What is the Purpose of Our Souls here in This World?

Most people advise another person to take care of their health through good nutrition, regular exercise, meditations, avoidance of harmful environments, stress and so on. As a healthcare profession I think otherwise unlike other doctors and healthcare providers.

Seeking good health is the norm as far as our physical body is concerned. On a much deeper understanding what use are these when no matter how much we take care of our health we still have to die only to leave everything behind, health, wealth and all. On death, we completely leave behind everything we dearly cling on to in this world. This must, and will come that day to come, irrespective of who we are. Disease and death are no respect for any man for sure.    

The other day in one of my blog essays I was writing about the soul as the painter of our life here:

Question: Is the Soul Life Itself, and Life the Soul?

 

https://scientificlogic.blogspot.com/2024/06/question-is-soul-life-itself-and-life.html

 

Do Our Souls Remember the Actions of Our Previous Lives?

 

https://scientificlogic.blogspot.com/2024/06/does-our-souls-remember-actions-of-our.html

 

Our souls paint all the pictures of whatever we do here. This painting is being copied into our soul for another new life just like all the information we store into our DNA is being duplicated and copied into the next cell.

 So, wouldn’t it be much better to take care of our soul to keep it healthy so that it can be copied into our eternal soul than to take care of our temporary physical body like temporary cells in the body that all have limited lifespans?

It is the non-physical entity in our body - our souls that last throughout eternity.  No matter how we take care of our physical body, or no matter how physically fit and healthy we are now, the physical body must end and die that fatal day to come, unless some believe they can live forever because they don’t believe there is a God, and that they have no soul.

 They would describe themselves as a soulless person who does not believe in anything, one who has no feeling, no compassion, no love and no forgiveness for anybody and that they can physically live forever free from death?  That perhaps is their belief, and that is entirely up to them how they describe themselves in this world as an eternally soulless person.  

In other words, they  live only to enjoy a physical existence devoid of any love, compassion and feelings, and their  only enjoyment is to gather and invest on physical wealth, enjoy good food and wine, listen to music of their personal liking, travel around the world to enjoy the sceneries, and come home to enjoy WhatsApp and Tik Tok others sent to them, and care two hoots of anything or anybody  else. That’s their life, not mine for sure. But take extreme CARE! with our souls, not our temporary body and life or our physical enjoyment here.  However, some may believe in the existence of God but have no idea why He created them except to enjoy a temporary life here. They merely waste away their short existence here.

The reason why I argue on this is, since scientists have never come out with an acceptable definition of life except use the acronym MRS GREN to mean movement, respiration, sensitivity, growth, reproduction, excretion and nutrition which to me is not the actual definition of life, but just to describe the characteristics of life, but not life itself.

What we want to know is, what actually causes all these biological molecules to become alive, to be able to display all those characteristics and behaviours of something living if there was no soul in it?  What causes these biological molecules to suddenly become alive, and able to move and breathe on their own. To me, it must be something higher than chemistry, probably a soul, the Master of all life itself. If we can answer this, what then is our purpose here?

 Rememer it was the breath of God when He breathed into the soil to create man as a living soul.  What then is the purpose of our soul to keep us alive?

“God formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.”

‎(Genesis 2:7) 

If this was how we came into a living existence, then life is the soul itself, and the soul the life existing in a physical body. In that case, it would be much better to take care of life holistically, than just health or the physical body. Again, we have not answered what then is our purpose here in this world with the existence of our soul that maintains life itself – definitely not the sugars, amino acids, DNA, electrolytes, salts, minerals, vitamins or any other chemicals in the body.  

Giving Grace to God:

Having said that, often than not, most people do not even give grace and thanks to God before a meal. A lot of Christians do, including Muslims, but not all. Like Christians, Muslims do give thanks before a meal, similar to the Christian practice of saying grace. The term for this in Islam is "Bismillah," which means "In the name of Allah (God)." Muslims say "Bismillah" before starting to eat to seek blessings and to acknowledge that the food they are about to consume is provided by Allah.

