The Four Aims of Life (Puruṣārthas)
A whole-life map: live rightly, prosper, love, and ultimately seek liberation.
Classical Hindu culture frames a balanced human life around four legitimate aims: dharma, living rightly; artha, pursuing prosperity and worldly aims; kāma, enjoying pleasure and love; and mokṣa, seeking final liberation. Far from condemning worldly goals, the scheme dignifies them in their place while ranking liberation as the highest. It gives a remarkably whole-life view of what a person may rightly seek.
Key passages(17)
O Pârtha, no set determination is formed in the minds of those that are deeply attached to pleasure and power, and whose discrimination is stolen away by the flowery words of the unwise, who are full
Tap to expand
O Pârtha, no set determination is formed in the minds of those that are deeply attached to pleasure and power, and whose discrimination is stolen away by the flowery words of the unwise, who are full
Tap to expand
What mortal, slowly decaying here below, and knowing, after having approached them, the freedom from decay enjoyed by the immortals, would delight in a long life, after he has pondered on the pleasure
Tap to expand
Vivekacūḍāmaṇi · Śaṅkara (traditionally ascribed; authorship doubted)
Maitreyi said: 'My Lord, if this whole earth, full of wealth, belonged to me, tell me, should I be immortal by it, or no?' 'No,' replied Yagnavalkya, 'like the life of rich people will be thy life. Bu
Tap to expand
'And he who desires the world of the sisters, by his mere will the sisters come to receive him, and having obtained the world of the sisters, he is happy.
Tap to expand
Yama said: "Though thou hadst seen the fulfilment of all desires, the foundation of the world, the endless rewards of good deeds, the shore where there is no fear, that which is magnified by praise, t
Tap to expand
Bṛhadāraṇyaka Upaniṣad · Vedic Revelation (śruti)
Now, in case one wishes, 'That a tawny son with reddish-brown eyes be born to me! that he be able to recite two Vedas! that he attain the full length of life!'--they two should have rice cooked with s
Tap to expand