The Aims of Life

Since very ancient times, Indian thinkers have asked themselves questions about the nature of the world and the position of man in creation. They considered matter as being formed of atoms, cells constituted by energetic elements, organized according to mathematical formulas that define the various elements under relatively stable and permanent forms. Life presents a different problem. Being based on formulas, codes defining the peculiarities of the various species, it only exists by transmitting itself through temporary links. The species is permanent but each link has only a limited existence. Once it has transmitted the code that defines its nature it is itself destroyed. During its brief existence, each link needs, for its own subsistence and self-transmission to comsume energy, to nourish and protect itself. And existing only as a species, beings form interdependent communities and must observe rules of social behavior. They therefore possess obligations - ethics - that form part of their nature. This is extremely important for the human species. Life thus necessitates three kinds of activity: To assure its survival, its means of existence, and its nourishmentl to realize its reproduction according to forms of activity generally connected with sexuality and lastly to establish rules of behavior that allow different individuals to perform their roles within the framework of the species. In human society this is represented as three necessities, three aims of life: material goods (artha) assure survival; erotic practice (kama) assures the transmission of life; and rules of behavior, a moral nature (dharma), assure the cohesion andduration of the species. Tomorrow's Part II - The Essence of Kama Sutra. Stay tuned~