Purpose of life

Main points: 

1. Purpose of human life is to plant the Name of God in one's mind and consciousness. The planted Name will eventually sprout to affection, love and companionship with God, which is eternal wealth. Purpose of human life is to earn this eternal wealth.
   
2. Above purpose of human life does not mean that a person should not do anything else - what a person does or does not do is a matter for another post. It means that the above purpose should be the central point around which a person builds one's life, but a person is free to do normal regular work, and is advised to keep remembrance of God at all times.
   
3. Reading, and listening to words of wisdom help to fortify one's devotion. Singing or listening to praise of God also helps.
   
4. A person needs basic life comforts like healthy food and comfortable lodging to be able to find reasons, time and leisure to perform devotional worship.
   
5. If a person lacks the basic amenities for living, then it is fine to pray to God to provide the same, which will enable a person to live a comfortable life and practice devotion.
   

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Reference verses with commentary:
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=1=======================================================================

ਜਿਸਹਿ ਸਾਜਿ ਨਿਵਾਜਿਆ ਤਿਸਹਿ ਸਿਉ ਰੁਚ ਨਾਹਿ ॥
ਆਨ ਰੂਤੀ ਆਨ ਬੋਈਐ ਫਲੁ ਨ ਫੂਲੈ ਤਾਹਿ ॥੧॥
ਰੇ ਮਨ ਵਤ੍ਰ ਬੀਜਣ ਨਾਉ ॥ 
ਬੋਇ ਖੇਤੀ ਲਾਇ ਮਨੂਆ ਭਲੋ ਸਮਉ ਸੁਆਉ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
ਖੋਇ ਖਹੜਾ ਭਰਮੁ ਮਨ ਕਾ ਸਤਿਗੁਰ ਸਰਣੀ ਜਾਇ ॥
ਕਰਮੁ ਜਿਸ ਕਉ ਧੁਰਹੁ ਲਿਖਿਆ ਸੋਈ ਕਾਰ ਕਮਾਇ ॥੨॥ 
ਭਾਉ ਲਾਗਾ ਗੋਬਿਦ ਸਿਉ ਘਾਲ ਪਾਈ ਥਾਇ ॥ 
ਖੇਤਿ ਮੇਰੈ ਜੰਮਿਆ ਨਿਖੁਟਿ ਨ ਕਬਹੂ ਜਾਇ ॥੩॥
ਪਾਇਆ ਅਮੋਲੁ ਪਦਾਰਥੋ ਛੋਡਿ ਨ ਕਤਹੂ ਜਾਇ ॥
ਕਹੁ ਨਾਨਕ ਸੁਖੁ ਪਾਇਆ ਤ੍ਰਿਪਤਿ ਰਹੇ ਆਘਾਇ ॥੪॥੪॥੧੩॥ 

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Translation:

You do not like the one who made and adorned you,
Seed planted out of season does not sprout nor flower||1||,
O mind, accept and plant the Name,
My mind, to plant now is the right time and purpose||1||. (Pause)
Make effort to leave doubt of mind, go in refuge of True Guru,
For whom God has decided since beginning, only they practice this||2||,
On finding love for God, one's effort are blessed and accepted,
My plant has sprouted, and it will never be exhausted||3||,
Finding priceless wealth, which will never leave me,
Nanak says, finding bliss, I am happy and satiated||4||4||13||.

[Shri Guru Granth Sahib, Page 1002:16-25]

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Commentary:

This lifetime is correct time to plant the Name of God in a person's consciousness and mind, and this is the primary purpose of human life. Season of human life is suitable for this purpose, and any other activity if it takes prominence during this lifetime will not have much use, as it will most likely not be suitable for the season of a human lifetime. The Name planted in a person's consciousness will eventually sprout to create affection and love for God. Affection and closeness to God is a wealth, a companionship which has eternal value, and will be useful for a person in this life as well as till eternity. The process of planting a Name in consciousnesses is like planting anything else in mind, remembering the Name, chanting the Name, realizing its importance, listening and reading about it.

