Understanding Our Purpose on Earth and the Role of Human Life

According to scriptures, our existence on Earth is not random but is part of a grand plan designed by our Heavenly Father. Before the creation of the Earth, there was a great council in heaven where our Heavenly Father explained His plan for our eternal progression. Two-thirds of His children rejoiced at the opportunity to become like their Heavenly Parents, embracing a path of self-improvement and ultimate union with God. However, a third chose Satan’s plan, which denied agency to choose between good and evil.

Faith in God and the road back to His presence is the central theme of The Book of Mormon and other scriptures. To serve penance for the wrongs committed before earthly existence and to evaluate their eligibility to return to God’s presence, His spirit of love was aligned. The earthly journey is a means to foster this deep connection with the divine.

Earth is seen as a school for fallen angels, offering them the opportunity to learn and grow, eventually paving the path back to heaven. Understanding the value and rarity of the human life form is crucial. The soul, an eternal particle of God’s consciousness, can inhabit various forms before progressing to a human body. As per the Brahma-vaivarta Purana, one must transmigrate through 840,000 different species to achieve a human form. This journey is much more than mere biological evolution; it is a spiritual one.

The Padma Purana further emphasizes the rarity of a human life form, stating that every living entity, from grass to bacteria, contains a soul. That makes the human life form a highly precious opportunity— one that is exceedingly rare. This spiritual awareness arises through a path of gradual evolution, from lower life forms like fish and plants up to humans.

Srila Prabhupada notes that the human form of life offers a unique opportunity for spiritual development. In material existence, soul consciousness evolves gradually, but in the human form, individuals can wake up to their true nature and develop a deep love for God. Ignoring this opportunity means being perpetually stuck in a cycle of lower life forms.

The essence of human life, as highlighted by Srila Prabhupada and other scriptures, is to strive for self-realization and understand one’s true purpose. This purpose is to realize eternal life by awakening the innate spiritual body within. The human form is a critical step on the path to liberation, allowing individuals to transcend material existence and achieve divine union.

The challenges and hardships of life on Earth are a test of our commitment to this path. We must align our actions with the spiritual aspirations that God instilled in us. The value of human life lies in its potential for spiritual growth, which can culminate in eternal happiness and closeness to the divine.

In conclusion, the purpose of our earthly life and the unique nature of human existence are not mere coincidences. They are integral parts of a grand spiritual plan, offering us the chance to fulfill our destiny and return to God’s presence. Embracing this journey of spiritual growth is the ultimate realization of our true nature and purpose.