Vanaprastha And Sannyasa Four Goals of Life Complements with the four stages of life Dharma Artha Kama Moksha Link with the Samskara system This is the framework for the lives of an orthodox Hindu ID: 703648
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Slide1
Four Phases of Life in Hinduism
Vanaprastha
And
SannyasaSlide2
Four Goals of Life
Complements with the four stages of life
Dharma
Artha
Kama
Moksha
Link with the
Samskara
system
This is the framework for the lives of an orthodox HinduSlide3
Brief Recap
First phase of life is the
Brahmacharya
Also known as the celibate student
Phase of formal education
Lasts until a man’s mid-twenties
Preparation for future
Second phase of life is the
Grihastha
Also known as the married family man
When a man is supposed to get married and support family
Supports the pursuit of wealth (
artha
), and indulgence (
Kama
)
Many struggle to move beyond the second phase of life
Slide4
Vanaprastha – The Hermit in Retreat
This phase of life occurs around retirement age
Vana
(Forest) and
Prastha
(residence)
Relinquish possessions and wealth
Moves out to live in a hut in the forest
Modern interpretation
Leaving homeSlide5
The Hermit in Retreat (cont.)
Wife’s role
May follow the husband
Minimal social and conjugal relationship
Transitional phase
Limited to daily tasks such as preparing meals
Ultimate pursuit of
Moksha
Transition from materialistic pursuits to spiritual liberation
The man is supposed to be completely cut off from familySlide6
The Hermit in Retreat (cont.)
Uncommon for the modern Hindu
Most elderly Hindus live in their family homes with their children
A few retire to the hermitage (
asrama
) of a well-regarded religious teacher
Some relocate to a town with some religious renown
i.e. Banaras – Forest of Bliss: Popular retirement site
Others go on occasional pilgrimages to various religious sites
i.e. Tiruvannamalai, or
Pondicheri
, or
Haridvar
or
Rishikesh
Slide7
Tiruvannamalai
Annamalaiyar
temple towersSlide8
Sannyasa – The Wandering Recluse
Also known as the wandering ascetic or renouncer phase
Traditionally the last phase of a man or woman’s life
Modern practicing Hindus
Some choose to skip to this stage
Straight away renounce materialistic desires
Dedication to spiritual pursuits, particularly
Moksha
This phase is not regularly practicedSlide9
The Wandering Recluse (cont.)
Traditionally, the
Sannyasins
leave their family and loved ones
Supposed to perform their death rites
B
urn their sacred threads
Abandon the household fire
Wander the world in search for the final and highest goalLiberation or Moksha
Renouncer must ignore “I” and “MY”
Cut loose from limitations of individualitySlide10
The Wandering Recluse (cont.)
Attire: Rag robes
Traditionally dyed in a saffron hue to conceal stains
No formal requirements
wide variety of practices for those who end up going into this phase of life
Common themes
Minimal possessions i.e. staff and bowl
Nomadic lifestyle
The reason for living a nomadic lifestyleSlide11
The Wandering Recluse (cont.)
Important quote from the Bhagavad Gita:
5.3: “One who neither hates nor desires the fruits of his activities is known to be always renounced. Such a person, free from all dualities, easily overcomes material bondage and is completely liberated, O Mighty-armed
Arjuna
.”
Discusses the ultimate goal of liberation
Other characteristics:
Non-violence, disarmament, purity
Characteristics are not exclusive to this phase of lifeSlide12
The Wandering Recluse (cont.)
Ultimate goal of a renouncer is to attain
Moksha
or liberation
Definition of liberation differs among traditions
i.e. Yoga traditions
Liberation is experiencing the highest
Samadhi
(Deep awareness in this life)
Being a renouncer is ultimately a means to decrease and end ties of all kindSeen as people who abandon society and live a reclusive life
ACTUALLY: people who reject the ritual mores of the social world and one’s attachment to materialistic desires
Liberation, freedom, blissful existenceSlide13
The Wandering Recluse (cont.)
Transitioning between the second and third phase is extremely difficult
Giving up all materialistic possessions
Modern Hindus
However, transitioning to the fourth phase from the third phase is not as difficultSlide14
Conclusion
Vanaprastha
is mostly a transitional phase of life
Transitioning from materialistic goods to a more religious life
Sannyasa
is living the ascetic and nomadic religious life in pursuit of
Moksha
Goal of Hinduism is to attain a liberated, free, and blissful existence
Will not be reborn, but instead be absorbed into the universal soulSlide15
Bibliography
Molloy, Michael.
Experiencing the World's Religions
. 6th ed.
N.p
.:
n.p
.,
n.d.
Print.Fowler, Jeaneane D. Hinduism: Beliefs and Practices. Brighton: Sussex Academic, 1997. Print.Stevenson, Sinclair.
The Rites of the Twice-born
. New Delhi: Oriental Reprint; Exclusively Distributed by
Munshiram
Manoharlal
, Delhi, 1971. Print.
Rodrigues, Hillary.
Introducing Hinduism
. New York: Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group, 2006. Print.
Morgan, Kenneth W.
The Religion of the Hindus
. New York: Ronald, 1953. Print.
"Bhagavad Gita 5.3."
The Bhagavad Gita with Commentaries of
Ramanuja
Madhva
Shankara
and Others Bhagavad Gita 53 Comments
.
N.p
., 13 Sept. 2012. Web. 21 Nov. 2015
.
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