The goal of life has to be the realisation of the unity of the self with the Supreme Self. Why else should the self take this human form? If mere ‘living’ or even ‘happy living’ was the goal, the self could have been encased in the form of birds or beasts. The very fact that man is equipped with memory, mind, intelligence, discrimination ability to anticipate the future, desire to detach himself from the senses, etc., is an indication that he is destined for some higher goal. Inspite of this if man craves for a lesser consummation, he is a papi (sinner). But he who persists, in spite of temptations and obstacles, on the path that leads to self-fulfilment and self-realisation, is a Gopi, for the Gopis (cowherd girls) of Brindavan were the most inspiring examples of such souls. The most effective discipline that man can adopt to attain this lofty goal, is the control and conquest of the five senses, avoid the errors and evils that the eye, the ear, the tongue, the mind and the hand are prone to commit. – Divine Discourse, Mar 20, 1977.