Guest guest Posted November 14, 2005 Report Share Posted November 14, 2005 Karen asked: Can the four stages be applied to everyone's life? Dear Karen, Thank you for the question. Here is my explanation on the four stages of life (student, householder, vanasprastha, sannyas) I think when Hinduism talks of the four stages of life - it talks of an ideal one. This is the "normal" well spent life - both in the world as a student and householder , and then gradually relinquishing worldly duties (vanaprastha) and moving into the search for a higher truth (sannyas) . Of course this is the ideal situation. In reality, many people do not cross the householder stage, while some folks jump right in to Sannyas. This too depends on the inclination (one would call them the past samskaras or vasanas) of the individual. I think when the seers of the Sanatan Dharma came forward with these four stages, they were wise enough to understand that not everyone has the tendency to go towards being established in truth (sannyas) , but that everyone could take baby steps towards the process .I think thats why they said, that if not in the prime of youth, atleast think of God when the body is old and beat up and is limited in its enjoyment anyway. Atleast thats my two cents... and will let you know when Swamiji responds. I am interested to know what our friends in this group think on this subject. Jai Maa Nanda Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 14, 2005 Report Share Posted November 14, 2005 OM NAMAH SIVAYA Nanda, i think that these stages are not linear or are they necessarily external. to me all stages are occurring on some level at the same time. ie. everyone is really always a student. you can never know Infinity in its entirety. and i think that everyone has an element of sannyas. everyone has a tendency to move towards being established in Truth. its a matter of degree and intention. everyone is evolving, or "on the path" so to speak. some just don't know it. and these four stages may be the evolution of the soul and not just one lifetime. it's the stages of life and life is not ours. to me the same holds true for your question on Truth. it's a matter of degree and intention. all the Great Masters say the mind is a lie. and Truth is God. if God(Truth) is Silence, Love, The Name, etc. then in an absolute way anything that is not only That has some untruth in it. i think many Masters, out of compassion, on some level live a lie. they do it because that is where we are and they meet us where we are or we couldn't relate. i think if One was totally established in Truth they would leave their body. -my 2 cents JAI MAA , "Nanda" <chandimaakijai> wrote: > > > Karen asked: > > Can the four stages be applied to everyone's life? > > > Dear Karen, > Thank you for the question. Here is my explanation on the four stages of life (student, householder, vanasprastha, sannyas) > > I think when Hinduism talks of the four stages of life - it talks of an ideal one. This is the "normal" well spent life - both in the world as a student and householder , and then gradually relinquishing worldly duties (vanaprastha) and moving into the search for a higher truth (sannyas) . > > Of course this is the ideal situation. > > In reality, many people do not cross the householder stage, while some folks jump right in to Sannyas. This too depends on the inclination (one would call them the past samskaras or vasanas) of the individual. > > I think when the seers of the Sanatan Dharma came forward with these four stages, they were wise enough to understand that not everyone has the tendency to go towards being established in truth (sannyas) , but that everyone could take baby steps towards the process .I think thats why they said, that if not in the prime of youth, atleast think of God when the body is old and beat up and is limited in its enjoyment anyway. > > Atleast thats my two cents... and will let you know when Swamiji responds. I am interested to know what our friends in this group think on this subject. > > Jai Maa > Nanda > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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