Every human being desires to achieve excellence in life in some way. But very few people know about true excellence. The kind of excellence that is achieved in the world, whether in political, religious, cultural or various other fields, is short-lived and partial.
Excellence in our world is relative. Something that is excellent today may not be considered so later; a new kind of excellence may outshine the old one. We hear of ex-heads of state being addressed as former Excellencies, and celebrities in sports and culture being nominated as the celebrities or a particular year.
Moreover, excellence is influenced by economic, social. Cultural and political factors. Many and vested interests also bear a great influence on what is considered as excellent. Hence, excellence in this world is at best lame; it lasts only as long as it is supported by the crutches of adulation. Along with winning admirers, excellence also attracts many jealous enemies and critics.
Going by the standards of excellence set by our modern society it is but natural that people decide their aim of life accordingly. So, we have more and more people trying to be excellent in their looks, in academic, sports, arts, or other skills related to daily life but we hardly find a person aiming to be excellent in character or moral values.
Excellence in human nature and moral values is rarely talked or today. Even if we hear of a few personalities who may excel in one or two virtues, it is impossible to find someone who is the best in all noble qualities and virtues of a human sou. If we understand that true excellence is more about moral integrity and spiritual values then we would definitely aim to achieve that.
Whatever type of excellence is achieved it is remembered or commemorated in some way by people. The nobler the quality of excellence, the more it is remembered by humans in the most exalted way? It is the memory of Paradise and the deities who inhabited it – whose perfection is eulogized in innumerable temples, idols, myths, legends and songs.
The deities are remembered even today as sarvgun sampan, solah kala sampoorn, sampoorn nirvikari, maryada purshottam, ahinsa parmodharma (completely virtuous, sixteen celestial degrees full, completely voiceless, following the highest code of conduct and the highest religion of non-violence).
They manifested such excellence that their idols are worshiped to this day by countless people. To become as exalted as the deities is indeed the highest aim of life. But how did the deities become so elevated?
An excellent creation can only be made by a super excellent creator. If the creation has to be excellent, then the creator has to be par excellence. Who other than God can create humans with such excellent personality? God is the fount of all virtues and spiritual powers. He manifests supreme excellence or perfection.
When humans connect to God through His wisdom and love, they realize their highest degree of perfection. He is the Supreme Craftsman who shapes every aspect of mind, body and spirit into perfection. When we belong to God as His spiritual Children, we inherit His kingdom-Paradise- where the body and spirit are both pure.
As soon as these divine souls lose their purity, the world becomes hell. In place of virtues we see vice such as lust, anger, greed, attachment and ego. When souls lose their original worth they try to achieve it through different roles and relationships. The lopsided pursuit of excellence in this world is, in fact, an attempt by humans to achieve the perfection once manifested by deities in heaven.
They pursue excellence in health, wealth, intellectual skills., entertainment or other mundane activities. But total or holistic happiness can come only with complete perfection. Excellence in the ultimate sense can come only when all qualities such as health, wealth, wisdom and virtues are present together.
The highest aim of life is, therefore, to elevate our character from human to divine by connecting to the highest source of perfection – God. He defines the highest aim for humans and guides us with His wisdom and power to achieve that. He is the Alchemist who is transforming iron-aged Humans into golden-aged deities in the present time.
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