A person always has a choice of doing a lot of possible things, but other tasks may have no eternal value as they could be considered out-of-season for human life. Planting Name may or may not be an exclusive activity, but needs to be a primary activity, important enough that mind realizes the importance of Name.
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=2=======================================================================

ਆਇਓ ਸੁਨਨ ਪੜਨ ਕਉ ਬਾਣੀ ॥
ਨਾਮੁ ਵਿਸਾਰਿ ਲਗਹਿ ਅਨ ਲਾਲਚਿ ਬਿਰਥਾ ਜਨਮੁ ਪਰਾਣੀ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
ਸਮਝੁ ਅਚੇਤ ਚੇਤਿ ਮਨ ਮੇਰੇ ਕਥੀ ਸੰਤਨ ਅਕਥ ਕਹਾਣੀ ॥
ਲਾਭੁ ਲੈਹੁ ਹਰਿ ਰਿਦੈ ਅਰਾਧਹੁ ਛੁਟਕੈ ਆਵਣ ਜਾਣੀ ॥੧॥
ਉਦਮੁ ਸਕਤਿ ਸਿਆਣਪ ਤੁਮ੍ਹ੍ਹਰੀ ਦੇਹਿ ਤ ਨਾਮੁ ਵਖਾਣੀ ॥
ਸੇਈ ਭਗਤ ਭਗਤਿ ਸੇ ਲਾਗੇ ਨਾਨਕ ਜੋ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਭਾਣੀ ॥੨॥੫੬॥੭੯॥

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Translation:

Having come to listen and read the true word,
Forgetting Name, involved in other greed, one wastes life||1||,
Understand and think my ignorant mind, saints tell the unutterable story,
Take benefit, worship God in your heart, your coming and going will stop||1||,
If you bless me with hard work, strength, and wisdom, then I speak the Name,
Only they are saints, only they practice devotion, who are pleasing to God||2||56||79||.

[Shri Guru Granth Sahib, Page 1219:30-35]

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Commentary:

As the season of human life is suitable for developing affection for God, listening and reading words which give truly useful and valuable knowledge needs to be one of the primary activity in human life. Saints share knowledge and stories which talk of things that cannot be explained, as a lot of spiritual experiences are difficult to explain in words and needs to be experienced personally. But still the saints describe experiences and stories in a way that people can get benefit after reading the texts. It is difficult to tell who is a saint, or who is not, as a true definition of a saint is a person who God makes and accepts as a saint.

Many spiritual and religious systems talk about Salvation and Nirvana, which is an escape from a possibly undesirable afterlife. Remembering Name of God is the simplest and most effective way to escape a possibly undesirable afterlife, but there is more. Name of God also ensures a pleasant eternity. Discipline, strength and wisdom to chant the Name is given by God, and if a person lacks it, then a person could pray for receiving the same.
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=3=======================================================================

ਨਾਮਾ ਮਾਇਆ ਮੋਹਿਆ ਕਹੈ ਤਿਲੋਚਨੁ ਮੀਤ ॥
ਕਾਹੇ ਛੀਪਹੁ ਛਾਇਲੈ ਰਾਮ ਨ ਲਾਵਹੁ ਚੀਤੁ ॥੨੧੨॥
ਨਾਮਾ ਕਹੈ ਤਿਲੋਚਨਾ ਮੁਖ ਤੇ ਰਾਮੁ ਸੰਮ੍ਹ੍ਹਾਲਿ ॥
ਹਾਥ ਪਾਉ ਕਰਿ ਕਾਮੁ ਸਭੁ ਚੀਤੁ ਨਿਰੰਜਨ ਨਾਲਿ ॥੨੧੩॥

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Translation:

Tirlochan says, Nam Dev my friend, Maya has bewitched you,
Why do prints on cloth, you do not remember God||212||,
Nam Dev speaks, Trilochan, mouth chants the Name of God,
Hands and feet do all work, mind stays focused on God||213||.

[Shri Guru Granth Sahib, Page 1375:37-39 and Page 1376:1]

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Commentary:

Many people believe that living a spiritual life involves becoming a monk and avoiding an active involvement in society or profession. Some people in mainstream society believe that if everybody starts living a spiritual life then people will be unproductive. The above verse gives a reasonable approach from both perspectives. Society, whether mainstream society or monastic life, is based on division of labor, dividing necessary tasks among inhabitants and making the community functional.

