Many so-called spiritualists or transcendentalists thus engage in harsh austerities, but for selfish purposes, while others seek, by their asceticism, to satisfy the senses of the Lord.
The Lord desires that each of his integral parts (what each of us is) should return to his divine kingdom to enjoy an eternal existence of bliss. This is the true meaning of the creation of the material world.
The Lord wishes that all human beings without exception adopt the right path of spiritual realisation, and thus gain access to His divine, eternal and absolute kingdom. Lord Krishna has no other desire than to see the suffering souls return to their original abode and regain their place with Him, away from the three sources of material suffering: those originating from the body and mind, those caused by other living entities, and those originating from material nature; hurricanes, violent winds, heavy rains, extreme cold, drought etc., under the impulse of the beings of the higher planets, who govern the various functions of material nature.
It is for this purpose that the whole creation was conceived, and whoever does not come to his senses and come to the conclusion that he must return to God, to his true abode, will have to continue to suffer in the material universe, and to undergo the onslaught of the illusory energy of the Lord.
Lord Krishna, the Soul of all beings, has a constant desire to see them all living a purely spiritual existence by his side, established in their natural, original and eternal position, in their real identity.
And when His fascinating features, when His gentle smile, offering itself to the sight of beings, penetrates deep into their hearts, then they are admitted to the kingdom of God, from where no one returns to the material universe.
Let us all return to where we once lived, to the absolute and eternal kingdom of Krishna, God, the Supreme Person. This is the primary purpose of existence.
The real purpose of life's journey is to return to God, to His absolute and eternal kingdom.
The Supreme Lord, Krishna, is so good to all beings that He, as the Supreme Soul or Holy Spirit, always accompanies the incarnated soul, whatever the circumstances. The Lord remains with them in their hearts as a witness, a Friend, for the sole purpose of helping them to return to His eternal kingdom. He wishes them to leave this world of suffering for good.
Today's civilisation is far too preoccupied with the material body and its comforts, and no one knows the true purpose of life's journey, which is to return to God. It is the interest of the soul that should be sought, not that of the material body.