Radhanath Swami on Purposeful Living

Duration of life is not a very important quality. It is said in the holy scriptures, better one moment of full consciousness of the Truth than a long, long life simply dreaming in illusion. Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu lived for 48 years. Shankaracharya lived only for 32 years, Lord Jesus Christ 31 years, and see the mark they made on the world. See the dignity of their purpose and their lives. Most of the old people today do not know what to do. They may play cards or checkers, simply surviving with no purpose or aim, just trying to avoid death day by day. Who thinks about those people after they die? They are gone, they are forgotten very soon in the pages of history. But these great souls, they are remembered even five thousand years later. An intelligent person, a wise man or woman, will identify with the teachings of the scriptures, will know that old age and death are the problems I have to face and will seek out the answers on how to live a meaningful life that will make an impact on society.