The Aim of a Living Being?

What Is the Aim of a Living Being?

Answer: The Freedom of the Soul! ✨

Why Freedom?

Every living being carries within it an eternal Ātma — the Soul. At the time of birth, this soul takes on a body and begins its journey through life. From childhood to adolescence, adulthood to old age, life flows onward until it finally reaches death. But death is not the end — it is merely a passage. The soul departs from the physical body and travels to either heaven or hell, depending on the karma (actions and intentions) performed during that lifetime.

Once the soul has enjoyed the rewards of its good deeds or endured the consequences of the bad, it is reborn again — this is the unending cycle of birth and death, known as saṃsāra. The soul reincarnates countless times, taking on different forms — from insects and animals to birds and humans — driven by karma and bound to this worldly cycle.

What Does the Gita Say About the Soul?

The Bhagavad Gita describes the ātma as eternal and indestructible:

na jāyate mriyate vā kadācin / nāyaṃ bhūtvā bhavitā vā na bhūyaḥ ajo nityaḥ śāśvato’yaṃ purāṇo / na hanyate hanyamāne śarīre (Gita 2.20)

Translation: “The soul is never born, nor does it ever die. It has never come into being, and will never cease to be. Unborn, eternal, ever-existing, and ancient—it is not slain when the body is slain.”

This reveals a profound truth: we are not the body—we are the soul. And this soul longs for liberation, for freedom from this endless cycle.

How Can One Attain Freedom?

The only true escape from the cycle of death and rebirth is through Moksha — liberation. Moksha is the complete state of bliss and freedom, where the soul becomes one with the Supreme Consciousness and is no longer bound by karma or the material world.

The Paths to Moksha:

The Bhagavad Gita and Swami Vivekananda outline three primary paths through which a being can attain liberation:

1. 🧠 Jnana Yoga (The Yoga of Knowledge):

This is the path of self-inquiry, philosophical reflection, and realization of the self as eternal truth — Sat-Chit-Ānanda (Existence-Consciousness-Bliss). It is suited for those with a sharp intellect and a desire to understand the deeper nature of reality.

2. ❤️ Bhakti Yoga (The Yoga of Devotion):

This path centers on love and surrender to God. Bhakti Yoga is for those who find joy in prayer, chanting, and expressing deep emotional devotion — not for reward, but out of pure love for the Divine.

3. 🔨 Karma Yoga (The Yoga of Selfless Action):

This is the path of action without attachment. Work not for reward, but as a service to the Divine. As Swami Vivekananda said:

“Work incessantly, but give up all attachment to work. Hold your mind free. Do not identify yourself with anything.” (Karma Yoga, 7.10)

The Gita explains:

karmaṇy-evādhikāras te mā phaleṣu kadācana mā karma-phala-hetur bhūr mā te saṅgo ’stv akarmaṇi (Gita 2.47)

Translation: “You have a right to perform your duties, but not to the fruits of your actions. Do not let the fruits be your motive, nor let your attachment be to inaction.”

✅ Can You Choose More Than One Path?

Yes! These paths are not mutually exclusive — in fact, they often support and blend into one another. Swami Vivekananda beautifully said:

“Fools alone say that work and philosophy are different—not the learned. The learned know that, though apparently different from each other, they ultimately lead to the same goal.” (Karma Yoga, 6.25)

Whether one leans toward devotion, inquiry, or service, all paths can lead to Moksha, depending on the seeker’s nature. It is not the label that matters, but the sincerity, discipline, and spiritual intent behind the path.

🌟 In Essence:

The aim of a living being is not merely to survive, but to evolve, to awaken, and ultimately — to be free. True freedom is not outside—it is within.