In Hinduism there is the concept of the four goals of life, which offer a balance approach to spiritual and material growth, encompassing all areas of human development. This is in stark contrast to more monastic and world-denying approaches to spirituality.

Many spiritual traditions have a life-denying outlook. They teach you that in order to grow spiritually—to awaken, to elevate yourself, to achieve liberation, to know the Truth, to realize the Self—you must renounce all other desires.

Classical Buddhism preaches the ideal of monkhood. Christianity praises poverty and glorifies suffering. Many Bhakti sects in India tell you to desire nothing but God (or the Goddess), and to surrender to all misfortune as being part of His/Her will.

These traditions consider that all “worldly desires”—be they in the form of becoming wealthy, making an impact through your career, or enjoying the pleasures of life—are obstacles and distractions.

I can see the world through those lenses. In fact, for many years in my own spiritual journey, I have. And in a way they are right: to generate maximum focus and momentum in one thing, we need to let go of all other things.

But is this the only way?

No. And it’s a path that very few can follow with complete integrity.

For everyone else, the way out is the way through. We have aspirations in other areas of our lives, and these need to be fulfilled—or at least sincerely pursued—before we are ready to transcend them without it being an act of self-violence.

The Four Goals of Life

In the Hindu spiritual tradition we find a model that encourages us to pursue our aspirations as part of our journey. We read in the Vedas that there are four core goals in human life: Kama, Artha, Dharma, and Moksha.

Kama

Kama is often translated as pleasure. It includes all forms of sensory enjoyment (like good food, music, sex, and appreciation of beauty and art), as well as creative expression and the happiness derived from the fulfillment of our psychological needs. It includes all sorts of activities that bring joy and satisfaction, and it is considered important for emotional wellbeing.

Artha

Artha is often translated as prosperity. In this bucket go all desires around accumulating financial resources, growing your career, being acknowledged in your work, gaining reputation, becoming influential, and having status in society. It includes all things needed for sustenance and stability for you and your family, and it is considered foundational for the pursuit of other life goals.

Dharma

Dharma means duty, responsibility, virtue, or mission. It includes fulfilling our responsibilities with our family and community, positively contributing to society through our work and efforts, living in integrity with moral principles, and practicing self-improvement. Dharma invites us to go beyond our ego and its pursuit of instant gratification, putting our unique gifts and strengths at the service of a goal larger than ourselves.

Moksha

Moksha means liberation. Within the context of Hindu spirituality, this means the goal of liberating ourselves from the bondage of this world, so that coming back down here is no longer necessary. From a broader perspective, we can say that anything that helps us grow and elevate ourselves spiritually fits in this category.

Given this explanation, we can roughly say that the four goals of human life, as per the Vedas, are pleasure, prosperity, purpose, and peace.

As I wrote in this previous article, you can be ready for peace by either letting go or by fulfilling. Which one is the superior way? The one that is true to who you are, in this phase of life.

Weak desires can be removed by introspection and meditation, but strong, deep-rooted ones must be fulfilled and their fruits, sweet or bitter, tasted.

—Nisargadatta Maharaj

For those people who naturally have no desires or interest in the first three areas, it is fine to focus only on moksha. Traditionally, these people renounce the world and live an ascetic life, which allows them to focus fully on their one goal without distractions.

For all others, all four goals need to be embraced as part of a healthy, meaningful, and complete human life. Then one can transcend these desires by fulling them. Thus, in most cases, the way out is the way through.

To further explore this life-affirming version of spirituality, which embraces all life goals, check out Chapter 39 of Mindful Self-Discipline.

The Key Ingredient: Self-Discipline

One thing that all these goals have in common is that they require some self-discipline to be achieved. Kama requires a little discipline; achieving artha requires considerable discipline; fulfillment in dharma requires even more; and moksha requires radical self-discipline across all layers of your being.

This is why the focus of my work is helping people grow their self-discipline in a healthy and effective way. Self-discipline is the key trait of the higher mind—the reins—and an essential element for fulfilling your needs and desires in all areas of life.

Now my questions for you:

• In which of the four goals of life is your discipline lacking the most?
• Are you committed to growing this skill, by cultivating your higher mind?

Your answer to these questions will determine whether you will leave this world with a peaceful mind and a smile on your face, or a heart full of unfulfilled dreams.