The Four Aims of Life

On Saturday Bob and I ran one of our Clear Mind, Clear Body sessions in Sandhurst, Berkshire on 'Letting Go.' Here are some ideas we offered on the yoga mat and the blank writing page from the teachings of the ancient Purusharthas which provide guidance on the four aims of life – dharma, kama, artha and moksha. Mail me if you're interested in hearing about our next events.

If things seem out of kilter, you may like to explore which of these four is extending a stronger or lesser influence on your life right now. Do you need a bit more kama right now if you’ve overdosed on dharma? Or less kama to increase the artha? Just play with them.

Dharma is about duty and ethics, having the strength to get up each day and do what needs to be done. It relates to responsibility to serve yourself and society. Some questions to ask yourself include:

What is my role in the world?
What are my obligations?
Which ones feel right?
When I am serving the highest good, what am I doing?
Am I on a path for good?
How can I best serve the world around me?
What would Martin Luther King or Mother Teresa do?

Kama is about pleasure taking in all the senses.
The desire for pleasure drives all human behaviour. To practice kama yogically means to practice being fully present with whatever you're experiencing. Some questions to ask yourself include:
What am I passionate about?
What gives me pleasure?
Am I enjoying my life? What do I care about?
What do I most desire?
Am I hooked on anything?
Are my pleasures leading me toward or away from my life's purpose?


Artha is about enjoying prosperity and wealth (without greed). This is the material comfort you need to live in the world with ease; that which supports your life's mission. Some questions to ask yourself include:

What do I see as truly valuable?
Knowing my dharma, what do I need to play my role in the world?
Where do I place value?
Do I have enough?
Are my things making me happy, or are they stealing my joy?
Am I afraid of having more?
Am I afraid of not having more? What does wealth mean to me besides money?

Moksha is about freedom and liberation, enjoying freedom from suffering and the freedom to express your own creativity. You are as free as you experience yourself to be. Some questions to ask yourself include:

What am I doing to free myself from activities and perceptions that make me unhappy?
How can I not get caught in my emotions?
What do I choose to bind myself to?
Do I feel trapped?
Can I be free from blaming myself and others?
How can I make my mind free?

The Mexican Fisherman's Tale

A few people at the Clear Mind. Clear Body workshop on Saturday asked me for a copy of the Mexican fisherman's tale. Here it is as a reminder of getting clear on what you really want.

An American investment banker was at the pier of a small coastal Mexican village when a small boat with just one fisherman docked. Inside the small boat were several large yellow fin tuna. The American complimented the Mexican on the quality of his fish and asked how long it took to catch them.

The Mexican replied, "only a little while."

The American then asked why didn't he stay out longer and catch more fish?

The Mexican said he had enough to support his family's immediate needs. The American then asked, "but what do you do with the rest of your time?"

The Mexican fisherman said, "I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, take siesta with my wife, Maria, stroll into the village each evening where I sip wine and play guitar with my amigos, I have a full and busy life."

The American scoffed, "I am a Harvard MBA and could help you. You should spend more time fishing and with the proceeds, buy a bigger boat with the proceeds from the bigger boat you could buy several boats, eventually you would have a fleet of fishing boats. Instead of selling your catch to a middleman you would sell directly to the processor, eventually opening your own cannery. You would control the product, processing and distribution. You would need to leave this small coastal fishing village and move to Mexico City, then LA and eventually NYC where you will run your expanding enterprise."

The Mexican fisherman asked, "But, how long will this all take?"

To which the American replied, "15-20 years."

"But what then?"

The American laughed and said that's the best part. "When the time is right you would announce an IPO and sell your company stock to the public and become very rich, you would make millions."

"Millions.. Then what?"

The American said, "Then you would retire. Move to a small coastal fishing village where you would sleep late, fish a little, play with your kids, take siesta with your wife, stroll to the village in the evenings where you could sip wine and play your guitar with your amigos."