ASHRAMS OF YOGA
The traditional Indian culture promoted four ashrams, or stages of spiritual life that provided a simple framework of life planning for the spiritual aspirant. The ancient sages articulated the goals of humankind as ‘Purusharthas’ where ‘Purusha’ means an individual or a person and ‘Artha’ means objective, meaning or pursuit.
- Dharma – Righteousness or duty.
- Artha – Wealth.
- Kama – Desire.
- Moksha – Liberation.
The four ashrams allowed the Indian culture to participate in and actively support a rich spiritual life for the clarity to progress along the path of self- realisation. These ashrams are categorised in 4 different phases of life which equally divides the total life span of an average human life.
- Bhramacharya (Student) – The first quarter of spiritual life is spent as celibate student, closely studying with spiritual teacher for yogic training, mental discipline, and learn about family life which creates the foundation.
- Grahasthya (Householder) – Second phase of spiritual life is spent as a householder, creating and supporting a family and fulfilling one’s worldly interests and duties. During this ashram, one utilises the training, discipline and knowledge gained from brahmacharya to live a complete life and enjoy worldly pleasures.
- Vanaprastha (Hermit) – In this ashram, one begins to withdraw from the world to establish a state of hermitage. This is a transition stage, moving away from fulfilling needs of the family and society to deepening the practice started as a householder. A quiet living space is sought, a simple yogic lifestyle is practised and being detached to family and community.
- Sannyasa (Renunciate) – In the last ashram, the yogi retreats from all the involvement in all worldly pursuits and seeks only the attainment of the unintuitive state of self-realisation. It requires a period of practice and abandonment of physical possessions.