*THE IMPORTANCE OF HUMAN LIFE*

This material body is temporary, similarly, any Material knowledge you acquire, either you become a chemist
or physicist or a medical man or an engineer, whatever you may acquire knowledge, all this knowledge will
finish as soon as this body is finished. You will forget because death means forgetfulness.
But if you develop Spiritual knowledge, then that will not finish even after finish of this body. Because the
Spirit does not die, eternal, so Spiritual knowledge continues. Suppose cent percent Spiritual knowledge you
acquire in this body, then that will continue with you. Even after destruction of this body that Spiritual
knowledge will continue with you, and when you get next body, you begin. If you finished your ten percent,
you will begin again from eleven percent. That knowledge will not be lost.
The first step to understand about Spiritual knowledge is realizing the self. We have to know the answers of the
following questions related to our life to understand the goal of human life:
 1. Who am I in this material world?
 2. Is there any difference between Human Life and other species? Or, Which life is considered as better?
 3. Are the human really superior to other species of life? or, Who is called a human being?
 4. What is the importance of human life?
 5. What is the goal of human life?

*1. Who am I in this material world?

Ans. According to the Vedic scriptures, there are 8.4 million (84 lacs) species of life and I (the conditioned
soul) am continuously passing through the different species according to my karma (activities). The 8.4 million
(84 lacs) species of life are creations of the Supreme Lord, and part and parcels of Him.

jalajā nava-lakṣāṇi
sthāvarā lakṣa-viṁśati
kṛmayo rudra-saṅkhyakāḥ
pakṣiṇāṁ daśa-lakṣaṇam
triṁśal-lakṣāṇi paśavaḥ
catur-lakṣāṇi mānuṣāḥ
"There are 900,000 species living in the water. There are 2,000,000 nonmoving living entities such as trees
and plants. There are 1,100,000 species of insects and reptiles, and 1,000,000 species of birds. As far as
quadrupeds are concerned, there are 3,000,000 varieties, and there are 400,000 human species." ---
(PadmaPurana)

There are 8 million (80 lacs) species of life in water, trees and plants, insects and reptiles, birds and animals.
Above them are the human species. There are 0.4 million (4 lacs) human species among the 8.4 million (84
lacs) species of life.

*2. Is there any difference between Human Life and other species? Or. Which life is considered as better?
Ans. A human is better than the others species of life because he/she can share his/her desires with others. A
human has the higher intelligence in comparing with other species of life. Thus, human life is called better life
than other species of life.
Srimad-Bhagavatam, 3.29.28: “Living entities are superior to inanimate objects, O blessed mother, and
among them, living entities who display life symptoms are better. Animals with developed consciousness
are better than them, and better still are those who have developed sense perception.”
Srimad-Bhagavatam, 3.29.29: “Among the living entities who have developed sense perception, those who
have developed the sense of taste are better than those who have developed only the sense of touch. Better
than them are those who have developed the sense of smell, and better still are those who have developed
the sense of hearing.”
Srimad-Bhagavatam, 3.29.30: “Better than those living entities who can perceive sound are those who
can distinguish between one form and another. Better than them are those who have developed upper
and lower sets of teeth, and better still are those who have many legs. Better than them are the
quadrupeds, and better still are the human beings.”
*3. Are the human really superior to other species of life? or, Who is called a human being?
Ans. There are 0.4 million (4 lacs) human species among the 8.4 million (84 lacs) species of life. For example,
some people are deaf, some people are blind, some are poor, some are rich, some are dancer, some are singer,
some are intelligent, some are foolish, some are immobile, some are strong, some are weak, some are with no
hands, some are black, some are white, some are tall, some are tiny and so on.

Among the 4 lacs human species, which one is called a real human being, about this also there is beautifully
described in a verse in the Vedic Scriptures:

ahara-nidra-bhaya-maithunam ca
samanyam etat pasubhir naranam
dharmo hi tesam adhiko viseso
dharmena hinah pasubhih samanah
“The activities of eating, sleeping, mating and defending are common in animals and human beings. The
human beings are considered superior only when they inquire about God, otherwise they are considered
as good as animals.” --- (Mahabharat)

From this verse we can say, “If one spends his lifetime in sense gratification like the other species, then he/she
is no better than animals and wastes his/her birth as a human.”
So, what is the major difference between Human and Animals?
The human beings are considered superior only when they inquire about God, otherwise they are considered as
good as animals. It is said, “dharmena hinah pasubhih samanah” means if one does not practice dharma, he is
no better than animals.

Srimad-Bhagavatam, 3.29.31: “Among human beings, the society which is divided according to quality
and work is best, and in that society, the intelligent men, who are designated as brāhmaṇas, are best.
Among the brāhmaṇas, one who has studied the Vedas is the best, and among the brāhmaṇas who have
studied the Vedas, one who knows the actual purport of Veda is the best.”
Srimad-Bhagavatam, 3.29.32: “Better than the brāhmaṇa who knows the purpose of the Vedas is he who
can dissipate all doubts, and better than him is one who strictly follows the brahminical principles. Better
than him is one who is liberated from all material contamination, and better than him is a pure devotee,
who executes devotional service without expectation of reward.”
Srimad-Bhagavatam, 3.29.33: “Therefore I do not find a greater person than he who has no interest
outside of Mine and who therefore engages and dedicates all his activities and all his life — everything —
unto Me without cessation.”
*4. What is the importance of human life?
Ans. We must always remember that this particular form of human life is attained after an evolution of many
millions of years in the cycle of transmigration of the spirit soul. In this particular form of life, the economic
question is more easily solved than in the lower, animal forms. We are given this human form of life not just
work hard like the swine or dog, but to attain the highest perfection of life.

