Relationship of the Four Goals of Life and the Four Stages of Life
There are four goals of life: fulfilling responsibilities, creating and utilizing wealth, enjoying pleasures, and freedom/enlightenment. There are also four stages of life: student, householder, retiree, and renunciant.
In each stage of life, you experience all four goals of life. As a student, you have a responsibility to your parents and society. You also experience wealth as you must live within your means. You get to enjoy pleasures as well whether it is sports, dating, or playing. And, there are times when you wonder, “Is there something more?”
As a householder, you have many more responsibilities to take care of – family, job, and society. Creating and managing wealth is one of those responsibilities so you can support your children and to have enough for you to retire comfortably. All the while, you are enjoying pleasures by attending sports and artistic events of your family; by taking vacations; and by socializing with others. Still, aren’t there times when you wonder, “Is there something more?”
As a retiree, you still have responsibilities to support your family and be a productive member of society. You still need to maintain your wealth to ensue you have enough to have a comfortable retirement. All the while, you want to enjoy pleasure – enjoy and experience life. Still, aren’t there times when you wonder, “Is there something more?”
As a renunciant, you still have responsibilities, you still need to have some wealth, and you still need to experience pleasure. But now is when the question, “Is there something more!” becomes more in the forefront of your mind. The external world does not have the same appeal. You begin to focus inward – you are ready to discover who you really are. Life must be lived. As you go through the first 3 stages, spirituality takes a back seat. In the last stage of your life, it becomes the most important thing.
[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.]
