Self-inquiry and four stages of life
In order to achieve
victory while inquiring into the nature of the Atma, one has to pass through
the asramas— the four stages of life recognized and recommended by the
scriptural texts of the eternal Vedic religion (Sanathana Dharma). Each one,
while passing through each stage, aware of the duties and responsibilities
prescribed in the texts, learns for themself a quantum of the knowledge that
leads to Atmic awareness.
Only after the childhood
years will the routine of the four stages have an impact. Until then, one
cannot gather any special knowledge about one’s duties and responsibilities.
People have childhood, adolescence, youth, middle age, and old age as stages of
growth; there are also corresponding stages in the growth of wisdom.
In the first stage of
childhood, one is led from ignorance and “innocence” into the world of
knowledge, when one is accepted as a pupil by a preceptor (guru). After that,
one has to serve and obey the guru, without feeling burdened and bound.
In the second stage of
youth, one has to share with society the means and measures for its progress
and security; one has to start earning a livelihood and spending one’s income
with intelligent care; one also has the duty to provide examples to younger
people and guide them into socially useful paths. At the same time, one must
follow the footsteps of elders and learn lessons for one’s own advancement from
them.
In the third stage of
adulthood, intelligent attention has to be paid not only to one’s own
advancement and the advancement of the family and society but also to the
advancement of people generally. That too is the responsibility of the
grown-ups, and they must acquire the necessary skills. They must have wider
visions of the peace and prosperity of all mankind and try to contribute to
both, within the limits of their capacity and resources.
Old age is the fourth
stage. By the time one reaches this stage of the journey, one must have
discovered that joys available in this world are trivial and fleeting. One must
be equipped with the higher knowledge of spiritual joy, available through
delving into the inner spring of bliss. Through experiences, one’s heart must
have softened and be filled with compassion. One has to be engrossed in
promoting the progress of all beings without distinction. And one must be eager
to share with others the accumulated knowledge and the benefit of experiences.
Occupations and attitudes
Thus, occupations and
resultant attitudes have been assigned to the various stages of human life.
Practice is as important for confirming one in wisdom as reading is important
for confirming one in knowledge. Alongside of knowledge, youth has to cultivate
the good qualities of humility, reverence, devotion to God, and steadfast
faith. Youth has to engage in good works and enjoy them for the sheer elation
they confer.
During adulthood, along
with the earning of wealth and involvement in the improvement of society,
attention must be paid to the promotion and preservation of virtues and to the
observance of moral codes. Steps should be taken to improve one’s righteous
behaviour and spiritual practice (sadhana). All levels of consciousness have to
be purified and then directed to holy tasks.
During middle age,
besides fostering the family and society, one has to live an exemplary life to
inspire one’s children and hold forth before society elevating ideals that are
worth practising. No attempt should be made to belittle society and benefit
only the family, for it is bound to fail.
The Brahman principle
can be realized only by purifying one’s activity and utilizing that activity to
serve oneself in all. It can never be realized as long as one relies on the
caste into which one is born, the intellectual equipment one has added unto
oneself, or the mastery of the Vedas.
Continued,,
Love
