3 / Our Real Life

The Bhagavad-gita says that out of many thousands of
human beings, one may try to make perfection of his life. Man
is an animal, but he has one special prerogative, rational
thought. What is that rational thought? Reasoning power, argu-
ment. Now, reasoning power is there in dogs and cats as well.
Suppose a dog comes up to you; if you say, “Hut!” he'll
understand. The dog will understand that you don’t want him.
So, he has some reasoning power. But what is the special
reasoning power of the human being?

As far as the bodily necessities are concerned, the reasoning
power is there even in the animal. If a cat wants to steal some
milk from your kitchen, she has very nice reasoning power:
she is always looking to see when the master is out and she can
take. So, for the four propensities of animal life—eating,
sleeping, mating and defending—there is reasoning power even
in the beasts. Then, what is the special reasoning power of the
human being, by which he is called the rational animal?

The special reasoning power is to inquire, “Why am I suf-
fering?”” This is special reasoning. The animals are suffering,
but they do not know how to remedy the suffering. But human
beings are making scientific advancement and philosophical
advancement, cultural advancement, religious advancement—
progress in so many lines—because they want to be happy.
“Where is the point of happiness?” This reasoning power is
especially given to the human being. Therefore, in the Gita,
Krsna says, ““Out of so many men, one may know Me.”
