Vaana Prastham

\

Vaana Prastham 

Worldly life is a Journey.  Our wise ancestors have divided the path into four phases.  These are known as Ashramas.  (Hindu Dharma derives one of its names, Varna-Ashrama Dharma from this).  These four are Brahmacharya, Gruhasthaashrama, Vaanaprasthaashrama and Sannyaasa, in that order.

The first phase is Brahmacharyam,  This is learning phase.  The Knowledge-seeking Phase.  Knowledge about the world, about the types and ways to relate with the world.  In ancient times, learning was in Gurukulams.  Now, schools and colleges are the learning centers for most.

The most prominent mark of ‘Learning Phase’ is Discipline.  (The word discipline is rooted in disciple. A disciple or a learner and discipline go hand in hand.)  Sensual discipline is the basis of other forms of discipline.  Sukhaarthino kutho Vidyaa?  Vidyaarthino kutho Sukham?  Sukhaarthee vaa tyajet Vidyaa. Vidyaarthee vaa tyajet Sukham. These are wise words of our ancestors.

सुखार्थिनो कुतो विद्या? विद्यार्थिनो कुतो  सुखं? सुखार्थी वा त्यजेत् विद्या | विद्यार्थी वा त्यजेत सुखम |

[Where is Knowledge for pleasure-seeker? Where is pleasure for Knowledge-seeker? Either pleasure-seeker has to give education or Knowledge-seeker has to give up pleasure.]

When senses run behind their respective objects of pleasure, the mind also is disturbed and wanders and drives the senses behind objects with more vigour.  The foremost condition for gaining Knowledge is a focussed mind. That is the reason our ancestors insisted on ‘simple and disciplined’ life for Brahmachaaris in Gurukulams.  Mats as beds, simple food with mild taste, essential and and minimum clothes, rigorous daily schedule, humble service.. Such was life in Gurukulams situated far away from family and towns.

The Brahmachaaris after completion of such a living return home to enter into Gruhasthaashrama or Family Life.  The present-day student also, on completion of school and college life, step into family life. (Now-a-days the educated ones, running after Jobs, better jobs, higher and higher education, updating and more updating to ensure those jobs, enter family life at ages as late as 30 or even 40. That is an unfortunate and unnatural trend.)

The prominent mark of Gruhaastham is ‘tha’ or (थ) or stablity or rooted in a Gruham and initiate efforts to earn. (The Sanyaasee, on the other hand, can not stay at one place for more than three days.) A Gruhastha earns not just for self or for own family.  Men in the other three ashramas are to be fed by him.  A Gruhastha enriches the National economy through his efforts. Various forms of Art, Music, Literature, Dance, Temples, Festivals, tradition and culture, etc. etc. have been nourished, preserved and handed over through so many generations only by Gruhastha.
The Gruha of a Gruhastha attracts wealth (अर्थ) Stability at a single location attracts wealth and resources. Stability in a single field of occupation attracts Experience.  Progress of a society depends on Wealth and Experience accumulated. The Nation marches on continuous path of development when Wealth and Experience so accumulated is passed on continuously to next generations. Kaama or desire also establishes itself in Gruham. (Unfortunately, houses now-a-days are turning into batteries of lust and godowns of all sorts of things.)

Life in this world is not and can not be stable. It has leave this world. If thrust on us forcefully, anything becomes bitter and contemptuous. If the same is volutarily welcomed and accepted?  Vaanaprastham , the third phase, is the phase meant to tune for inevitable departure.

This ashrama is a combination of Brahmacharya and Gruhastham.  Study. Yes. Not of worldly subjects, but Study of Self. Disciplines and regulations of senses in Vaana Prastha. Yes. Not enforced and monitored from factors outside, but voluntarily and gleefully accepted from within. In these respects, Vaana Prastha is continuation of Brahmacharya.

Gruham (Home) continues, minus wealth-seeking activities. Wife also continues in Vaana Prastham, without ‘desire’. A Gruham transformed into a ‘Yagya-shaalaa’. (Sannyaasa, the fourth phase, is without Gruham or home.)

There is no necessity to walk out of the family. Just erase the worries about it, snap-off bindings with it, discard anxieties about objects ‘me and mine’ gathered religeously in so many years. The change is not external, only at mind level. But attachment is easy and detachment is very difficult. How do you shorten a line without erasing? Draw a longer line by its side. The mind, which was engrossed in a small circle of self and family, has to be latched on to ‘Village, Temple, Village school, the next generation or Dharma. This may be called expanded or enlightened Selfishness. The attachment is transferred to a broader unit. Here are some tips to ensure better Vaana Prastham.

Ø Go to any corner of the world to earn, but come back to your village after 50 or the age you decide.

Ø Begin Vaana Prastha life with the experience amassed by you in earning phase.

Ø Start putting to use towards the well-being of village, well-being of the world, anything and everything used all these years for filling up your belly and fulfilling needs of your family.

Ø Start practising Yogasana and Pranaayama so as to try and keep your body fit for the nobler life you intend to take up.

Ø Start practising Niyamas like Japa, Dhyana, Mouna and other types of Vrathams, so as keep the mind calm and balanced.

Ø Initiate efforts towards Spiritual (Adhyaatmik) progress. Study appropriate books.

Ø One can possibly give only that posessed by him. If you have joy, you’ll be able to pass on joy and happiness. If you have grief and sorrow, you’ll be able to give only that. Hence, fill up your inner self with Joy, Enthusiasm, Selflessness, Peace and Contentment.

Ø One final word. To feel that ‘I give’ is called ‘Kartha Bhaava’. It is seed to arrogance or Ahankaara. Does rose distribute its good smell? No. Its Nature, its Swabhaava filled up in its core, the fine smell filled up in everyone of its cells, merely flows out. The rose does not feel, ‘it is serving the world’. It is not concerned whether you experience its smell, whether you enjoye it and appreciate the rose. The scent will be emitted from the rose with the same intensity even in a forest with no one around.

Vaana Prastha is a phase that encourages efforts by us towards fuller blossoming of our Swabhaava.

Vaana Prastha helps us in attaining Poornatvam or Wholeness. An incomplete life forces us to continue our efforts in next births.

‘Expansion is Life’ proclaimed Swami Vivekananda. Vaana Prastha is meant to help us in expansion, from petty sensual identity, from lower identity with ‘me and mine’, to our real identity, the Identity with Paramaatman.

Shree Krishna assures us in the Geeta. “One who initiates Selfless efforts with Benevolent Intention, is never dommed”. (Ch 6, Shlokam 40). The intention is more important than success or failure of our efforts.