The same expression of gratitude in Buddhism. Buddhists often express gratitude before meals. Monks and laypeople may recite verses that acknowledge the effort that went into preparing the food and the interconnectedness of all beings. One common chant is the "Mealtime Gatha," which reflects on the food's origins and the need to consume it mindfully.

In Hinduism too the same gratitude. Hindus often offer prayers to express gratitude and seek blessings before meals. A common prayer is the "Brahmaarpanam," which acknowledges that the food is a gift from God and seeks blessings for the meal. Additionally, some might recite the "Annapurna Stotram," which praises the goddess Annapurna, the deity of food and nourishment.

So is in Sikhism where Sikhs usually offer thanks to God before meals with the "Ardas" (a Sikh prayer) or a shorter version known as "Simran." They also emphasize the importance of sharing food (Langar) and often say "Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh" (The Khalsa belongs to the Almighty; Victory belongs to the Almighty) before eating.

Not forgetting in Judaism where Jewish people traditionally say a blessing called the "HaMotzi" before eating bread, which is part of many meals. There are also blessings for other types of food. After the meal, a more extended series of blessings called the "Birkat Hamazon" is recited to thank God for the sustenance provided.

In Zoroastrianism, Zoroastrians often say prayers before meals, expressing gratitude to Ahura Mazda (the supreme god) for the food. The "Ashem Vohu" prayer is commonly recited before meals. So is in Jainism where Jains practice a form of prayer called "Pratikraman" before eating, reflecting on the food's purity and the non-violence principle. They also practice fasting and offer gratitude for the food's nourishment.

These practices reflect the diverse ways in which various religious traditions express gratitude and mindfulness regarding food.

Jesus naturally often did this, giving grace before a meal. Just a few examples here will do where we read in Matthew 14:19 that says, “And he (Jesus) directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people."

In John 6:11, "Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish."

Jesus then feeds 4,000 up on the top of a mountain. This is given in Matthew 15:36: "Then he took the seven loaves and the fish, and when he had given thanks, he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and they in turn to the people."

In The Last Supper (Matthew 26:26-27) it was clearly stated “While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, 'Take and eat; this is my body.' Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, 'Drink from it, all of you.'"

Yet another example where even Jesus gave grace is found in Luke 22:19: "And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, 'This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.'"

These passages illustrate that Jesus consistently gave thanks to God before partaking in a meal,

The reason I write all these reminders is because, when I was a little boy I saw a Chinese man in my hometown in Batu Pahat, Johore, Malaya who was preaching in the streets. But I do not know what religion he followed. There was a small crowd including me following him everywhere. After that, he went to a coffee shop to have his meal. I was astonished to see him lifting up every spoonful of food from his plate, tilted his head slightly backwards, and with an opened mouth gave thanks to God for that spoonful of food before putting it into his mouth.

Wow! that was amazing. He was absoutely devout.  He did that for every spoonful of food, not just for a plate. I thought this may not be necessary, but he did it. He must be extremely thankful for everything he got, even in bits and pieces.  

On hind thought, I think this should be the way as we owe every beat of our hearts and every breath of our lungs to God through the food and nourishment we receive daily.

That for me was indeed a fascinating and touching memory. The practice of giving thanks for each spoonful of food demonstrates a profound level of gratitude and mindfulness. It highlights the importance of being thankful for every small blessing and appreciating the sustenance provided. This level of gratitude is admirable and can be a powerful reminder to all of us to appreciate the small things in life.

But what I personally notice is, not all Christians or Muslims or others with different belief systems give grace before a meal. Like most people, they merely put the food straight away into their mouths without giving any thanks for that daily provision. Sometimes I too make that mistake, not that I am ungrateful, but sometimes I forget or are not mindful enough. Sometimes I neglect this due to my shortcomings and human weaknesses, or my own laziness. But I do seek God for forgiveness after that for my all my mistakes

Many argue there is no reason why they should give thanks to God for that provision because they worked and paid for it with their own money. They argue that it was not God who gave them food, but they personally bought it from the market and supermarkets with their own wealth and money, and there was no reason whatsoever why they need to give grace (thanks) to God?  So, they just conveniently pop the meals into their mouths without a care or a thought.

They say it was the farmer, the food supplier and food manufacturer who produced the food, not God.  This kind of argument suits the ungrateful, and all soulless hearts.

