Post by Tamrin on May 7, 2011 13:36:40 GMT 10
In closing I would like to touch upon the Indian and consequently the Sikh view of man’s life in this world.
As the day is divided into morning, noon, afternoon and evening the Indians had divided life into four parts. The day has the waxing and waning of its light, so has man the waxing and waning of his bodily powers.
First came BRAMACHARYA the period of discipline in education, not limited only to learning of books and things but being in discipline whereby both enjoyment and its renunciation would come with equal ease to the strengthened character.
Second the GHRHASTHYA that of the world’s work – the life of the house holder – for wisdom does not attain completeness except through the living of life with discipline.
Third the VANAPRASTHYA, the retreat for the loosening of the bonds when man though aloof from the world still remains in touch with it while preparing himself for the final stage of complete freedom namely PRAVRAJYA when even such free relations have their end and the emancipated soul steps out of all bonds to face the Supreme Being.
Being a Freemason these three / four stages remind me of the lessons I have learnt from our three Masonic Degrees.
As the day is divided into morning, noon, afternoon and evening the Indians had divided life into four parts. The day has the waxing and waning of its light, so has man the waxing and waning of his bodily powers.
First came BRAMACHARYA the period of discipline in education, not limited only to learning of books and things but being in discipline whereby both enjoyment and its renunciation would come with equal ease to the strengthened character.
Second the GHRHASTHYA that of the world’s work – the life of the house holder – for wisdom does not attain completeness except through the living of life with discipline.
Third the VANAPRASTHYA, the retreat for the loosening of the bonds when man though aloof from the world still remains in touch with it while preparing himself for the final stage of complete freedom namely PRAVRAJYA when even such free relations have their end and the emancipated soul steps out of all bonds to face the Supreme Being.
Being a Freemason these three / four stages remind me of the lessons I have learnt from our three Masonic Degrees.
(Guru Nanak Dev ji, founder of Sikhism, died this day 1539)
