Stages of life

Brahmacharya, as taught in the Vedas, is the first of four stages in man’s life—the period of strict chastity as a celibate religious student. Traditionally in India, the student would live in the home of his teacher, serving him in return for instruction received in an apprenticeship relationship. It was the building of character and good habits and the learning to make the inner communion that was considered important

The second stage (garhasthya) is that of the married householder with worldly responsibilities. In this stage, man’s interests and energies turn naturally outward, primarily in three directions: the family, the vocation, and the community. Huston Smith writes of this stage:

This is time for the satisfying of the first three wants of man: pleasure through the family primarily, success through his vocation, and duty through responsibilities as a citizen.

The third stage (vanaprastha) is retirement and meditation, the life of a hermit or forest-dweller. In this stage—which usually begins around the age of 50 or when grandchildren are born—one withdraws from worldly concerns to pursue spiritual growth and inner life.

The final stage (sannyasa) is that of renunciation, when one is bound by neither work nor desire but follows the path of a wanderer, freely pursuing knowledge of Brahman.

It is important to understand these stages, since we all have different desires: the desire to be a student, the desire to be married, the desire to be celibate; and if we understand that these four stages of life unfold in natural order, we are not in such a state of discontent with our present state.

Sources

Pearls of Wisdom, vol. 28, no. 11, March 17, 1985.

Pearls of Wisdom, vol. 28, no. 28, July 14, 1985.

Elizabeth Clare Prophet, October 24, 1974.