Moving Through Four Stages of Life

Rajiv's London classmate is a group of raucous teenagers, full of enthusiasm, careless and irresponsible to future responsibilities. They see him as a stubborn partner - who is clever, beautiful, desirable - but who is making a mistake in having fun. Jeremy prays, "Why do not you have fun with us?" "You are young once!" Rajeev lives in a different world, he has learned from his parents that life is measured in four stages, and we get born again - so many of us are young at times. He saves his energy for important talks, to increase knowledge and to create character, so that he can prepare for the state of the family, in which he will enter his twenty years of age. He is not interested in idle fun, and wants to win the hand of a trained girl with whom he can share his whole life and bring the children to this world too. Rajeev also thinks about the life of his coming elder, when he will fulfill his duties and draw towards his spiritual nature, on the side of the ever-living Rajiv, will try to get the Lord, when he is living on his land. Will complete the time. Rajeev believes that every state of life has a natural purpose, and every one is more beneficial than the last. For now, he elects to study the Vidya Vidya with full attention, and in the meantime a little game will jump.

Rajiv's plan is based on Hindu traditions that divide the person's life into four stages or ashrams. This division, which is called Ashram Dharma, is natural expression and maturity, through body, mind and emotions, through these four progressive states. It was developed centuries ago and its description comes in the scriptures called Dharmashastra, which insists on the fact that there is a huge change in our duties, as we progress towards youth from progress, in the extended years , At senior age. Friendship Upanishad says, "According to the fulfillment of our duties, according to the condition of life we ​​are connected, there is virtually a rule! There are other branches, such as the stems derived from. Thus we go upwards, otherwise the bottom Side."

Dr. S. Radhakrishnan, giving the essence of life in the Hindu way of seeing life, says, "Four states - Brahmacharya, or time of learning, Greyhastha, or the time to work in the world, as a planetary form, Vanaprastha, or solitude The time when social relationships are left loose, and the retirement, or the time of sacrifice and waiting in the hope of freedom - indicate that life is a pilgrimage eternal life Through different stages. "

This paradigm is still equally important and precious as it was thousands of years ago, all Hindus consider it, regardless of their caste or gender. However, ancient details can not be fully translated into modern life today. The society has changed a lot since the time India was in Vedic times. For example, for all the 50-year-olds, it would not be possible for them to live as a monk in the forest, asking for food begging. This will not be valid by 21st Century society. In some countries, the sadhus of the forest will reach the prison, like those who cross the boundaries or boundaries, they will be hungry on third. A special type of reinterpretation will be required to give this relaxation to the Hindus today so that they can use intellectualism to make this natural development of life. As the starting point, let's review the traditional details.

The first stage, or the ashram, is Brahmacharya- Student life- and those who are in this Ashram are called Brahmachari, "Those whose conduct is divine." This is usually the time of twelve years which is from seven or eight to 19 or 20 years. Students lived in the house of their master and learned science, philosophy, science and reason. He was also taught how to operate the Vedic Agni system. It was also expected from the Brahmins that they would follow a strict discipline which included brahmacharya, truth speaking, melody in speech, physical tenures such as cold water and bathing in the night. Serving the teacher and handing in the work of the house is equally as part of his learning as formal learning.

The second stage is the life of a family runner, the Grahastha Ashram, and those who are in this ashram are called the greyhasthi. After coming back to his family home, it is expected from the student that he will marry and nurture a family, by taking proper care, will take care of his wife and children, parents will also be helpful and open heart Will donate from His religious duties include reading the scriptures and doing Vedic Agni method every day in the house.

The third stage is Vanaprastha - the life of a saintliness- and those who are in this ashram are called Vaaprasthi, "living in the forest". Generally, their age is 50 to 55, children of their children are already born, the scriptures say, the planetary should be entrusted to the children by leaving the responsibilities of the family to the forest. He should also take his wife along with him if he wants to give her a tenancy in full life, or leave it to his sons. He will have to do the fire system every day, have to live a restrained life and dedicate towards Lord's contemplation, all this so that he can prepare himself for the final phase of life.

The fourth stage in the scriptures is defined as Sannyas - the life of Tyagi - and those who are in this Ashram are called Saints. When a person who has left the world in the jungle feels the inner strength of leaving all his worldly possessions and he can roam about becoming a mute monk, he will choose sannyas, by giving his wife to her children and giving her to her children. In this state, he will continue to roam from one place to another, devoting food to food and devote himself to chanting, contemplating meditation, worshipping his favoured God and meditating on the scriptures.

Let us now look at how to make the details of these ashrams suitable for use in contemporary society. My mentor, except Subrahmaniaswami, believed that every Ashram would be of 24 years in modern times, which is applicable to both men and women Will be: Brahmacharya will be the first 25 years of life; Household will be 24 to 48 years; Vanaprastha will be 48 to 72; And Sanyas 72 years ahead.

The goals of Brahmacharya will still be the same, but some details will no longer apply, like staying in the house of your teacher. Must still have major focus on intensity learning. Ideally, he gets training of a business that he has to do as an adult. At the level of religion, we must learn basic things of Hinduism, as well as remember the mantras and worship in the temple of the house, a practice which is being done in modern times instead of the Vedic fire process. Students should teach self-discipline, Brahmacharya and other positive qualities.

Details of Grahastha Ashram are also meaningful in today's time. The main focus is on marriage, raising and nurturing children, serving society by their business, earning money, serving elderly and being charitable. Worshiping at home everyday, which ideally includes the whole family. Today, the planetary system is a major teacher giving Hindu education to his children, those duties which used to be the master in ancient times. This is a time of being busy in the ashram world when the family and business have to move forward.

Indeed, to define the transformation of the transatlantic phase, reconsideration of old definitions is required. Being a resident of the forest at the age of 48 is not an option for most people. Instead, according to my master it would be a natural time to show the way to young generations, being a consultant and an elderly. The Brahmachari Aevam planets can actively seek the advice of the Varanasi and take advantage of the experience of their years. For example, many Hindu, community programs of this age group can give guidance to the youth, children can read Hinduism, serve as a member of temple committees and trusts, or non-profit earners. Religions can play the role of leadership in absolute institutions. It is time that they can give back to the community what they have learned, while they are extracting themselves from business and public life.

The norms of the Sannyasis Ashram have now become more elaborate. A small percentage of modern Hindus follow the pattern of sannyasan after retirement, by abandoning the world and by changing between thousands of saints and saints of India, many of whom had turned towards saintliness between their 20s and 30s. It is a good idea for the elderly to take this sannyas, if they are alone, widows, or whose wives have passed away, and it works in those parts of India where society honors and serves such holy men and women. But in most parts of the world, neither is it honorable nor it is understood.