Hinduism: The four Stages influence on Ethics
Hinduism is one of, if not the oldest world religions today, dating back to Vedic scriptures that have been a fixed base for over 2000 years (Van Voorst, 1994). The discipline and ethics is rooted deeply in the followers who have dedicated their lives to the doctrine of the four stages of life or ashrama. The followers are taught a way of life through the ashrama, it is an ethical guideline that describes a lifestyle in which one lives to fulfill the goals in life, dharma being a major factor in all of this. A deeper look into Hindu ethics reveals how the strict caste system that determines the dharma of each individual. I will address the four stages of life in Hinduism and how they impact ethics …show more content…
Throughout the brahmacharya, the student or brahmachari receives a formal education from a guru using the Vedas, also preparing the student for a future profession, a family and for the required social responsibilities. The student must be dedicated to the pursuit of learning by appreciating the basic tenets of religion, practicing humility and restraint in speech, avoiding causing harm to creatures or others and by avoiding illicit activities but to succeed in these the most important goal in being brahmachari is required, which is to develop control of the sense through self-discipline. In this context self-discipline and self-denial are quite similar in meaning because brahmachari it is compulsory to practice abstinence and to follow a strict schedule focusing on study at all times.They are also taught the four goals in life which are the exclusively designated goals that can be desired. Although dharma which is duty is a major factor in all four the stages of life, the goal that applies more specifically to the student is Kama. Kama is closely associatedwith abstinence and self-denial because it is the principal that there is more to life than love and sensual pleasure meaning that love is important but there is more to strive for in life than solely this. Dharma also plays an important part in this stage of life because it builds a foundation that teaches the ethics of Hinduism as an individual and as a member of …show more content…
The third stage is the period in after the householder stage in which one begins to wrinkle and become a grandfather seeing his children as grown with established lives. Being older now the elite or Brahmin must renounce all physical, material and sexual pleasures in order to spend time praying in a hut within a forest. Although this stage has been called the hermit stage the wife is allowed to be taken along but must remain in limited contact with family. Being that this stage is taken on at an older age many choose to not to embark down this path. According to Sharma (2002), from a philosophical point of view kama and arth are ranked as lower ends than dharma and moksha. In the third and fourth stages dharma and moksha become the only goals required at this point because artha and kama are only required until achieved. The goal of this path is to prepare for moksha or liberation through dharma by focusing on enlightenment and giving up luxuries. Only the kshatirya and Brahmin have access to the stage but many enjoy their luxurious lifestyle so fewer follow this path. The fourth stage is the most extreme to the extent that exclusively but rarely the Brahmin participate
Hinduism is one of, if not the oldest world religions today, dating back to Vedic scriptures that have been a fixed base for over 2000 years (Van Voorst, 1994). The discipline and ethics is rooted deeply in the followers who have dedicated their lives to the doctrine of the four stages of life or ashrama. The followers are taught a way of life through the ashrama, it is an ethical guideline that describes a lifestyle in which one lives to fulfill the goals in life, dharma being a major factor in all of this. A deeper look into Hindu ethics reveals how the strict caste system that determines the dharma of each individual. I will address the four stages of life in Hinduism and how they impact ethics …show more content…
Throughout the brahmacharya, the student or brahmachari receives a formal education from a guru using the Vedas, also preparing the student for a future profession, a family and for the required social responsibilities. The student must be dedicated to the pursuit of learning by appreciating the basic tenets of religion, practicing humility and restraint in speech, avoiding causing harm to creatures or others and by avoiding illicit activities but to succeed in these the most important goal in being brahmachari is required, which is to develop control of the sense through self-discipline. In this context self-discipline and self-denial are quite similar in meaning because brahmachari it is compulsory to practice abstinence and to follow a strict schedule focusing on study at all times.They are also taught the four goals in life which are the exclusively designated goals that can be desired. Although dharma which is duty is a major factor in all four the stages of life, the goal that applies more specifically to the student is Kama. Kama is closely associatedwith abstinence and self-denial because it is the principal that there is more to life than love and sensual pleasure meaning that love is important but there is more to strive for in life than solely this. Dharma also plays an important part in this stage of life because it builds a foundation that teaches the ethics of Hinduism as an individual and as a member of …show more content…
The third stage is the period in after the householder stage in which one begins to wrinkle and become a grandfather seeing his children as grown with established lives. Being older now the elite or Brahmin must renounce all physical, material and sexual pleasures in order to spend time praying in a hut within a forest. Although this stage has been called the hermit stage the wife is allowed to be taken along but must remain in limited contact with family. Being that this stage is taken on at an older age many choose to not to embark down this path. According to Sharma (2002), from a philosophical point of view kama and arth are ranked as lower ends than dharma and moksha. In the third and fourth stages dharma and moksha become the only goals required at this point because artha and kama are only required until achieved. The goal of this path is to prepare for moksha or liberation through dharma by focusing on enlightenment and giving up luxuries. Only the kshatirya and Brahmin have access to the stage but many enjoy their luxurious lifestyle so fewer follow this path. The fourth stage is the most extreme to the extent that exclusively but rarely the Brahmin participate