\u201cWe are all divine.
\nIn each is a conscious spirit that survives the body and the mind and is a part of the Absolute.
\nThe goal is to manifest this divinity within.
\nDo this either by work, worship or philosophy, \u2013 by one, or more, and be free.\u201d
\n\u2013 Swami Vivekananda<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
The answer comes from Swami Vivekananda, one of the greatest teachers of Advaita Vedanta and a sage who had realized his own soul. It was given in response to a question posed by a disciple, over a 100 years ago.<\/p>\n
However, before we proceed to his answer, let us first visit some key ideas, that will make it easier to understand Vivekananda\u2019s point-of-view:<\/p>\n
Contrary to what modern biologists tell us, there is a purpose which governs our existence. The highest aim of life, of knowledge, of work, of all religions and spiritual paths is one, and that is self-realization \u2013 to\u00a0discover our true identity<\/a>, to know who we really our, to uncover our\u00a0Atman<\/em>\u00a0or\u00a0Soul<\/a>.<\/p>\n Within each of us lies this divine soul, the source of all goodness, whose presence often goes undetected, because it is obscured by our ego, selfishness, greed and other base instincts, which form a hard shell around it.<\/p>\n \u201cA tremendous stream is flowing towards the ocean, carrying little bits of straw on it. We may struggle to go back, or float against the current and play all sorts of pranks, but in the long run we must go and join this great ocean of Life and Bliss.\u201d The\u00a0goal of life\u00a0then, is to crack open this shell and attain a direct perception of our\u00a0Soul and its infinite qualities. Because the soul is an indivisible part of God Himself, to attain a vision of our soul, is to see God \u2013 an event often described as gaining enlightenment.<\/p>\n This state of enlightenment (also known as salvation or\u00a0Samadhi<\/em>) is a point where all questions, doubts, fears and worries cease; when we become aware of the One changeless existence behind this ever-changing creation of life and death, joy and sorrow \u2013\u00a0an existence called God\u00a0\u2013 an infinite and eternal ocean of pure knowledge, consciousness and bliss; as described by the Sanskrit words\u00a0Sat<\/em>,\u00a0Chit<\/em>\u00a0and\u00a0Ananda<\/em>.<\/p>\n Consciously or unconsciously, whether we wish it or not, all of the struggles of life are taking us down this path of God-realization, towards revealing more and more of the divinity that lies within each of us.<\/p>\n This is a slow process, which takes many life-times to unfold. There are ways however, of speeding it up, and one of these is by being good, as Swami Vivekananda explains below.<\/p>\n It is through repeated acts of kindness, goodness and selflessness that we can chip away at the shell of impurities that confines our soul, and let our consciousness evolve from a lower state, where we are aware of only our own selves and our needs; to a higher state of Universal Consciousness (called God), where we see the whole world as One \u2013 as an unbroken extension of our own individual self.<\/p>\n The following conversation with Swami Vivekananda, was recorded by his disciple, Sharat Chandra Chakravarty. It took place at the Belur Math, in Calcutta, in 1898. (Source:\u00a0Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda, Volume 7)<\/p>\n \u201cAll that is good is a reflection of the Soul.<\/p>\n When that reflection is less manifested it is called darkness or evil, and when it is more manifested it is called light or goodness. Disciple:<\/strong>\u00a0Sir, what is the necessity at all for doing good to others?<\/p>\n Swami Vivekananda:<\/strong>\u00a0Well, it is necessary for one\u2019s own good. We become forgetful of the ego when we think of the body as dedicated to the service of others \u2014 the body with which, most complacently, we identify the ego. And in the long run comes the consciousness of disembodiness (freedom from being aware only of our own selves and our needs).<\/p>\n The more intently you think of the well-being of others, the more oblivious of (your own) self you become. In this way, as your heart gradually gets purified by work, you will come to feel the truth that your own Self (Soul) is pervading all beings and all things.<\/p>\n Thus it is, that doing good to others, constitutes a way, a means of revealing one\u2019s own Self or\u00a0Atman<\/em>\u00a0(Soul), which is the highest aim of all disciplines and all spiritual paths.<\/p>\n Being good is a spiritual practice, a discipline for God-realisation through self-realization. Exactly the same goal can also be attained by following other paths of knowledge (Jn\u00e2na<\/em>), devotion (Bhakti<\/em>), work for the sake of others (Karma<\/em>) and so on.<\/p>\n (The above conversation has been supplemented by additional words in order to bring out a fuller meaning. For the complete unedited conversation please see\u00a0Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda, Volume 7)<\/p>\n Thus it is, that the rewards of goodness accrue on the spiritual plane. Being good, may not necessarily result in material gains, but it does lead to permanent spiritual gains. Selfishness on the other hand, may accrue immediate benefits on the temporary material plane, but on the everlasting spiritual plane, it causes us to move away from the light and towards darkness.<\/p>\n
\nYou and I, are like these little straws carried in mad currents, towards that ocean of Perfection with God.<\/p>\n
\n\u2013 Swami Vivekananda<\/p><\/blockquote>\nWhy Should We Be Good?<\/h2>\n
\nThat is all.
\nGood and evil are only a question of the degree by which the Soul is more manifested or less.\u201d
\n\u2013 Swami Vivekananda<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
![](\"https:\/\/cdn-images-1.medium.com\/max\/1600\/0*3pZGvf3qbmx-Wry_.gif\")
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"