What is the Meaning of Life?

By Kamlesh Patel author of The Heartfulness Way

There can be as many answers to this question as there are people, as we all have different individual goals and aspirations. But if we take a broad overview, we can easily see that life on Earth is an opportunity to evolve. If we then narrow it to human life, how do we evolve? Homo sapiens means ‘wise humane being’, so our human evolution is not about growing longer toes or stronger limbs, but about becoming wise, humane beings. And how does that happen? Through the evolution of our subtle body, the vibrational field that we know as the heart and mind. As the subtle body evolves, we develop an expanded consciousness, wisdom, intuition and higher perception, an insightful problem-solving mind, inspirational creativity, and selfless love and empathy. 

The evolution of the subtle body gives us the ability to design our own destiny, as we use our cognitive functions to choose our direction in life. But what guides those choices? The mind on its own does not have the ability to choose based on wisdom and conscience – the mind is in a sense amoral, as there is no guiding principle in the mind, only a number of mental functions that need to be guided. The guiding principle that underpins the working of the mind and determines our destiny is the heart, the source or centre of our existence. This heart is the same source or centre that exists for every being, including the universe itself, and at the level of the universe that guiding principle is often called God. When we uncover it and let it flourish within the heart, then life has some higher purpose and meaning.

So where does that guiding principle take us? In everyday life it allows us to simplify and purify our existence, so that we are not always pulled and swayed by emotional turbulence and baggage from the past. We remain clear and, in the present, with a freshness and cheerful ability to accept the ups and downs of life as they come. In terms of a lifetime, it gradually takes us to the centre of our being, to the stillness within, to the absolute pinnacle of our existence. 

How do we get there? The journey to the centre has been known by many names throughout human history, including religion, spirituality, alchemy, mysticism, Sufism, and Yoga. It cannot be had simply from knowledge and requires a practical approach. That practical approach is meditation. It is simplest when there is a capable teacher to guide us on the way. Such a way is the Heartfulness Way, and all are welcome.

Kamlesh D. Patel, known widely as Daaji, is the fourth and current spiritual guide of the global Heartfulness movement. His teachings arise from his personal experience on the path of Heartfulness, while reflecting his deep spirit of inquiry and respect for the world’s great spiritual traditions and scientific advancements.

As a modern-day guru, he travels widely, extending his support to spiritual seekers everywhere. A self-professed student of spirituality, he devotes much of his time and energy to research in the field of consciousness and spirituality, approaching the subject with scientific methodology—a practical approach that stems from his own experience and mastery in the field.