When Bhagat Tirlochan challenges Bhagat Nam Dev on latter's involvement in a profession, Bhagat Nam Dev replies that hands and feet keep doing all the necessary work, while mind internally remains focused on God's remembrance. This implies that any necessary work that a person needs to do to meet the needs of life are done, but keeping God's remembrance always in mind.
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=4=======================================================================

ਭੂਖੇ ਭਗਤਿ ਨ ਕੀਜੈ ॥
ਯਹ ਮਾਲਾ ਅਪਨੀ ਲੀਜੈ ॥
ਹਉ ਮਾਂਗਉ ਸੰਤਨ ਰੇਨਾ ॥
ਮੈ ਨਾਹੀ ਕਿਸੀ ਕਾ ਦੇਨਾ ॥੧॥
ਮਾਧੋ ਕੈਸੀ ਬਨੈ ਤੁਮ ਸੰਗੇ ॥
ਆਪਿ ਨ ਦੇਹੁ ਤ ਲੇਵਉ ਮੰਗੇ ॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
ਦੁਇ ਸੇਰ ਮਾਂਗਉ ਚੂਨਾ ॥
ਪਾਉ ਘੀਉ ਸੰਗਿ ਲੂਨਾ ॥
ਅਧ ਸੇਰੁ ਮਾਂਗਉ ਦਾਲੇ ॥
ਮੋ ਕਉ ਦੋਨਉ ਵਖਤ ਜਿਵਾਲੇ ॥੨॥
ਖਾਟ ਮਾਂਗਉ ਚਉਪਾਈ ॥
ਸਿਰਹਾਨਾ ਅਵਰ ਤੁਲਾਈ ॥
ਊਪਰ ਕਉ ਮਾਂਗਉ ਖੀਂਧਾ ॥
ਤੇਰੀ ਭਗਤਿ ਕਰੈ ਜਨੁ ਥੀਬ਼ਧਾ ॥੩॥
ਮੈ ਨਾਹੀ ਕੀਤਾ ਲਬੋ ॥
ਇਕੁ ਨਾਉ ਤੇਰਾ ਮੈ ਫਬੋ ॥
ਕਹਿ ਕਬੀਰ ਮਨੁ ਮਾਨਿਆ ॥
ਮਨੁ ਮਾਨਿਆ ਤਉ ਹਰਿ ਜਾਨਿਆ ॥੪॥੧੧॥

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Translation:

The hungry cannot do devotional worship,
Here take back your rosary,
I ask for feet dust of saints,
I do not owe anyone anything.||1||
Lord of illusions, how can I restore relationship with you,
If you do not give, then I myself will beg and receive.||Pause||
I ask for two kilograms of flour,
Quarter kilograms clarified butter, also salt,
I ask for half kilogram lentils,
Which will nourish me twice a day.||2||
I ask for a four legged cot,
A pillow and a cotton mattress,
For covering I ask for a blanket,
Your devotee will worship with devotion.||3||
I have not been greedy,
Your Name is my one ornament,
Kabir says, my mind has acknowledged,
Mind acknowledged, then I came to know God.||4||11||

[Shri Guru Granth Sahib, Page 656:37-54]

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Commentary:

This verse records a conversation between Bhagat Kabir and God. Bhagat Kabir tells God that it is not possible to do devotional worship with a hungry stomach and while living in discomfort. For a comfortable life Bhagat Kabir requests for basic ration of food, and bedding for rest. Once basic needs of life and mind are satisfied then Bhagat Kabir says that now it is possible to do devotional worship.

A few important things that I understand from this verse are that if a person has some discomfort and finds it difficult to perform devotional worship, then it is absolutely fine to pray to God for providing rations, as long as a person is not greedy. A satisfied body and mind has more reasons to be grateful to God than a dissatisfied one. Once a mind is grateful to God, it acknowledges God's power and when a mind accepts God only then it is possible for a person to know God.

