Life’s Purpose – Moksha

Yoga’a ancient teachings clearly describe the four goals of life as its purpose. These goals are:  Dharma (fulfilling your responsibilities); Artha (creating and utilizing wealth); Kama (enjoying pleasures); an Moksha (freedom, enlightenment). All four of these goals are essential throughout your life. Without them, you will feel incomplete.

The fourth goal is Moksha (freedom, enlightenment). Our Western world offers us the first three. Once you fulfilled your dharma (responsibilities), made some money (wealth), and saturated your senses with pleasures, you may begin to wonder “is that all there is.”  Yoga promises the fourth goal (enligthenment or self–realization). Did you know the word moksha means freedom?

The first three goals are important, but they have you looking outside for your validation, acceptance, and satisfaction. You have to look inward to find that missing piece. Liberation is yoga’s specialty – Moksha.

Liberation is freedom from the burdens of life, even though you can live in the same place and share your life with the same people. When you are liberated, none of it is a burden any more. It is all joy, even the hard stuff.

[Source:  Teachings by Swami Nirmalananda Saraswati, spiritual leader and master teacher at Svaroopa® Vidya Ashram in Pennsylvania. (C) 2014, S.T.C., Inc., All right reserved. Svaroopa® is a registered service mark of S.T.C., Inc.]