Living for a greater purpose

What is in it for me? This had become the frequent question for modern civilisation. Almost everywhere you look you can find this motive operating. Television commercials tell us to ‘look for number one’ or encourage us to buy certain prod­ucts because ‘I am worth it.’ This scramble for personal advancement and the unrest it creates are dra­matised continually on the daytime and evening soap operas. Their call to arm is “Get them before they get you.”

Our real nature

But is this an expression of our real nature? At the centre of our being are we beasts of prey operating only from the primal law of nature – survival for the fittest? Or are we spark from the Creative Force, whose nature is to give and love, to seek harmony, balance, and healing for all parts of creation? Dr Maxwell Maltz would ask.

Some would say that the jury is still out on this question. Others would say that the question itself is naïve, that the human race appears to be made up of self-seeking splinters warring constantly among themselves and with their environ­ment. But you have to be careful when looking at the evidence. Notice the major trends that define human nature but examine also the small personal examples that go unnoticed by the world at large.

Religions and philosophies through the ages have struggled to define relationships between the two opposing natures of human­kind: the selfish, ‘me first’ nature and the nature that places concern for another even before one’s own safety. For example, the pagan pantheon of the ancient Romans, there existed the two faced Janus – one head with two images facing in opposite directions. The very story of Buddha’s enlightenment centres on his overcoming the two demons of selfishness: fear and desire. The Christian Jesus overcame the world by offering himself in love and resisting the temptation to save his own life.

The philosophy of Edgar Cayce replays the same theme. “We ap­proach the throne of grace leaning on the arm of another whom we have helped.” In other words, attitudes and actions based on a genuine concern for someone or something greater than yourself actually lead you to your ultimate destiny: identification with the Cre­ative Force of the universe. This is your true self.

But this crown is won only at a price. It takes courage to free your­self from the prison of ego-cen­teredness, from the conviction that your good is based on someone else’s loss or that life is, in essence, survival for the fittest.

Self versus selfishness

One argument surfaces periodi­cally, contending that all morality is based on selfishness – to so-called Rational Selfishness doctrine. If doing good deed makes you happy, the argument postulates, then you are doing it to be happy – and that action is indicative of selfish motive. Therefore, being kind is no more virtuous than being cruel: both are done for the pleasant sensation they bring.

But Mark Thurston believes that such a view, however, fails to grasp the distinction between happiness and pleasure, between self and selfishness; it misses some of the depth of who we really are. “If humanity is seen only as a complex physical organism, then the entire spectrum of human thought and action is reduced to biological terms.” Happiness and pleasure become the same. “However”, he argues, “if humanity is seen with a SPIRITUAL dimension, living through the physical but not limit­ed to it, then the range of human potential is broadened immensely.” Then we have a choice because happiness and pleasure are no longer identical. We can live from a purely physical perspective, forever pursuing pleasure and avoiding pain, or we can choose to live according to our spiritual selves, whose nature is to care deeply and compassionately for others, even to the extent of self-sacrifice.

A purpose in life is certainly not the same as an organised cause or movement, yet often we find organisations or groups serving as vehicles for certain ideals or purposes. Joining a group or move­ment is often part of living for a purpose greater than pure self-in­terest. Yet caution is advised: “Or­ganised movement or groups can create a strong impression of love and peace within the group while wreaking havoc on unfortunate individuals not within its embrace.” The Nazi party is a classic example. As a member of such a group, one may have the impression that one is living for a greater purpose, yet that purpose is in fact destructive – a group ego responding to the ruthless call of nature’s ‘survival for the fittest.’

Edgar Cayce believes that for a group or movement to be truly in tune with the Greater Purpose, it must reach out to the rest of humanity not merely for recruit­ing purposes but in genuine love and compassion. “The test for a group’s attunement with the great ideal and purpose is whether its ef­forts result in a bettering of people in general.”

Inner versus higher

purpose

Perhaps you are struggling to answer – What is my purpose? Your purpose is all around you, lives in you, breathes through you and dances alongside you. All you have to do is to allow it to guide and show you the way. However, Tanaaz believes that we have both a higher purpose and an inner purpose.

Your inner purpose is the stuff you live and breathe every day. It is your energy, it is your vision, your voice and your actions. It holds all the things your energy has come here to achieve on a day to day lev­el. Your purpose can be expressed through (a) the family you were born into; (b) the body you were born with; (c) the circumstances that surround you; and (d) your natural talents, passion, and gifts.

Your inner purpose is essentially everything that you are, because you are perfect just as you are. You need not do anything to acquire your inner purpose. “Through just living, breathing, walking, and thinking you are fulfilling your purpose.”

Your higher purpose, on the other hand, is the mission that your soul was sent here to achieve. It is determined before you came into your physical body and is the ultimate goal of your soul.

Your higher purpose is written on your soul contract and is the overarching force of your life. When you start tapping into your higher purpose you join in the flow and rhythm of life. Essentially we achieve our higher purpose through our inner purpose. In many ways, it is like the higher pur­pose feeds the inner purpose. Your higher purposes do not dictate the type of career or lifestyle that you will have (that is your inner purpose). Your higher purpose is what your soul has come here to achieve and your inner purpose dictates how that higher purpose is presented to the world.

Your higher purpose is often revealed to you when you start following your bliss and tune into who you really are. In fact, all it takes for you to realise your higher purpose is to be your true, authen­tic self. Ruben Chavez thus advises: “Do not worry about trying to find your life purpose. Instead start by acting on the small things that excite you each day. These are the threads that will connect you to your path, passion, and purpose in life.”

Ultimately, it is important to feel part of the great work – the work of elevating the human condition physically, mentally, and spiritual­ly. It is important and helpful to realise that this work is greater than any one person, lifetime, or even historical period. Yet at the same time, living your purpose must be a day-to-day and moment-to-mo­ment experience. The greater work is accomplished by the little things that are done from day to day, such as running next door to provide support and comfort to a grieving neighbour. Victor Frankl says it aptly: “Man is capable of changing the world for the better if possible; and changing himself for the better if necessary.”

BY CAPT SAM ADDAIH (RTD)