What is the mission of human life?

The mission of human life is to transcend the sufferings of the material world and attain everlasting joy. Despite our ceaseless pursuit of happiness, we often find ourselves falling short. Fleeting moments of delight fade away, leaving us entangled in inevitable hardships. The scriptures enlighten us that we are spiritual beings, eternally connected to the Supreme Lord Sri Krishna, and our inherent nature is one of profound and unending bliss - ānandamayo 'bhyāsāt (Vedānta-sūtra).

So why do we experience suffering, and how can we rediscover our lost happiness to lead a life brimming with bliss?

Our revered spiritual guide, Srila Prabhupada, the founder-acharya of ISKCON, has bestowed upon us the opportunity to attain a life filled with joy and serenity. We simply need to abide by a few fundamental principles:

1. Regularly chant the holy names, the Hare Krishna maha-mantra.
   
   “ hre k&VNa, hre k&VNa, k&VNa k&VNa hre hre ।
     hre rama, hre rama, rama rama hre hre ॥ ”
2. Engage in the study of the Srimad Bhagavatam, the pristine purana that glorifies the Supreme Lord.
3. Partake in prasadam, the sanctified food offered to the Supreme Lord.

By faithfully embracing these three principles, genuine happiness can be attained in life. But how does it work?

First, let us comprehend the root cause of our predicament, which perpetuates our suffering. We have been ensnared in the material world for countless lifetimes, and the happiness we pursue within it is transient and illusory. In our pursuit, we engage in various activities, both virtuous and sinful, that further entangle us within this material realm.

Our sufferings are a consequence of past sinful actions, and by following these three principles, all material contamination and sins are purged. As a result, we are reinstated in our intrinsic state of boundless joy and happiness.

Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu affirmed that chanting the holy names of the Lord purifies the core of our hearts and extinguishes the fires of material existence, thereby eliminating our suffering.

The Srimad Bhagavatam proclaims that through regular study of its sacred verses, all unfavorable qualities residing within our hearts are completely eradicated. Ignorance dissipates, and we find ourselves situated in the mode of goodness, acquiring divine qualities akin to those of the demigods.

By partaking in prasadam, we avoid incurring further sinful reactions. Krishna Himself states in the Bhagavad-gita (3.13) that "yajña-śiṣṭāśinaḥ santo mucyante sarva-kilbiṣaiḥ" meaning devotees who consume food first offered in sacrifice (as an offering to the Lord) are absolved of all kinds of sins.

Thus, by embracing these three simple yet potent principles bestowed by Srila Prabhupada, we can manifest a life overflowing with happiness, robust well-being, peace of mind, and the cultivation of virtuous qualities.

ADV