Purpose of life?

Last week we had a special class on the government elections. Someone in the class said to me, "Sir, what is the point? The world is going to end in 2012." She said she had watched a film in which it said the world was going to end. I told her that she doesn't need to worry and be a bit positive about life. Then her friend said, "It's on google. The world is going to end in 2012." I was surprised that these 15 year old students were so gullible and genuinely thought the world was going to end.

One of the girls said, "I don't understand why we're alive. We live to just die. The only thing we have to look forward to is death. What's the point? I wish I was not born." Her friend, who sounded really frustrated, said, "Sir, when we feel hungry we eat, but then we get hungry again! When we feel thirsty, we drink something - but then we feel thirsty again! We can never be satisfied. I don't see the point of life."

The other teacher in the classroom and I were shocked that young adults in the class felt this way and were genuinely pessimistic about life and didn't understand what the purpose of their life is or know any reason why their life is worth living for. Surprisingly, when the other teacher asked, "Do you believe in God?" One of the girl's replied, "Yeah - but it doesn't make a difference that we all going to die and that all we are doing is waiting till we die." Waheguru.

Hearing this conversation I was thinking of the shabad by Bhai Sahib Bhai Gurdaas jee:

ਅਖੀ ਵੇਖਿ ਨ ਰਜੀਆ ਬਹੁ ਰੰਗ ਤਮਾਸੇ ।
akhee vekh n rajeeaa bahu rang tamaashe.
The eyes are not satisfied with beholding sights and exhibitions;

ਉਸਤਤਿ ਨਿਦਾ ਕੰਨਿ ਸੁਣਿ ਰੋਵਣਿ ਤੈ ਹਾਸੇ ।
ustat nindaa kann sunn rovan tai haase
the ears are not satisfied with hearing praise or blame, mourning or rejoicing;

ਸਾਦੀਂ ਜੀਭ ਨ ਰਜੀਆ ਕਰਿ ਭੋਗ ਬਿਲਾਸੇ ।
saadee(n) jeebh na rajeeaa kar bhog bilaase
the tongue is not satisfied with eating what affords pleasure and delight;

ਨਕ ਨ ਰਜਾ ਵਾਸੁ ਲੈ ਦੁਰਗੰਧ ਸੁਵਾਸੇ ।
nak na rajaa vaasai durgandh suvaase
the nose is not contented with good or evil odour;

ਰਜਿ ਨ ਕੋਈ ਜੀਵਿਆ ਕੂੜੇ ਭਰਵਾਸੇ ।
raj na koee jeeviaa koorhe bharvaase
nobody is satisfied with their span of life, and everyone entertains false hopes.

ਪੀਰ ਮੁਰੀਦਾਂ ਪਿਰਹੜੀ ਸਚੀ ਰਹਰਾਸੇ ॥੯॥
peer mureedaa(n) pirharree sachee rehraase ॥9॥
But the Sikhs are satisfied with the Guru and theirs is the true love and delight.

The Sikh of the True Guru is fortunate and immensely blessed that they have been blessed with amazing gifts of Amrit, Rehat, and Gurbani; placed on a Path (maarag); shown the true purpose of life; and a way of life and faith that is not only worth dieing for but for living for.

ਭੂਲੇ ਮਾਰਗੁ ਜਿਨਹਿ ਬਤਾਇਆ ॥ ਐਸਾ ਗੁਰੁ ਵਡਭਾਗੀ ਪਾਇਆ ॥੧॥
bhoole maarag jinhi bataaeiaa.
aisaa gur vadbhaagee paaeiaa. 1
He places the one who strays back on the Path; such a Guru is found by great good fortune. 1
(Ang 803)