Wednesday, July 18, 2007

Balancing life

In the Indian tradition, life is said to have four aims—wealth, pleasure, ethical conduct, or goodness, and enlightenment—and they are meant to be held in balance. What would your life be like if you were to cultivate each of these areas equally?

Wealth
Resources that sustain your life: skills, education, job, money, housing, food, clothing

Pleasure
Every form of healthy enjoyment: sports; sex; theater, literature, music, and art; practicing your own form of creative expression

Ethical conduct
Earning a living honestly, taking care of responsibilities, acting morally and according to your highest values, helping others

Enlightenment
Realizing your deepest nature; recognizing the oneness of everything; pursuing practices such as yoga, meditation, and spiritual study to make this possible