Who am I? What do I want? How Will I attain it?

These are the three questions that perplex every mind and that need to be answered. Only the soul embodied with a human form can answer these.

In answer to the first question, there are two views held by philosophers.

1. There is an entity called the "soul" apart from the body, which is the self.

2. The body is the self.

These two views can be referred to as Spiritualism and Materialism. Both those who support only Spiritualism or only Materialism are naive, because materialism is essential for development of the self. Maintaining a balance between these two is what true knowledge is.

In answer to the second question, "What do I want?" both the Materialist as well as the Spiritualists declare that they desire happiness which is unlimited and eternal. Though their philosophies are totally contradictory, their goals are the same. Why? This subject requires deep reflection.

The answer to the third question, "How will I attain it?" depends on the answer to the second question. Nevertheless, one thing is evident. It is our practical experience that though we have attained various material goals time and time again, we have not found satisfaction. From this it is evident that we cannot attain true happiness through Materialism, and it is automatically proven that we can attain our goal only through Spiritualism, since there is no third path.

There are eleven main religions in the world today: Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism, Zoroastrianism, Judaism, Confucianism, Taoism and Shintoism. These religions put forth contradictory views regarding the attainment of true happiness and in fact there are contradictions within the same religion itself.

Jagadguru Shri Kripalu Ji Maharaj reconciles all these apparently opposing views and reveals a universal path that respects all religions.

H.H. Dr Bageeshwari Devi