Life is a Learning Experience

Sri Ramakrishna held learning as a continuing process. One can discover nuggets of wisdom ANYTIME in life. There is no reason that one should stop or suspend learning new things in life. He said, "As long as I live, so long do I learn."

....Most of us associate the process of learning with formal education - going to a school or college, attending classes, appearing in examinations, and obtaining a certificate to that effect. Learning thus comes to an end.

... But life is designed differently. It is meant to make us grow; to make us wiser. Never was it designed to stagnate... life itself is a teacher. As someone said, "Life is a tough teacher; it gives examinations first, and lessions AFTERWARDS."

There is an inherent urge in all human beings to know, to evolve, to enjoy the bliss of fulfilment. 'The goal of mankind is knwoledge,' said Swami Vivekananda. 'Pleasure is not the goal of man, but knowlege. Pleasure and happiness come to an end. It is a mistake to suppose that pleasure is the goal. The cause of all the miseries we have in the world is that men foolishly think pleasure to be the ideal to strive for. After a time man finds that it is not happiness, but knowledge, towards which he is going. (For the full article: The Vedanta Kesari, January 2007 (Editorial: 'As long as I live...')