When one wants to cross a large ocean, he requires a strong boat/ship. It is said that the human body is an
excellent vehicle by which we can reach eternal life. It is a rare and very important boat for crossing over the
ocean of nescience which is material existence.

In this human body we can ask and have the answers of most important questions in life like,
 Who am I? Where have I come from? Why am I here?
 What is life? Where will I go after this life?
 What is this world? Is there a creator?
 Is there an ultimate or absolute truth?
 Is there transmigration of the soul? etc. so many questions for which if we had the answers, we would
solve so many problems.

yad adhruvasya dehasya

sānubandhasya durmatiḥ
dhruvāṇi manyate mohād
gṛha-kṣetra-vasūni ca
"The misguided materialist does not know that his very body is impermanent and that the attractions of
home, land and wealth, which are in relationship to that body, are also temporary. Out of ignorance only,
he thinks that everything is permanent." --- (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 3.30.3)

sa vañcito batātma-dhruk
kṛcchreṇa mahatā bhuvi
labdhvāpavargyaṁ mānuṣyaṁ
viṣayeṣu viṣajjate
"Any person who engages himself within this material world in performing activities that necessitate
great struggle, and who, after obtaining a human form of life — which is a chance to attain liberation
from miseries — undertakes the difficult tasks of fruitive activities, must be considered to be cheated and
envious of his own self." --- (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 4.23.28)

The acceptance of the body as oneself, the acceptance of others as kinsmen in relationship to this body and the
acceptance of the land of one's birth as worshipable are declared to be the products of an animal civilization.
The materialist person wastes his body like cat and dogs. When, however, one is enlightened in Kṛṣṇa/God
consciousness, he can use these for the service of the Lord. That is a very suitable proposition. Everything has a
relationship with Kṛṣṇa/Supreme Godhead. The devotee of the Lord knows the importance of the human body.
Thus, the human body is very valuable to him.

ye 'bhyarthitām api ca no nṛ-gatiṁ prapannā

jñānaṁ ca tattva-viṣayaṁ saha-dharmaṁ yatra
nārādhanaṁ bhagavato vitaranty amuṣya
sammohitā vitatayā bata māyayā te
"Lord Brahmā said: My dear devas, the human form of life is of such importance that we also desire to
have such life, for in the human form one can attain perfect religious truth and knowledge. If one in this
human form of life does not understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead and His abode, it is to be
understood that he is very much affected by the influence of external nature." --- (Lord Brahma to
Devas, 3.15.24)
The human form of life is desired even by Brahma. Brahmā and other devas have much better material bodies
than human beings, yet the devas, including Brahmā, nevertheless desire to attain the human form of life
because it is specifically meant for the living entity who can attain transcendental knowledge and religious
perfection. It is not possible to go back to Godhead in one life, but in the human form one should at least
understand the goal of life and begin Kṛṣṇa/God consciousness. It is said that the human form is a great boon
because it is the most suitable boat for crossing over the nescience ocean. The spiritual master is considered to
be the most able captain in that boat, and the information from the scriptures is the favorable wind for floating
over the ocean of nescience. The human being who does not take advantage of all these facilities in this life is
committing suicide. Therefore one who does not begin Kṛṣṇa/God consciousness in the human form of life
loses his life to the influence of the illusory energy.

When one wants to cross a large ocean, he requires a strong boat. It is said that this human form of life is a good
boat by which one can cross the ocean of nescience. In the human form of life one can obtain the guidance of a
good navigator, the spiritual master. One also gets a favorable wind by the mercy of Kṛṣṇa/God, and that wind
is the instructions of Kṛṣṇa/God. The human body is the boat, the instructions of Lord Kṛṣṇa (Supreme
Godhead) are the favorable winds, and the spiritual master is the navigator. The spiritual master knows well
how to adjust the sails to catch the winds favorably and steer the boat to its destination. If, however, one does
not take advantage of this opportunity, one wastes the human form of life. Wasting time and life in this way is
the same as committing suicide.

nṛ-deham ādyaṁ sulabhaṁ sudurlabhaṁ

plavaṁ sukalpaṁ guru-karṇadhāram
mayānukūlena nabhasvateritaṁ
pumān bhavābdhiṁ na taret sa ātma-hā
"The human body, which can award all benefit in life, is automatically obtained by the laws of nature,
although it is a very rare achievement. This human body can be compared to a perfectly constructed boat
having the spiritual master as the captain and the instructions of the Personality of Godhead as favorable
winds impelling it on its course. Considering all these advantages, a human being who does not utilize his
human life to cross the ocean of material existence must be considered the killer of his own soul." ---
(Srimad-Bhagavatam 11.20.17)

The human body, which is obtained after passing through many inferior forms, is created in such a way that it
can award the highest perfection of life. A human being is supposed to serve the Supreme Personality of
Godhead, and the bona fide spiritual master is the appropriate guide for such service. The causeless mercy of
Lord Kṛṣṇa (Supreme Godhead) is compared to favorable winds that help the boat of the body to ply smoothly
on the course back home, back to Godhead. Lord Kṛṣṇa (Supreme Godhead) gives His personal instructions in
Vedic literature, speaks through the bona fide spiritual master, and encourages, warns and protects His sincere
devotee from within the devotee's heart. Such merciful guidance of the Lord moves a sincere soul quickly on
the path back to Godhead. But one who cannot understand that the human body is a suitable boat for crossing
the ocean of material existence will see no need to accept a captain in the form of the spiritual master and will
not at all appreciate the favorable winds of the Lord's mercy. He has no chance of achieving the goal of human
life. Acting against his own self-interest, he gradually becomes the killer of his own soul.