The four goals of life

         Hinduism believes in four main goals of life. They are karma, artha, dharma and moksha. It is said that all humans seek kama (pleasure, physical or emotional) and artha (power, fame and wealth), but soon, with maturity, learn to govern these legitimate desires within a higher, pragmatic framework of dharma, or moral harmony in all.

                                                                  The four stages of life

In Hinduism, life of a human being is divided into four stages. These stages are called Ashramas, and they are:

1. Brahmacharya, the first quarter of life as a bachelor - to be spent in learning, building the body and the mind.
2. Grihasthya, the second quarter of life as a person with a family, and doing work for livelihood.
3. Vanaprastha, the third phase of life, spent in forests and in meditation.
4. Sanyasa, the last phase of life, spent without any feeling and attachment to the world.