Dear All,
Now, Sankara takes us to the next stage of life "vanaprastha", in the next few
verses.
What is Vanaprastha
Ashrama?
Word as Retirement does not do justice,
Retirement merely means “the end of one’s working life”. That is hardly a fair
definition of Vanaprastha. At best it
is half the definition. The literal meaning is “established in the forest”,
which is clearly some sort of a symbol.
The word ‘Forest’ indicates something untouched
by the hand of man, something made by God Himself; it points to a life of
solitude and seclusion; it signifies a return to our original home, back to
Godhead, our original Source.
Swami explains the same as FOR - REST. Putting
all your worldly activities / attractions/ duties/ Artha, Kama to rest,
putting your mind to rest, seeking solace in SELF and resting all the
non-self!!!
A quick recap on what we learnt on vanaprastha ashram in the karma session
Markandeya Purana suggests
that a householder, after he has taken care of his progeny, his parents, his
traditions and cleansed his mind is ready to enter the third stage of life, or Vanaprastha.
He must lead a
simple life during this stage. The more he gives up the worldly delights, the
closer he gets to the knowledge of his spirit, and more ready he is for the
last stage – the Sanyasa Ashram,
where he renounces everything and focuses entirely on spiritual pursuits
This is a stage
of gradual transition of social responsibility, economic roles, a personal
focus towards spirituality, from being center of the action to a more advisory
peripheral role, without actually requiring someone to actually moving into a
forest with or without one's partner.
The Manu Samhita says:
When a householder gets to see wrinkles on his body, white hair
on his head, and his grandchildren, he should resort to the forest. He
should be engaged in regular study, control his senses, keep friendly behavior
with everyone, and have a tranquil mind. He must always give in charity, not
accept gifts from others, and have mercy on all living beings
* Upto 50 years, one lives intensely exercising
one’s mind for total comprehension and satisfaction.
* Then, gradually, one will find that you are capable of
living independently without bodily associations.
* Such a life is called the vanaprastha stage, which does not mean running away from the
family. It is a kind of family life only, without the agonies and the emotional
pressures caused by relations with people.
*
Mostly, what people do is that they go away to some holy places
for some time, though they have not left the family. For three months in a
year, the family man goes out on a pilgrimage, lives in a holy place, and
entrusts the enterprise of taking care of the family to his grown-up
children.
* Gradually, if this process continues for some years, you will
find that you are in a position to live unconnected with family life, because
the members of the family members either are taking care themselves or, if you
are leaving your spouse behind, he/ she is taken care of
by the children, who are well placed.
* Then, you may increase your detached life into six months, nine
months, then occasional visits to the family, only.
* The transition to this stage marks a profound shift in the goals
of the person. From being focused on the material pursuits of wealth and
pleasure, the yogi now looks inward toward moksha (spiritual
liberation), Self-realization and unity with the Divine.
A monk from Chinyama Ashram explains thus:-
"Nature’s Plan – The Two Phases of Life
As the sun sets at the appointed time, so also
the Active Phase of life has to set and a new phase of quiet dignified
withdrawal begin. Take the example of traffic over a 24-hour period – there is
a frenzy of vehicles during the peak hours of day; but as night approaches
everything quietens down.
With the clearing of traffic congestion, driving
becomes less stressful. In life it is the same – as activity reduces, stress
reduces and more thoughtfulness enters our life. The curtain falls on the
active lifestyle, and gracefully lifts on a new quieter vista before us. This
is Nature’s Plan, and those are wise who accommodate and adjust to it.
Throughout the world of living beings, we see
the broad plan of Nature. If viewed positively and welcomed, the phase of
withdrawal from activity in the world has great potential for our spiritual
growth. Body-related life takes a dive, but the spiritual life comes to the
fore. At the moment of death, it is all we take away with us.
By having a plan we get an idea of where we are
heading. The whole train of life is heading Godwards. The seeker of God takes a
closer look at the spiritual Goal of his life.
Let us see the transition graphically.
A. The Upward Curve:
The Brahmacharya
and Grahastha Ashramas fall in this
phase of life.
Modifications in this phase are i) Existence,
ii) birth, iii) growth and iv) maturity.
This is the period of Expansion. In the first
fifty or so years, our energy rises to its peak. We are active in body and
mind, producing something and making our contribution to this world. There is
an expansion at all levels in our expression in the world.
B. The Downward Curve:
The Vanaprastha
and Sannyasa Ashramas fall in this
phase of life.
Modifications in this phase are v) decay, vi)
death and back to i) Existence. The modifications form a complete LIFE-CYCLE.
This is the period of Contraction. In the
remaining years of life, there is a progressive withdrawal of energy from our
bodies and senses, but not from the mind. We note that it still continues to
function at full capacity. In fact, with less interference now from the body
and senses, the mind’s function can become greatly enhanced in this phase.
If we can see this, then the downward curve can be accepted graciously, and we can live in accordance with nature’s plan.
However, those who live at the body and sense level are bound to mistakenly see
this phase as unfavorable, as full of hardships, as an impediment to
development. They reject Nature’s plan and move further away from Truth."
Checklist for moving from Grihastha to vanaprastha ashram
i) Start handing over responsibilities to
others.
ii) Make arrangement for the children to be
well-settled in life.
iii) Do more charity and thereby place a limit
to our desires.
iv) Permit others the freedom to lead their
lives according to their wishes.
v) Do not interfere in the affairs of the
children, but be ready to help them.
vi) Come out of the fancies/attractions/charm/extrovert
outbursts/ excessive socializing/ eagerness to look at your best/ “ my habits”,
“ my nature”, “ my preferences” and embrace a totally changed life, as you are
nearing your end eventually, you are in the downward curve of
decay-death, to be reborn again to clear your Karmas.
The Grahastha
life should be left back as clearly and as completely as Sri Rama left
Ayodhya and proceeded to forest, never even looked back at Ayodhya, the place
for which He was to become King next day!!
At 50+, you enter into the vanaprastha stage, it is / it should be
as if you are reborn, to lead a new life, a life of renunciation and
detachment.
vii) Spend more time in silence–in contemplation
and meditation.
viii) Spend more/most time in spiritual
activities and reading of spiritual literature, to be precise, in SATSANGH.
ix) Be more serious than ever before in “Seeking
the Self within”.
Love.
