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If the ultimate goal is to get moksha, liberation from the cycle birth, why did our parents and teachers not tell us this? Why were we asked only to work hard for earning our living, to be good doctors, engineers, or government employees, etc? I do not understand how I am to focus my life. Should I be hankering only for job promotions and earning more money, even though this brings more anxiety? In today's world the person with money and power is the person who is the most admired. So should we move according to the society or according to our heart?

Please advise me what is right what is wrong.

Vandana

We should definitely not allow ourselves to be carried away by the mass madness of the modern day society. In this connection it is said, "Fools rush in where angels fear to tread." So instead of being a fool who is carried away by material desires, which lead one to becoming an animal in their next birth, it is better to be an angel by pursuing the divine path of spiritual awakening for gaining liberation from the cycle of birth and death.

Our teachers and parents did not know that the goal of human life is to become liberated from the cycle of birth and death. Therefore they did not teach this to us. In previous ages everyone knew about the science of spiritual emancipation, the science self-realization. But gradually due to the influence of the materialistic age of Kali, which began 5,000 years ago, this knowledge was lost. This is why it is so important to hear from a bona fide spiritual master. It is Sri Guru who must enlighten us because our parents and teachers did not do so.

There is no harm in working hard to earn our livelihoods as long as we realize that this is not the purpose of our existence. The birds are also working hard looking for worms to bringing worms back to their nest. If all we do is work hard for our livelihoods, we are no better than birds.

Human life is meant for a higher calling. We are meant to revive our loving relationship with the Supreme Personality of Godhead as His eternal loving servants because this is how we will become liberated from all material miseries. Working hard to make a lot of money does not free us from all anxieties. Instead of being money-oriented, we should accept whatever means of livelihood allows to easily cover our material needs and at the same time gives us the free time necessary for awakening our Krishna consciousness, the dormant love of Godhead, which is buried deep within our hearts. This will give us the greatest peace and happiness, both in this life and in our eternal future existence.

Sankarshan Das Adhikari