The four goals of life; mantra; grounding

The Adiveda Weekly #10

Jul 24, 2022

Hari Aum Sadhakas!

Owing to our comfortable lifestyles, many of us have the opportunity to explore deeper, more existential ideas about the kind of lives we want to live, and the purpose of our being. We search for “meaning” in our lives as if it’s a treasure to be found somewhere. We look for it everywhere – in our work, our relationships, our experiences, often times with little success. Luckily for us, the rishis of the Sanatana Dharma had explored these ideas long before us. Through the Vedas, they gave us the four goals of human life – to help us live happy and fulfilling lives.

The Hindu way of life

The Hindu goal of life is very simple – to attain moksha or liberation from the eternal cycle of births and deaths. This is the final goal but Hinduism being a practical religion realised the need for temporary goals which the human being needs during his life on this earth. The rishis articulated the purusharthas or the goals of life in the Vedas. Purusha means an individual and artha means objective, meaning or pursuit. The purusharthas are translated in Sanskrit as the “goals of human existence.” These universal aims influence every thought and deed of our lives. They are: dharma (righteousness), artha (wealth), kama (desire) and moksha (liberation).

Reflection of the week

“The real tragedy of life does not lie in not reaching the goal but in not knowing the goal.”

For your everyday practice

Say a little prayer before starting your workday.

Kayena vacha, manasendriyairva, buddhyatmanavath, prakrite swabhavath,
Karomiyad yad, sakalam parasmai,
Sri Narayanayeti samarpayami.

Lord Krishna says that any seva or any action must be done as an offering to God. Chant this mantra before beginning any work and offer it to Him. The verse means:

Whatever action I might do with my body, mind, intellect and the five senses, Whatever I might do unconsciously through force of habit, O Narayana! I submit everything to you.

If you find the mantra difficult to recite, you can make a mental offering to Him – of your work and the fruits of your labour.

For your health and well-being

Practice grounding/earthing.

Reconnecting the human body to the earth’s surface is an often overlooked contributor to good health. As a species, we evolved with regular contact between our bare skin and the surface of the earth. The earth’s surface is, in fact, replete with a layer of electrons which when in contact with our bare skin, transfer to our body. The effects of this contact are widespread, ranging from improving circadian rhythms and insomnia, to regulating inflammation. Today’s health tip is to thereby spend some time every day with your bare feet on the earth – enjoying this natural transfer of electrons and all the benefits that it brings!

By Dr. Poorna Menon, Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine

From Vanamali Mataji’s desk

The rishis laid out the goals of life in the ancient Vedic texts. They called it the four-fold human pursuit: dharma, artha, kama and moksha. ⁣⁣Dharma is the code of righteousness, which should govern life and all our activities. In such a righteous life, we should find and develop our own monetary resources. Thus, the second object is artha, meaning financial sufficiency. Wealth earned by one’s own effort and by righteous means is the best and most desirable. By self-earned wealth, we must try to fulfil our legitimate desires, kama. The true objective of wealth is to gain dharma, for that alone will lead to inner spiritual enlightenment, bestowing peace, wisdom, and freedom in the end. When dharma, artha, and kama are pursued in their right order and measure, the fourth object, moksha, becomes relevant, facile, and meaningful.

More on the four goals of life according to the Sanatana Dharma in the blog below.