The Four Purusharthas – Dharma, Artha, Kama, Moksha – An Easy Definition
Sanatan Dharma (meaning ageless religion or system here) understands and mentions 4 purusharthas. Think of purusharthas as the main human pursuits or purposes.
Here’s an easy way to look at these four purusharthas. Here ‘action’ would mean thought, word, action, feeling, attitude etc (basically all those things that humans ‘do’ or ‘experience’ out of some kind or level of choice).
Think of Dharma which is essentially right action (not necessarily morally, but in wider terms) to mean ‘doing that which MUST be done.
Artha may be seen as doing that which SHOULD or CAN be done.
Kama is doing that which one LIKES doing.
Moksha is being free of all the above. There is nothing he MUST or SHOULD do nor is inclined towards any particular action. It’s a state where where one is free to do or not do any thing and not be affected by the consequences of his action/non-action.
Think of the purusharthas in the light of these simple definitions to understand whys of human actions.
Remember, Dharma is doing THAT WHICH MUST BE DONE. Not doing that which MUST be done has consequences. KARMA!
Artha is doing what SHOULD or CAN be done and they too have consequences. Not doing what one should or can do can lead to difficulties fulfilling one’s needs or meeting one’s essential responsibilities. Naturally, there are consequences here, too! Karma, again!
Kama is about desires. It’s doing what one LIKES doing. Superficially, there’s nothing wrong with doing what one likes doing. But when we do or not do what we LIKE doing, we may again create situations with consequences…and that means KARMA, again!
Moksha is coming to a state where one is under no inner obligation or pressure to do or not do anything. In a sense, such a person has usually reached a level of consciousness where he is unaffected by worldly goings-ons! He may have transcended his annamaya, manomaya, Pranamaya and perhaps, even, vijnanamaya koshas…or he could be close…
– rajyogi (rajesh kanoii)
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