Who am I? Why am I here? What do I want to do with my life? If you’re looking for answers to these questions, you’re searching for a purpose to your life. These questions surface at different stages – irrespective of our state of satisfaction – although; they’re more pervasive during periods of darkness and dissatisfaction.

Purpose refers to the reason for one’s existence. In modern society, this term is commonly understood as a goal that has to be chased. According to this interpretation of the word, the life goal or objective is a prize. It can be a tangible object i.e., money or material things. Alternatively, it can be something intangible; like fame or appreciation. Notwithstanding its form, many people believe that they’ll find happiness once they achieve this prize. The real experience, however, is starkly different from that depicted in the media and popular culture. Here’s a case study of a person who views purpose as a goal.

A mountaineer set different goals at various points in his life. These included the conquest of peaks from Kilimanjaro to Everest. He was focused on these targets because he was eyeing the rewards at the end of each excursion. Let’s assume that he was successful in achieving each target. Obviously, he felt satisfied after every victory. But then, a host of expectations were foisted on him by the over-zealous public. Trying to meeting these expectations, he became anxious and stressed. Thus, the actual experience of the average person chasing purpose as a goal is often stress, frustration and anxiety; not happiness. But, if he interpreted purpose as a calling, his experience could have been radically different.

If you asked the mountaineer, “Why did you take up the sport?” he would introspect and tell you that the mountain called his name. It was a call that he had to heed. This is because he wanted to connect to the One and mountaineering was the medium his consciousness chose to establish this link. Through this activity – he could reach a state of divine connectedness; wherein; he becomes one with the universe. Once he enters this zone, he becomes a happiness dynamo – absorbing and radiating positive energy. External rewards don’t matter to him. He’s happy simply by being connected to nature.

Thus, the purpose of life is to merge our consciousness at the origin of the universe –the source of its energy. We can all get there by following our calling; thereby becoming super conscious. In this state, we’re in the moment with nature – observing…feeling…every sight, sound and fragrance with passionate detachment.

Imagine if we could remain in this state permanently! We would flow for all eternity.