 But they did not explain, or wish to explain what happens if God did not cause the rains to fall, and the seed of life as food to sprout from the soil. They did not explain that it was the stones, rocks and clay on the soil that sprang up alive as living food for them and for all living creatures. They claimed that when their food sprouted out automatically on their own from the dry rocks and soil, and they merely conveniently used their money and their wealth to buy it from the shops and markets. How mindless and ungrateful. Let us remind ourselves that even kings and presidents of any country with all their wealth and powers cannot bring forth stones, bricks, concrete, building and their empires into life as food for them if not for this Grace from God.

In fact, even FAO and all countries are worrying about food security and their ability to feed the growing billions of humans, especially with climate change. Bear this in mind very seriously about famine, starvation, epidemics yet to come. Do not be ungrateful for every morsel of food we put daily into our mouths. Read here:

Food is A Gift from God. Always Say Grace Before a Meal

https://scientificlogic.blogspot.com/search?q=why+we+need+to+give+grace

 Having explained that, it would be much better if we take care of our soul that is eternal and keep it healthy and strong with the least sin possible than taking care of our temporary physical body here. In my spiritual thinking, it would be far better to invest in our soul than to invest in our physical health and wealth for just a maximum of 100 years here in this world.

 In Matthew 16: 25 -26 Jesus warned:

 “For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?”

My perspective on the importance of the soul and the transient nature of the physical body is very relevant to the last dot of our life in this world.  I believe this thinking is profound and resonates too with many spiritual and philosophical traditions.

From a scientific standpoint, life is often defined by the characteristics given as MRS GREN. However, these characteristics describe life as we observe it, rather than explaining its essence. The origin of life, or abiogenesis, remains one of the most profound mysteries in science. Current theories suggest that life arose from a combination of organic molecules and environmental conditions, but the exact mechanisms are not fully understood. The transition from non-living to living matter involves complex processes that are still being explored.

From a spiritual and philosophical viewpoint, many traditions, including Christianity, emphasize the importance of the soul. The passage from Matthew 16:25-26 underscores the value of the soul over worldly gains, aligning with my argument that caring for the soul is paramount.

Other traditions and philosophies also echo this sentiment. For example, in Buddhism it teaches the importance of spiritual development and the cultivation of wisdom, ethical conduct, and mental discipline to achieve enlightenment and liberation from the cycle of rebirth.

In Hinduism it emphasizes the journey of the soul (atman) and its union with the ultimate reality (Brahman). The practice of yoga, meditation, and adherence to dharma (righteous living) are seen as essential for spiritual progress.

Plato's philosophy posits that the soul is immortal and pre-exists before inhabiting a physical body. I strongly support Plato belief too. This has always been my thoughts even long before I did a postdoctoral study on evolutionary biology at the University of Cambridge.

 Plato argues that true knowledge comes from the soul’s recollection of its experiences before birth and that the soul should seek to return to its pure, original state.

In considering the care of the soul, it's essential to integrate physical, mental, and spiritual well-being. While the body is temporary, it serves as the vessel for the soul's experiences and growth. Therefore, maintaining a healthy body can be seen as part of a holistic approach to nurturing the soul.

Ultimately, the balance between caring for the physical body and the soul is a personal journey. Many find that attending to their spiritual needs brings deeper fulfilment and purpose, transcending the temporary nature of physical existence.

I am convinced that with daily spiritual guidance, my view aligns with a holistic approach to life, where spiritual health is prioritized, recognizing the eternal nature of the soul over the transient physical body. This perspective can provide a meaningful framework for living a life of purpose and alignment with higher principles.

The integration of physical, mental, and spiritual aspects provides a holistic approach to understanding and living life. My personal perspective aligns with many spiritual and philosophical traditions that emphasize the interconnectedness of body, mind, and soul.

This is my take for us to live eternally using our souls through the love of Jesus Christ.  

What are, or is yours, unless we admit you say you are soulless person with no purpose in life except to enjoy yourself a physical existence here. That may be yours, definitely not mine for sure!  

Take Care of Your Only Soul. It shall be written in the Book of Life 

ju-boo lim