Explanations drawn from the teachings of
Swami Nikhilananda, Sri Ramakrishna Math
A person's duties, in the Hindu tradition, are
determined by the stage of life (Ashrama) to which he
belongs. Life, which is regarded by Hinduism as a
journey to the shrine of truth, is marked by four
stages (Ashramas) each of which has its
responsibilities and obligations. These four stages of
life are:
1. Brahmacharya Ashram (first 25 years)
Student life- observing celibacy
2.Grihastha Ashrama (25 to 50 years)
Householder (married life)
3. Vanprastha Ashrama(50 to 75 years)
Scriptural studies and meditation on God
4. Sanyasa Ashrama(75 to100 years)
Cultivation of God-consciousness- Monastic way of life
Brahmacharya Ashram (first 25 years)
The first stage of life covers the period of study,
when a student cultivates his mind and prepares
himself for future service to society. He lives with
his teacher and regards his teacher as his spiritual
father. He leads an austere life and conserves his
energy, spurning the defilement of the body and mind
through evil words, thoughts and deeds. He shows
respect to his elders and teachers, and becomes
acquainted with the cultural achievements of the race.
Students, rich and poor, live under the same roof and
receive the same attention from the teacher and his
wife. When the studies are completed, the teacher
gives the pupil the following instructions, as
described in the Taittiriya Upanishad:
Speak the truth. Practice Dharma. Do not neglect the
study (of the Vedas). Having brought to the teacher
the gift desired by him; enter the householder's life
and see that the line of progeny is not cut off. Do
not swerve from the truth. Do not swerve from Dharma
(path of Virtue). Do not neglect personal welfare. Do
not neglect prosperity. Do not neglect the study and
teaching of the Vedas. Do not neglect your duties to
the Gods and the Manes. Treat (revere) your mother as
Goddess. Treat your father as God. Treat your teacher
as God. Treat your guest as God.
Whatever deeds are faultless, these are to be
performed - not others. Whatever good works have been
performed by us, those should be performed by you- not
others. ...
Grihastha Ashrama(25 to 50 years)
With marriage, a person enters the second stage of
life. A normal person requires a mate; his biological
and emotional urges in this respect are legitimate.
Debarred from marriage are those who have a dangerous
ailment that may be transmitted to children, or those
rare souls who, as students, forsake the world at the
call of the spirit.
Children endow marriage with social responsibilities.
Hinduism does not regard romance as the whole of the
married life. Husband and wife are co-partners in
their spiritual progress, and the family provides a
training ground for the practice of unselfishness. A
healthy householder is the foundation of a good
society, discharging his duties (may be )as a teacher,
a soldier, a statesman, a merchant, a scientist, or a
manual worker. He should be ambitious to acquire
wealth and enjoy pleasures, but not by deviating from
the path of righteousness.
The following are the five great duties of a
householder:
1. The study and teaching of the Vedas
2. Daily worship of the gods through appropriate
rituals
3. Gratification of the departed ancestors by offering
their
spirits food and drink according to the scriptural
injunctions
4. Kindness to domestic animals
5. Hospitality to guests, the homeless and the
destitute.
[ For more information on the Five Great Duties, visit
our
page 'Mantras-Sacred Fire'- topic 'Sacrifice' ]
Vanprastha Ashrama(50 to 75 years)
When the skin wrinkles, the hairs turn grey, or a
grandchild is born, one is ready for the third stage
of life (by retiring from the householder's
responsibilities). At this stage, the pleasures and
excitements of youth appear stale and physical needs
are reduced to a minimum. The third period of life is
devoted to scriptural study and meditation on God.
Sanyasa Ashrama(75 to100 years)
During the fourth stage, a man renounces the world and
embraces the monastic way of life. He is no longer
bound by social laws. The call of the Infinite becomes
irresistible to him; even charity and social service
appear inadequate. He rises above worldly attachments,
finite obligations, and restricted loyalties; he is a
friend of his fellow human beings, of the gods, and of
the animals. No longer tempted by riches, honour or
power, a monk preserves equanimity of spirit under all
conditions. He turns away from the vanities of the
world, devoting himself to the cultivation of
God-consciousness.
Through the disciplines of the four stages of life, a
Hindu learns progressive non-attachment to the
transitory world. The movement of life has been aptly
compared to that of the sun. At dawn the sun rises
from below the horizon, and as the morning progresses
it goes on radiating heat and light till it reaches
the zenith at midday. During the afternoon it goes
down, gradually withdrawing its heat and light, and at
dusk it sinks below the horizon, a mass of radiance,
to illumine other regions.
IF YOU WANT TO SHARE YOUR DREAMS AND AMBITIONS AND WAYS TO FULFILL IT, FEEL FREE TO JOIN, whatiwantobe@yahoogroups.com
__________________________________________________________
Yahoo! India Answers: Share what you know. Learn something new
http://in.answers.yahoo.com/
***NEW: DESI TALK!! The Shout box in the group home page***
Comments, suggestions or just plain chatting... you can do it right here!
Homepage: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dilsedesigroup
***DIL SE DESI GROUP***
You can join the group by clicking the below link or by copying and pasting it in the browser bar and then pressing 'Enter'.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dilsedesigroup/join
OWNER/MODERATOR : rajeshkainth003@gmail.com; {Rajesh Kainth}
MODERATOR : a.amitkumar13@gmail.com; {Amit Kumar}
MODERATOR : manisha.hatkar@gmail.com; {Manisha Hatkar}
MODERATOR : preeti.hande@gmail.com; {Preeti Hande}
MODERATOR : immortally69@yahoo.com {Rahul Joshi}
MODERATOR : kaustubh.basu@gmail.com {Kaustubhshobhan Basu}
MODERATOR : planetofprince@yahoo.com (Prem)
MODERATOR : abhijeet-bhurke@bridgestone.co.in (Abhijeet)
To modify your list subscription, please send a blank email to:
SUBSCRIBE : dilsedesigroup-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
UNSUBSCRIBE : dilsedesigroup-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
INDIVIDUAL MAILS : dilsedesigroup-normal@yahoogroups.com
DAILY DIGEST : dilsedesigroup-digest@yahoogroups.com
VACATION HOLD : dilsedesigroup-nomail@yahoogroups.com
FOR POSTING MESSAGES : dilsedesigroup@yahoogroups.com
Yahoo! Groups Links
<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dilsedesigroup/
<*> Your email settings:
Individual Email | Traditional
<*> To change settings online go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dilsedesigroup/join
(Yahoo! ID required)
<*> To change settings via email:
mailto:dilsedesigroup-digest@yahoogroups.com
mailto:dilsedesigroup-fullfeatured@yahoogroups.com
<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
dilsedesigroup-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: