Wisdom pertaining to the 4 stages of life - Page 3

Brian100 · #21 19-07-2020, 10:50 AM

You can't divide life into 4 stages... b.c there is only 3..

Young. pretty. old and ugly.

Altair · #22 19-07-2020, 11:29 AM

Those four stages are just standard age-old rubbish. You may as well have been told by your church priest or another popular 'think-tank' that blames all ills of today on the younger generations. Repeating simple observations of standardization isn't 'wisdom', try and come up with something intellectually stimulating.

Brian100 · #23 19-07-2020, 09:56 PM

Actually I just reduced your stages to what I have seen for myself.

Shivani Devi · #24 21-07-2020, 02:54 AM

Very interesting article, David and thank you for sharing. I got a lot of useful information from it.

As you all probably know, I am an orthodox Hindu traditionalist and the apple never falls far from that tree.

According to the tenets of Sanatana Dharma, there are 4 stages of life (Ashramas) and these are as follows:

1. Brahmacharya - the "childhood/student stage" which usually lasts until the age of 25 years. This stage consists of learning, growth, development and receiving instruction and tuition.
2. Grihastha - the "householder stage" which lasts from 25 years to 50 years.
This stage consists of getting married, raising a family, going to work, accumulating wealth, providing for the needs of family and self and making contributions to society.
3. Vanaprastha - the "retirement stage" which lasts from 50-70 years. This stage consists of handing over the business to the children, acting in an advisory capacity, being an 'elder' in the community, the gradual withdrawal from social obligations and focusing on the more spiritual and aesthetic aspects of life.
4. Sannyasa - "renunciant phase" which is from 70+. This is when one totally withdraws from all obligations and prepares themselves for the great journey ahead with a lot of spiritual practice, charity, meditation and detachment from things keeping the soul bound to this earthly plane.

Of course these are not "hard and fast" rules...merely guidelines which can be circumvented at any time.

PS.. I just noticed your account has been deactivated. Sorry to see that, but I hope you will read this...best of luck, love and happy trails to you old friend.