It is often reiterated in the scriptures that the human form we have obtained is very sacred and it should not be wasted, for we do not know whether we ever get it again. Bhagavan Shree Krishna says, "There is no guarantee that you will be born in this form again. You may be taking birth in any form of animals that may not be suitable for attaining to the highest, Me as 'brahmn'!"
What is so sacred about this human form? The answer to this question is revealed in the verse- "Urdhvamula Ashvathha..." (B G. 15. 1). The humans equipped with chitta, buddhi, manas, and ahankar and the 'Atman' covered by the five sheaths- annam, prana, manas, vijnyana and ananda is capable of attaining to the brahmn. However, it is at the lowest level of consciousness (prajnya), say muladhara prajnya, basal plexus, enough to live and work for food, eat, and sleep! Below this level, there is only an instinctive level where the animals cannot think, know what lies ahead! However, this does not mean that the animals cannot attain to brahmn! They, too, by constant meditation on the supreme can attain to it. They become so divine that even the humans worship them- plants, birds, animals, as avataras (matsya, kurma, varaha, haya, narasimha, etc.) Even the donkey, goat, or cat are considered the deities of Veda! Anybody, whether a stone (shalagrama, marble), wood like the Sandal (Srigandha), ashvathha, or banyan and the coconut are divine and we worship them. It is pitiable that the humans remain at the lowest level and never even try to attain higher and higher levels of consciousness.
Bhagavan Shree Krishna, as yogacharya, reveals the secret of the secrets (guhyatama guhyamam)- yogashastra and brahmavidya. He, the Lord, asks Arjuna to give up everything and surrender to Him! - sarva dharman parityjya maamekam sharanam vrajaa | Do we pay heed to His words? There came Badarayana to reveal the Brahman (Sutras 555 (Shankara Bhashya/ or 565 Madhva Bhashya). Shankara, Ramanuija, Madhva, and many others gave commentaries on this, but we do not know whether they ever realized the 'brahmn'. But, this should not prevent us from taking up meditation to attain to this state of highest consciousness (sahasrar prajnya) step by step.
When Shankaracharya held up one finger and said something, his followers took it as advaita tattva. When Madhvacharya raised two fingers his followers took it as dvaita tattva, not realizing the fact that the two fingers are held up in such a way that the last two fingers are pruthvi and jala tattva (that is what we are and we have to attain to), the next two- the agni and vayu tattva (what we must attain to). Moreoever, the Madhva followers never understand the warning that "One should not differentiate and discriminate since the Lord only dwells in all as the Sel;f, the Atman). The closed thumb is 'brahmn' which nobody has so far ever attained! It is not that we cannot attain to that 'brahmn', but it is not something 'other' that is to be attained. It is not even something to know or realize! It is just 'One' and no 'other'! That ('tyat') only exists and nothing besides it! It is this experience that makes one become 'nothing', the 'brahmn'.
Hence, the purpose of human life is to attain to this state of total peaceful bliss, 'nirvana'- sarvajnyatva, an 'all-knowing' state of 'brahmn'. Not even the one who says, aham brahmasmi | so'ham, or shivO'ham | ever realizes brahman as long as he or she does not drop the 'aham' and 'asmita' (moha) attached to it! Then, 'brahmn' only exists and nothing exists besides!
So, just keep quiet and experience the brahmn within!
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