I want to become something in life. Is worldly advancement an obstacle in spiritual life? What is the goal of life?

Why do you want to become something? Why not everything? Why make a small wish? If you must ask for something, ask for something so that you don't have to ask again. This asking should only be to God: God, let me become yours; become my beloved. I have no one but you. O God, whatever you wish me to do in the world, keep making me do it, whatever position or prestige you wish to give, give it, but I have no importance in all this. Therefore, let us make effort only towards God, and he will place us in the right place according to us. If God wishes to give you a position, he will give you the wisdom and capability accordingly. But your goal should be God, your resting place should be God, not any position or prestige.

Is there any position greater than haridasa?

One who has understood the position of haridasa finds even the position of Brahma very unattractive. We get the right knowledge of principles from the scriptures. According to the scriptures, a devotee devoted to God does not desire the position of Brahma, nor the position of Devraj Indra, nor the siddhis, nor liberation. One who has taken on the attitude of servitude to the feet of God is in the greatest position.

The world is full of duality

When your intellect becomes somewhat pure, then you will see how much suffering there is in the world. Someone has very good food, but they have no appetite. Someone has comfortable sleeping arrangements, but they don't have sleep. Someone looks happy from outside but is suffering from many causes from within. Someone is taking medicine to sleep peacefully. Someone is resorting to dirty films, dirty talk, and bad habits to relax. There are very beautiful objects of enjoyment, the senses are very developed, but still today everyone's mind is restless, afflicted, and many people are in depression. Keep the connection to God's feet from within, and treat whatever work you do from outside as God's service. This world keeps changing. If you set the goal that life in the world will be lived pleasantly, lived with honor, then this can never happen. If we make the world our goal, then we will have to experience pleasure-pain, gain-loss, progress-decline, and so on. And one who gets trapped in these dualities does not attain peace.

Only one who makes God the goal can attain peace

Wish to bring happiness to everyone and ask for its fruit—that God becomes pleased with you. Our business, our job, and whatever work we have, it all belongs to Thakur Ji. The whole creation belongs to Thakur Ji, so whatever service we have been given has also been given by God. We must fulfill that service honestly. Shri Sadan the butcher sold meat, yet in the scriptures he is described as a great devotee. Whatever he did, he did it as God's. He was continuing his family's traditional business, but his goal was God. He was capable of giving teachings even to great scholars. It is unfortunate that our goal is the world. Some people serve Thakur Ji only to obtain worldly things, not God himself.

To live a happy life, you have to give up the hope for happiness. This principle is quite difficult to understand. If your hope is in God, then your life will become happy. Most people in the world make material things their goal to live a happy life. "Hope itself is the ultimate suffering; desirelessness is the ultimate happiness." That is why happiness is not being found anywhere despite searching.

If you decide that no matter what, I need God, then certainly your life will become happy, peaceful, and blissful. Whatever the circumstances, there will be no lack of joy in your life. Because you have made God your master—He whose maidservant is Lakshmi. Now all the siddhis and all the planets will be in your favor. He will not bring you misfortune. All your work will be auspicious. The devotee is surrounded by God's grace.

तब लगि कुसल न जीव कहुँ, सपनेहुँ मन बिश्राम।
जब लगि भजत न राम कहुँ, सोक धाम तजि काम॥
Until this soul, abandoning desire from the house of sorrow, does not worship Shri Ram, for that person there is neither well-being nor does the mind find peace even in dreams. Goswami Shri Tulsidas Ji, Doha-avali

No matter how bad the circumstances, if you take refuge in the feet of Thakur Ji while smiling gently, the heart is filled with enthusiasm and bliss. There is a carefree merriment in love. In it, all complaints and grievances wash away. Then that person remains absorbed in joy all the time.

Guide: Pujya Shri Hit Premanand Ji Maharaj

Shri Hit Premanand Govind Sharan Ji Maharaj Providing Guidance on the Goal of Life

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Original article: bhajanmarg.com