Existence is Essence

 

Existence is Essence

Essence is the meaning or purpose of a given entity. Existence is the presence or being of an object. The philosophers and theologians in the western world have been struggling to understand the purpose of life. Whether existence precedes essence or essence precedes existence? Whether there is a predefined purpose of life or one has to find his own purpose to life?

According to theology, God has created human beings with a purpose. Essence precedes existence. Human beings should obey the commandments of God. Scriptures are the authorities telling a man the purpose of his life as decided by God. You are created by God to obey him and attain salvation. The scriptures dictate the purpose to a man. If God has created man with a purpose, whose purpose it is? Is it God’s purpose or man’s purpose? If God has a purpose, the is not perfect. Then he stops to be the God. It cannot be man’s purpose, because he was not present before creation. Nothing is created for serving its own purpose. Also, why God has to create a non-existent man and make him attain salvation? The theology does not have a logical explanation for the purpose of life.

Existentialism is a reaction to theological doctrines. According to the existentialists, existence precedes essence. The life comes first. There is no predefined meaning or purpose of life. One can assign one’s own meaning and purpose to life. If one wants to travel to various places and enjoy, it is the purpose of his life. If one wants to give up personal enjoyment and serve the society, it is the purpose of his life. The existence of life precedes the essence of life.

Though existentialism sounds more logical than theology, it does not really answer the age-old question: “What is the meaning of life?” It just seems to say, “it has no meaning of its own. Find it out for yourself.” In the effort to invent 'my' meaning to my life, I end up leading a meaningless life! If there is life, there has to be a meaning. What is it? The question persists.

One can find the answer in Vedanta. Life is not meaningless. Life has a purpose. The purpose can neither precede life, nor can it follow life. The purpose of life is intrinsic to life. An external agent does not decide the purpose of life. God has not defined a purpose. In fact, God does not create an individual. Jiva is anadi - beginningless. Also, one cannot invent a new purpose. If you want to find the purpose of life, do not seek it outside life. Ask yourself: What do I want?

Vedanta talks about purusharthas. What an individual seeks in life is called purushartha. The greatest purushartha is Moksha. Unlike the theology, Vedanta does not dictate terms to an individual. Vedanta does not compel a person to seek Moksha. Vedanta helps us to think clearly and understand the purpose that is within ourselves.

All human beings want permanent happiness and permanent freedom from problem. It is universal. Longing for permanent happiness and freedom from problems is intrinsic to an individual's nature. Knowingly or unknowingly, everyone is struggling to accomplish the same goal:  permanent happiness and permanent peace. Vedanta calls it Moksha. Moksha is permanent happiness and permanent peace. Moksha is the purpose of human life.

Vedanta shows the way to find Moksha. Vedanta is a means of Knowledge. It is not a book of dogmas that dictates terms to an individual. It av=wakens us to the absolute. Our true nature is the Brahman. Brahman is eternal. It is Happiness. It is free from all problems. Brahman is sat - the existence. It is the happiness that is free from problems – the essence. Hence Existence is essence. Existence neither precedes or follow essence. Existence is essence and essence is existence.

Disclaimer: The article is based on the authors own understanding philosophical ideas.