What is the Purpose of Life?

In this interview series we asked Radhanath Swami universal foundational questions about life and spirituality. Here is a transcript of the answer to this question: “What is the Purpose of Life?“ The fundamental need of every living being is to love and to be loved. Without that nothing can really satisfy the heart. Objects can satisfy the senses of the body. Various emotional gratifications can satisfy the mind. But the heart is yearning, longing, to love and to be loved. In the Brahma-sutra it is said ananda-mayo ’bhyasat, which means the inherent nature of every living being is we are seeking pleasure. It is something we all have in common. Even the little ant that is crawling on the floor is seeking pleasure in a particle of sugar. The procreation of all living beings is based on that longing for pleasure. But only love can give pleasure to the heart. And we can see for example in a child, if a child is given a beautiful home, wo