13/10/2022
Householder life
Swami Satyananda Saraswati
The spiritual rules for a householder are different to those for a sannyasin. Spiritual rules also differ according to every situation; in the outside world and in the ashram they are never the same.
Grihastha ashram is an ashram and a sadhana by itself, but people have misunderstood its meaning. They consider it to be a licensed place for sensual pleasure. They feel that they can consume alcohol and do whatever they like. However, grihastha ashram is a training ground for spiritual life where recognized internal and external sadhanas are undertaken. Here one must learn tolerance. Is it not a good quality? Here one learns to serve others even at one 's own cost. To cultivate this positive quality is also a sadhana.
In the vedic tradition our ancestors have given the status of ashram to grihasth ashram. The word ashram means a place where an aspirant works hard. Grihastha ashram means a place where a householder works hard and the same holds true for a brahmachari in a brahmacharya ashram, a vanprasth in vanprasth ashram,and a sannyasin in sannyasa ashram.
There are four types of purusharthas, or endeavours: dharma, duty, artha, wealth, k**a, desire, and moksha, liberation. For a grihastha, three are important: dharma, artha and k**a. For a vanprasth, there are two: dharma and moksha. A sannyasin has only one text book, moksha, to be learned, but a householder has a large syllabus: dharma, artha and k**a. You have to learn various aspects of these three subjects in your life. Singing bhajans , doing spiritual sadhana, japa, meditation, kirtan, asana and pranayam are part of your dharma purushartha, not that of moksha purushartha.
Why? Because your mind should be steady and balanced to perform dharma. If your mind is upset and imbalanced, you cannot cultivate qualities like forgiveness, compassion, mercy, tolerance and fearlessness. You should have tolerance, fearlessness and a feeling of sacrifice. With the help of dharma, you can achieve a balanced mind. From dharma, you further proceed to achieve artha and k**a. In Ramcharitmanas the Lord talks about the chariot of dharma.
Listen, O friend, said the treasure of mercy,
The chariot which leads to victory is of a different make.
Valour and fortitude are the wheels of that chariot,
Truth and virtuous conduct are its flags and banners,
Strength, discretion, self -control and kindness its horses.
Harnessed with forgiveness, compassion and equality.
The bhajan of the Lord is the skilled charioteer,
Dispassion is his shield and contentment his sword,
Charity is his axe and intelligence his fierce Lance,
Supreme wisdom is his bow, a peaceful mind his quiver.
Containing the arrows of quietude, restraint and order.
Homage to Brahman and Guru are his buckler,
There is no other way to ensure victory than this.
O my friend, one who rides upon such a chariot
Of righteousness has no enemy to conquer anywhere.
If you do not follow dharma on the way to artha and k**a, artha and k**a will always lead you to the path of adharma. Is it not so? Artha means the same everywhere, acquiring wealth and k**a means desire. There are three kinds of desire in this world: for a woman, wealth and children. These three desires or wishes are in everybody. Nobody is free from them. A few people, not everyone, have an additional desire for fame and power. How are you going to strike a balance between these three desires which are inborn in all human beings?
This subject has to be given due consideration by the householders in grihastha ashram. You are likely to fall if you do not apply a brake on the artha and k**a aspects. This could destroy your entire energy. When you are properly balanced within on account of the presence of dharma, you will be in a position to implement the artha and k**a aspects in your life. This is the syllabus for grihastha ashram spiritual life.
Satsangs on Ramcharitmanas