What is the importance of 'IDEAL' in one's life?

Question

'When the Ideal is awake
in man,
he is active, agile,
inquisitive, responsible,
alert and tactful :
in a word
all faculties
bloom and glow.'
---Sri Sri Thakur Anukulchandra.
Link:---
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SriSriThakur_Anukulchandra_Delhi_eForum

Prof. Damodar Thakur wrote — “In Sri Sri Thakur’s utterances, the word ‘Ideal’ does not mean an idea or a set of ideas. However inspiring, lofty or sublime an idea or a set of ideas may be, it is not an Ideal as conceptualized by Sri Sri Thakur and spelt with an initial capital letter. An Ideal in this sense is a Krishna, a Christ, a Buddha or the like who embodies the wisdom of all past prophets. He is a person who inspires the hope, strengthens the perseverance, energizes the will-power and invigorates the inner strength of millions of people around him and creates and develops in them a positive and proactive outlook towards life.
In Sri Sri Thakur’s vision of life an ‘Ideal’ ought to be understood as someone ‘who infuses the thrill of animation, extension and augmentation’ and proves to be ‘The way of sufferers to life and light’.”
For details ---
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SriSriThakur_Anukulchandra_Delhi_eForum

Answer 1

Yhe imporatance of IDEAL in ones life -

Take to the habit of the creeper and entwine yourself around the tree of the Ideal; fulfillment of desire shall be yours. If you feel pleasure in speaking about your Ideal, pleasure in hearing and thinking about Him, pleasure in His order, pleasure in His affection, pleasure even in His inattention, and the heart swells up in His Name; I tell you surely, don’t worry any more for your elevation.

Take to the feet of a true Master, go on taking the Holy Name, and remain in the company of the devout. Truly I say, you have no more to worry for your elevation. Leave not the water of devotion and move not too far away to the sandy shores of temptation. It will be difficult to return when the sand will be hot from the scorching sun of grief. If you don’t come back before it gets hot, you will dry up and die.

Try to remain inclined towards devoted feeling; you will not fall, but will be moving forward.
Try to be in tune with the Master, and don’t follow your mind; progress will never leave you.
Cling to right judgment, and don’t follow the mind; broadness will never desert you.
Hold unto the Good and follow not evil; peace will never part from you.
Let humility find an abode in the heart – vanity will mean nothing for you.
Don’t long for, or be attached to, that which must be forsaken; you will be saved from grief. -

Answer 2

Ideals are the goals we strive towards.

Answer 3

I never heard of the Author.