elements. But there is greater significance of human body, because human beings have the entitlement to attain God, which is not available even to the gods.
In Uttara Kanda, the seventh canto of Ramacharitmanas, Garuda puts a question to Kaakabhusundi, “Which is the best form of life?” Kaakabhusundi replies, that human life is the best form of life and all the other beings – movable or immovable – aspire for it :
Nar tana sama nahin kavaniyu dehi;
Jeev charaachar jaachat tehi.
(Manasa VII: 121:5)
Meaning – There is no other form as good as the human body; every living creature – whether animate or inanimate – craves for it.
Further it is pointed out that the human body provides possibilities to go to hell, to heaven or to attain salvation and it is in this body that one may acquire knowledge of God (Paramatma), detachment from the world and noble devotion to God –
Narka swarg apabarg niseni;
gyaan biraag bhagati subh deni
(Manasa VII: 121:5)
Meaning – It (the human body) is such a ladder that (can) take the soul to hell, heaven or even to final beatitude, and the bestowment of blessings in the form of wisdom, dispassion and devotion is also possible (while one’s being) in it.
This body is like a railway junction from where you (can) travel in any direction you like. This is a special feature of the human life. But it has been mentioned earlier that in this life, one may even go to hell as well. Is this a matter of glory or a reproach? It is a reproach but its significance is that the highest goal i.e. salvation and the lowest fall i.e. hell – both can be attained (while being) in it.
Really speaking, it is the utilization of this human body that is significant. When it is utilized properly, the devotion of God, emancipation and detachment from worldly affairs can be attained. There is nothing that can’t be achieved in this human body. It is mentioned in the Gita that the highest goal is the realization of God and that there is a gain greater than this – does not even come in the acceptance –
yam labdhvaa chaaparam laabham manyate naadhikam tatah
(Gita 6:22)
Meaning – Having gained which state he does not reckon any other gain greater than that, and wherein established, he Is not shaken even by the greatest affliction. (Gita 6:22)
Further in the same couplet it is mentioned that having obtained this, man is not moved even by great sorrow. Even if the body is cut into small pieces for any reason, he feels happy, peaceful and blissful. His happiness cannot be reduced. That is a state which is free from the contact of pain and is called Yoga –
tam vidyaad duhkhasamyogaviyogam yogasamjnaitam
(Gita 6:23)
Meaning – This knowledge (that effects into a) separation from (the assumed) union with pain – is called Yoga (Gita 6:23)
In that state there is so much of bliss that the sorrow just disappears altogether. This is the significance of human body because That ‘Yoga’ can be attained in it. But how painful it is that a human being, instead of attaining it, paves the way to hell, by committing sinful acts such as falsehood, fraud, dishonesty and betrayal !
Therefore, we should be aware that after getting this human body, we have neither to go to hell, nor to 8.4 million forms of lives. Why should we get a lower form of life? By committing theft, violence, murder, and adultery and by eating forbidden food and doing forbidden acts one has to go to hell. By gracing us with this human body, God has given us such an opportunity that even the gods can’t obtain. In this form of life, we can attain the highest gain. It provides us peace, happiness and bliss, devoid of sorrows. Even then if we commit sinful acts, we commit a serious blunder indeed.
If you get a valuable thing, you should take its full advantage. If the ‘Paaras’ (philosopher’s stone) touches iron, iron gets converted into gold. But if you use it to grind and make a sauce, or crush your head, you only are responsible for the misfortune. Similarly, by receiving this human life, if we go to hell by committing sinful acts, it is like hurting the head and to be engrossed in worldly enjoyments is like grinding sauce.
Worldly pleasures can be enjoyed in every form of life. A sow can give birth to ten or twelve young ones at a time. So is it a great achievement for you to produce two or three children ? If earning money is an achievement, serpents have a lot of money, because they live at such places where there is money. If leading a luxurious life and enjoying the worldly pleasures is an achievement, then there are dogs in cities like Mumbai – that get all the luxuries – that are not available to most of the people. They travel by cars and airplanes and every luxury is provided to them. If this is a matter of fortune, then even the dogs may also get such luxury. Thus, it is a serious blunder and a degradation, to waste the most precious and rare human life in accumulation of wealth and enjoying worldly pleasures by sinful acts like falsehood, fraud and dishonesty and paving the way to hell. Therefore, be alert! Achieve the highest and the noblest goal of human life, that can’t be achieved in any other form of life.
A man has to suffer the pains in 8.4 millions forms of lives because of the sins done in the human body. All the four ages – Satya, Tretaa, Dwaapara and Kali – are spent in undergoing sufferings of the world and hell, yet the deadly sins committed and accumulated in human life do not get exhausted. But God, being gracious, bestows human life upon us so that we may attain Him. The almighty God, whose mere thought creates and rears the infinite universes, is prepared even to obey us if we love him from our heart. The cowherdesses (Gopis) say to Lord Krishna – ‘If you dance a bit and play the flute, we shall give you butter-milk.’ And Lord Krishna starts dancing and playing the flute. Just imagine the importance and dignity of this human life that makes Lord Krishna dance. But it is a mistake if in this life, we commit sinful acts and thus make preparation to pave the way to hell for suffering torture. We should take the best possible advantage of this human life.
You have come to Vrindavan, so it is advisable for you to visit the temples and behold God and bathe in Yamuna. Find out things that are helpful in God Realization. This is a place of pilgrimage, so visit temples to behold God, attend the program of loud chanting, listen to divine stories, as well as, religious discourses and take full advantage of your visit to this place. What is the use of wasting your time in visiting movies and dramas here?
These things are better available in big cities like Calcutta and Mumbai. Similarly take advantage of human life that has been bestowed upon us by God’s grace. Don’t waste it in worldly pleasures and enjoyments that are available even in the life of a dog, pig, donkey or crow. We are fortunate enough that we have received this human body that even gods can’t get.
Bade bhaag maanush tanu paawaa;
sur durlabh sab granthin gaava.
(Manasa VII: 43:4)
Meaning – It is by good fortune that we have secured a human body, which – as declared by all the scriptures – is difficult even for the gods to attain.
Therefore, we should sincerely devote ourselves from our heart to attain God and should not miss this golden opportunity.
This Kaliyug (Kali-age) is the age in which God-realization can be attained much more easily than in that of the three other ages. But how harmful and shameful it is to waste the time of human body in enjoying worldly pleasures and doing sins and injustice! The sacred books, our own intellect and the society – all consider these sinful actions as highly unjust and disgraceful. Now the question is what should one do?
There is no use crying over spilt milk. Take a firm resolve today that in future you will neither waste your time, nor commit sins, nor do injustice but try to find out means to have devotion to God and to realize Him at the earliest.
Listen to what is being said. It is within our power to realize God, because this human body has been bestowed upon us for this very purpose. Every human being has total freedom to realize God. Rather no one is dependent on anyone to realize God. While it is not within our power to become a millionaire or a landlord or attain great fame or honor. The main purpose of this human body is to attain that Supreme Consciousness. But a human being does not pay attention to this.
It is said in the Ramcharitmanasa –
Kabahu kari karunaa ner dehi,
Det is binu hetu sanehi.
(Manasa 7:43:3)
Meaning – Rarely does God, who loves the Jiva without any self-interest, graciously bestows upon (him) a human form
Pay attention to this verse. It is mentioned here that God, is a well-wisher without any motive, and simply by His grace He has bestowed this human body on us, so that we can become free from sorrows and attain Him. The implication here is that God intends for our betterment, our benediction. So with a little effort on our part, His intention will come true.
Man does not pay attention to the fact that God by His grace has bestowed this human body upon us, believing that man will attain Him. But if he does not attain Him, it means nothing but betrayal towards Him. It is a great loss to commit sins such as falsehood and fraud etc. in this human life.
Take a firm decision that from today onwards, I will not commit sinful and unjust actions and attain God Realization. Just as a businessman makes every effort to find the right goods that will lead to his profitability, in the same way, we too must try to find the best means to realize Him.
You meet a saint or an exalted Soul, who has attained God, ask him how to be free of worldly bondage, how to develop devotion and love for God and how to realize Him. Arouse a true desire within so that you may definitely attain Him, as is expressed in the Ramcharitmanas :
Jehi ker Jehi per satya sanehu;
So tehi milayi n kachhu sandehu.
(Manasa 1:258:3)
Narayan ! Narayan !! Narayan !!!
From book “Art of Living” by Swami Ramsukhdasji.
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