/
Four Phases of Life in Hinduism Four Phases of Life in Hinduism

Four Phases of Life in Hinduism - PowerPoint Presentation

liane-varnes
liane-varnes . @liane-varnes
Follow
350 views
Uploaded On 2018-10-30

Four Phases of Life in Hinduism - PPT Presentation

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

phase life moksha cont life phase cont moksha wandering recluse liberation print religious family materialistic gita modern hinduism man

Share:

Link:

Embed:

Download Presentation from below link

Download Presentation The PPT/PDF document "Four Phases of Life in Hinduism" is the property of its rightful owner. Permission is granted to download and print the materials on this web site for personal, non-commercial use only, and to display it on your personal computer provided you do not modify the materials and that you retain all copyright notices contained in the materials. By downloading content from our website, you accept the terms of this agreement.


Presentation Transcript

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

.

http

://

study.com/academy/lesson/the-four-goals-of-hindu-life-kama-artha-dharma-moksha.html

https://

www.youtube.com/watch?v=4sSnRv0xueM