The Purpose of Life

In Light on St Matthew, Maharaj Charan Singh explains the parable of the talents that Christ told his disciples (Bible, Matthew 25: 14-30). Maharaj Ji points out that it is essential that we use the number of breaths allocated to us in this life precisely in the way the Saints recommend.

Christ says that the Lord gives every human being in this world a capital amount, the number of breaths which we are allotted, and expects us to make proper use of this in our life. He expects us not only to make use of these breaths merely to live in this world but to add to this capital by doing something else. And that is to attempt to achieve the goal of God-realization, which is the purpose of human life.

After our death the Lord enquires what we have done with the capital amount with which he sent us into the world. Those who made a ‘profit’ please the Lord and he takes them unto himself. Others who did not make the right use of the breaths he gave them, did not make any profit. They just ate, drank and enjoyed life in this world and died. Such people do not please the Lord and as a punishment he not only takes away from them the privilege of the human birth he gave them, but throws them into the darkness of transmigration.

Christ means that we should be like the wise servants of the Lord and make right use of the capital with which he sent us into this world. That is, to gather the spiritual wealth, clear all our burdens, live the teachings of the saints, follow them in obedience, and by so doing, attach ourselves to the divine melody within. Then we will be accepted by the Master and the Lord at the time of our death and go back to our real home.