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Promoting Dignity Mutual Respect & Pluralism Ashramas Promoting Dignity Mutual Respect & Pluralism

The 4 ashramas 3 4 2 1 Brahmacharya Grishastya Sannyasa Vanaprashta These stages provide structure and guidance for daily life The 4 ashramas Stages of life Today, most Hindus only follow the first 3 stages

1 Brahmacharya

Brahmacharya Student Life THE GOAL Learning & Preparing for success in the next stages Gaining Religious Training to lay the foundation for spiritual practice Attending School in the modern era

2 Grishastya

Grishastya MARRIED LIFE THE GOAL Develop Spiritual Practice in the midst of the material world Marriage is given high priority & the scriptures detail how to make marriage successful Individuals are encouraged to produce and distribute wealth (artha) & experience pleasure (kama), while always acting ethically (dharma) In essence, each individual in this stage hopes to be a supportive family member & productive citizen * Though some Hindus choose to skip this stage, most choose to practice their spirituality while raising families.

3 Vanaprashta

Vanaprashta This stage begins after individuals fulfill their obligations to family. In ancient times, once reaching this stage, people would start detaching themselves by moving to the forest to devote more of their time to spiritual practice. The key to this detachment is through service to others. Today people have stopped retiring to the forest, instead choosing to spend more time giving back to their respective communities.

Vanaprashta Spiritual Practice THE GOAL To devote oneself to Spiritual Practice with a Commitment to Moksha And Seva (service) The idea is to live among other seekers of solace, knowledge, peace, and freedom Hindus may do this by volunteering, attending lectures, reading scriptures, going on pilgrimages, and even spending time in ashrams

4 Sannyasa

Sannyasa RENUNCIATION THE GOAL Attain Liberation from the cycle of birth and rebirth Hindus who want to exclusively pursue moksha enter this stage: a monastic lifestyle under the guidance of a guru (teacher) Having fulfilled all obligations to family and community, they are free to devote themselves to spiritual growth, a simple lifestyle, non-violence while subsisting on a minimum * Practioners of this stage are called sannyasin (male) and sannyasini (females).

4 Stages of Life with Different Goals Key takEaways THERE ARE 4 Stages of Life with Different Goals Each individual’s progression through the stages is different, as some may skip one stage or the other, and others may plateau at other stages The four stages offer a guide for the attainment of a full life consisting of virtue, wealth, pleasure and spiritual liberation. They are meant to help Hindus balance enjoyment of the material world with ethics and progress towards moksha, or liberation

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