Written by Margaret Goodwin
What is our purpose? Why are we living?
Every human being has some talents, some specialties. Every human being is a living soul, who brings life to his or her environment.
It’s when individual souls leave their bodies that those left behind seem to see clearly the specialties of the departed ones. It’s then that others can identify the worth and purpose contributed to life by those souls. They will miss these individuals and their contribution.
Once something is gone, we may appreciate more clearly what we had and so truly understand what we have lost.
Individuals may be shy, quiet, withdrawn, timid, perhaps unlikely to speak up and make their presence felt. It does not matter. To the world they add life, emotion, hope, dreams, their virtues, their strengths and their weaknesses – all that is within them.
They vibrate life and their essence into the atmosphere – like a river. When you approach a river, which may be moving slowly or has become still or is moving swiftly, you can feel its presence. You can feel its beauty, its life and worth. It has a presence. It is a living thing.
Life brings life. Life sustains life.
At other places along a river’s course, there may be obstacles, large sharp rocks and debris. The water flows over these with ease. It does not stop. It does not falter. Over time, it can easily make those sharp edges smooth. That’s the power of gently flowing water.
There may be many side scenes on the river’s bank. But the river does not stop or slow down to look or to watch what is happening along its course. It has a purpose: to sustain life and to flow, just to flow. That flowing will take it to its destination: the ocean.
And so, it flows.
We may stop to watch the side scenes in our lives. We may forget that we are life and have many wonderful qualities, talents and specialties. Perhaps we have never been told of these by others, simply because they too could not see them. Perhaps we have not been able to recognise these ourselves.
The river does not stop to wonder: “Why?” or “How?” The river flows. The river fulfils its purpose. Yes, and so do we, even without trying.
How would it be if we could just flow like the river, if we could try out every inspiration that touches us, if we could not feel fear or have doubts about ourselves but always give things a go, when new opportunities come in front of us?
How would we be if we could live our lives to the fullest, not wondering, but choosing to flow with life?
We could add even more to this world than just our living energy and our essence. We could create such an impression on others that they would be able to see and appreciate our specialties, our talents and our qualities, while we are still in this life with them.
If we could just flow, like a little river, and share with the world all our beauty, our talents and specialties, we too would be able to see our purpose. We would see how others appreciate our contribution and we would understand that all of us have a purpose.
(Margaret Goodwin is a practitioner and teacher of Raja Yoga Meditation. Margaret can be contacted on blacktown@au.brahmakumaris.org)
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The Brahma Kumaris in Australia
The Brahma Kumaris have had a presence in Australia since 1975. There are centres and class locations in the major cities, as well as three Centres for Spiritual Learning, where courses, classes and retreats are held.
The Brahma Kumaris Australia is a registered charity in the area of education (spiritual).
All programs are offered free of charge as a service to the community.
The ongoing operations are funded through donations from students and the public in the spirit of maintaining its educational services for the benefit of all in the community.
Meditation online: http://learnmeditationonline.org, www.brahmakumaris.org.au, www.facebook.com/BKAustralia
