Ayurveda - View Of Life
According to Vedic philosophy, human life has a definitive purpose, which is split into four pursuits: dharma, artha, kama, and moksha.
Dharma
It is the comprehensive term for the 10 values every person should have. These principles are as follows:
Wisdom: You must always try to become wiser through study, personal experience, and learning from others.
Truth You must always be true in thought, words, and actions.
Forbearance: You must remain calm and composed in all circumstances.
Control of senses: You must control your senses and learn to master your emotions.
Control of mind: You must exercise full control over your mind, which is always restless.
Forgiveness: You must forgive others, for it makes you physically and morally stronger. However, it isn’t advisable to forgive someone who has done you wrong multiple times.
Non-stealing: You must never steal or take something from another without asking permission.
Cleanliness: You must keep your body, home, and mind clear and pure.
Non-anger: You must resist anger, even when provoked.
Knowledge: You must always seek knowledge of the physical and spiritual domains from all possible sources.
Artha
It is the acquisition of wealth. This doesn’t refer to only material wealth, but rather the four forms of artha:
Knowledge: Knowledge is the greatest form of wealth. It transcends material wealth because spiritual knowledge cannot be lost and leads to true fulfillment.
Health: Health includes physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual well-being. Good food, exercise, and thoughts are required for proper health.
Contentment: Contentment means being happy with what you have and letting go of the need to possess and become more. Contentment is a form of wealth because it provides mental peace and moral strength.
Material wealth: It’s important to be able to financially sustain yourself and not depend on others for your needs. Money is energy, and you should value your time and expertise. You should not become a slave of material wealth but learn to master it.
Kama
It is the controlled fulfillment of desires. It contains two facets:
- You must have desires in life because that’s what inspire you to discover and give back.
- You must not be controlled by your desires because that leads to destruction.
Be mindful of your desires! You should have desires without being attached to their outcome. Your desires must be kept in check to make your life useful and purposeful without becoming deluded by wanting more.
Moksha is the fourth and final objective to human life and is the goal of existence. This is the state of Ananda—pure bliss—which, once you’ve attained it, you desire nothing more. It’s the wealth of pure liberation. You are no longer driven by your desires but can relax into your being. This is the highest objective of life and can only be achieved once you have attained the first three objectives, dharma, artha, and kama. You must start small to become infinite.