THE THIRD PURPOSE PURPOSE3.TXT *********************************************************************** THERE IS A THIRD LEVEL OF PURPOSE FOR BEING IN A HUMAN BODY. THE THIRD PURPOSE OF BEING IS TO BE OF ASSISTANCE TO OTHERS SPIRITUALLY, EMOTIONALLY, MENTALLY AND PHYSICALLY, WHEN IT IS APPROPRIATE TO DO SO AND TO CREATE OR ASSIST IN CREATING SOMETHING HERE IN THE WORLD THAT IS OF VALUE TO OTHERS, BEYOND WHAT IS OF VALUE TO ONESELF AND ONE'S OWN FAMILY. ASSISTANCE CAN TAKE THE FORM OF PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR DIRECT LEARNING EXPERIENCES, INSIGHTS ON SPIRITUAL OR MUNDANE MATTERS, NURTURING, EMOTIONAL SUPPORT, SHELTER, FOOD AND EVEN FINANCIAL HELP IN SOME FORM OCCASIONALLY. CREATING SOMETHING OF VALUE TO OTHERS MAY TAKE MANY FORMS. IT CAN BE A BOOK WRITTEN TO SHARE WISDOM / KNOWLEDGE, A PIECE OF ART, POETRY OR MUSIC THAT TOUCHES / EVOKES THE EMOTIONS AND OR DEVOTION, OR CREATE A PLACE FOR PEOPLE TO LIVE WHERE INTERNAL CHANGE AND SPIRITUAL GROWTH ARE FULLY NURTURED AND SUPPORTED. ALL SUCH ASSISTANCE IS CALLED KARMA YOGA (LOVING SERVICE TO OTHERS WITHOUT THOUGHT OF REWARD), IN THE EAST, IN THE SANSKRIT LANGUAGE. DISCERNMENT IS NEEDED IN ACCESSING WHO TO SHARE ASSISTANCE WITH. MANY WHO TRY TO ASSIST OTHERS ACTUALLY PERFORM A DIS-SERVICE, AS THEIR AWARENESS IS TOO LOW TO ASCERTAIN WETHER ASSISTANCE IS APPROPRIATE IN THE SITUATION AND OR WHAT IS APPROPRIATE ASSISTANCE. GIVING MONEY TO A HUNGRY PERSON WITH A SERIOUS DRUG PROBLEM MAY RESULT IN THE PERSON USING THE MONEY FOR MORE DRUGS INSTEAD OF FOOD. LOANING OR GIVING MONEY TO ONE WHO REFUSES TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR THOUGHTS AND ACTIONS OFTEN ONLY SUPPORTS THEIR LACK OF RESPONSIBILITY. SOME MAY NOT BE READY OR ABLE TO COMFORTABLY ACCEPT ASSISTANCE FROM OTHERS AS ASSISTANCE LOWERS THEIR SELF ESTEME AND IMPEDES THEIR GROWTH. SOME MAY NOT BE ABLE TO HEAR OR UNDERSTAND WHAT IS SHARED AND SO THE TIME AND ENERGY SPENT ATTEMPTING TO ASSIST THEM IS WASTED. SOME MAY JUST TAKE ADVANTAGE OF ONE WHO IS OPEN TO ASSISTING THEM, LEARNING NOTHING FROM THEIR SITUATION. SO SHARING ASSISTANCE MAY ACTUALLY HINDER SOME, RATHER THAN ASSIST THEM. IN ACTUALITY THE HIGHEST THING ONE CAN DO TO ASSIST OTHERS IS TO INCREASE ONE'S AWARENESS, AND EXPAND ONE'S CONSCIOUSNESS AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. AS ONE BECOMES INCREASINGLY AWARE, A KNOWING BEGINS TO MANIFEST AS TO WHAT ACTION AND OR NON-ACTION IS APPROPRIATE IN ANY GIVEN SITUATION. WHEN A PERSON'S CONSCIOUSNESS IS SUFFICIENTLY EXPANDED, JUST COMING NEAR ANOTHER PERSON CAN BE OF MUCH BENEFIT TO THE PERSON. UNDERSTAND THAT JUST BEING AVAILABLE TO BE OF ASSISTANCE IS OF VALUE AS KARMA YOGA, AS HE WHO STANDS AND WAITS, READY TO SERVE, IS ALSO SERVING THE DIVINE. --ganashyam das