Religion and practical spirituality are distinctive, yet overlapping pathways to living the ideal of highest humanism. The struggle to adhere to the goal of ideal living in an imperfect world is indeed formidable. Swami Vivekananda once re marked that the world is like a dog’s curly tail that can never be made straight. This human intransigence is apparent more than ever to day in the relentless acts of unbridled terrorism and cruelty perpetrated person against person. The odds against attaining to ideal living or perfection thus seem almost insurmountable under the present circumstances. Yet, on deeper reflection, the goal of achieving perfection in human life can never be compromised. Why not? Because human beings are embodiments of divinity. As Swami Vivekananda says, ‘Each soul is potentially divine. The goal is to manifest this divinity within.’ So the purpose of human life is to become perfect, like God.
This divine purpose is primordial and sacred. It is possible that a few positive ripples created by exemplary religious and spiritual action can open the flood gates of moral reform, and bring about a revival of human values. The more we remain cognizant of the practice of religion and spirituality as the axial forces of ideal living, the more will we foster the spread of the moral impulse of humanism, and cause it to prevail in our lives. Only then can the supreme goal of spirituality or perfection in human life become attainable for all as a consummation of the divine will.
The realization of the principles of the highest humanism or oneness with God is the only way for the redemption of human kind in these turbulent times.
We must work and constantly do good, because it is a blessing to our selves. That is the only way we can become perfect. —Swami Vivekananda