A concept of feet-dust is referred in the above verse. Literally speaking it refers to dust that is settled on a person's feet, or maybe also the small dust cloud raised while a person walks. Literal interpretation would mean that a person humbles oneself before a saint, not only physically but mentally also, enough to be able to accept the teachings of saints. But it is difficult to find and identify a saint, unless a person is very lucky, so teachings of saints are a substitute. Non-literal meaning as I understand it is that feet-dust of saints refers to teachings derived from words of Saints. In many Indic languages a word for feet and word is same, पद or pad, and from this perspective feet-dust would mean words of saints which contain their wisdom and guidance.

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ਕਥਾ ਕੀਰਤਨੁ ਰਾਗ ਨਾਦ ਧੁਨਿ ਇਹੁ ਬਨਿਓ ਸੁਆਉ ॥
ਨਾਨਕ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਸੁਪ੍ਰਸੰਨ ਭਏ ਬਾਂਛਤ ਫਲ ਪਾਉ ॥੨॥੬॥੭੦॥

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Translation:

Sermon, kirtan, scale, sound, tune, this has become my purpose,
O Nanak, God is pleased, receive desired fruit.||2||6||70||

[Shri Guru Granth Sahib, Page 818:16-17]

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Commentary:
Listening to sermons and discourses about God, singing praise of God help in fortifying devotion to God. So it is also a true purpose of life. Having an intimate loving relationship with God also helps in fulfilling a person's wishes.
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ਜਿਹਵੇ ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤ ਗੁਣ ਹਰਿ ਗਾਉ ॥
ਹਰਿ ਹਰਿ ਬੋਲਿ ਕਥਾ ਸੁਨਿ ਹਰਿ ਕੀ ਉਚਰਹੁ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਕੋ ਨਾਉ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥
ਰਾਮ ਨਾਮੁ ਰਤਨ ਧਨੁ ਸੰਚਹੁ ਮਨਿ ਤਨਿ ਲਾਵਹੁ ਭਾਉ ॥
ਆਨ ਬਿਭੂਤ ਮਿਥਿਆ ਕਰਿ ਮਾਨਹੁ ਸਾਚਾ ਇਹੈ ਸੁਆਉ ॥੧॥

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Translation:

My tongue sing the elixir of God's praise,
Speak God, God, listen to discourse of the lord, speak Name of God,
Collect wealth of jewel of God's Name, Ram, Ram, love with mind and body,
Consider other wealth an illusion, this is true purpose of life.||1||

[Shri Guru Granth Sahib, Page 1219:9-10]

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Commentary:
Anything which strengthens love for God is like an elixir which gives eternal life and wealth, including listening to sermons, singing praise of God, and chanting Name of God. So collecting eternal wealth of God's Name is true purpose, while other kind of wealth is an illusion which a person will lose at time of death.
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=7=======================================================================

ਘਾਲਿ ਖਾਇ ਕਿਛੁ ਹਥਹੁ ਦੇਇ ॥ 
ਨਾਨਕ ਰਾਹੁ ਪਛਾਣਹਿ ਸੇਇ ॥੧॥  

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Translation:

One who works hard to earn a living, gives some of what one has,
O Nanak, such a person knows the way.||1||

[Shri Guru Granth Sahib, Page 1245:47-48]

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Commentary:

While developing devotion is true purpose, but daily physical requirements also need to be met, so working hard in an honest profession is recommended. One who does honest hard work to earn a living, while also sharing some of whatever one has, such a person knows the true path.

This verse appears as part of a larger verse which refers primarily to people who preach wisdom to others. The ones who do honest work, share something of what they have, are more likely to know the correct way, than other preachers (irrespective to any particular sect or religion). As per my understanding, the same principle could be extended to other people also, and apply not just to preachers or guides.

With reference to people who preach (in any religion or sect), the professional preacher is a very respectable and privileged position. Professional preachers may be very knowledgeable and have good intentions, but being in a privileged position there are chances that they may never have encountered some type of difficult situations in life, that an average person encounters during daily life. Average people balance multiple things in life; work, family, finances, loans, social obligations, discrimination, etc, etc, without any special privilege, support, love, or respect coming their way, and if they want to learn about squeezing spiritual practice in their already busy life they may find a fellow worker's teaching more practical and easier to follow.
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