05/09/2025
Guru–Shishya Samvad on the Purpose of Life
Shishya: (bowing) Pranam Gurudev. May I trouble you with a question that has been troubling me?
Guru: (smiling warmly) Ah, my child, questions are never a burden. They are the soul’s hunger for truth. Speak freely.
Shishya: Gurudev, the shastras speak often of “dharma,” “artha,” “kama,” and “moksha.” They say these are the four purusharthas—the purposes of human life. But I wonder… in today’s world, where there are exams, careers, competition, and endless distractions, how do these ancient goals matter?
Guru: (nodding) A very relevant inquiry. The wisdom of the shastras is like water—it assumes the shape of the vessel it is poured into. Let us drink from it together.
Shishya: (eagerly) Please explain each, Gurudev, with today’s meaning.
Guru: Good. First comes Dharma—righteous duty, living in harmony with one’s nature and the welfare of society. In modern times, it means being ethical in your studies, work, and relationships. For example, if you want to become a doctor, your dharma is not just to earn, but to heal with compassion.
Shishya: So it is about integrity and responsibility?
Guru: Exactly. Without dharma, success has no foundation.
Shishya: And Artha? The shastras call it wealth.
Guru: True. Artha means the resources we need for life—money, material comfort, security. But the shastras never condemned wealth; they only warned against greed. In your world, artha is education, career growth, financial security. Earn well, but let wealth be the servant, not the master.
Shishya: (thoughtfully) I see. Then comes Kama, right? Isn’t that just desire and pleasure?
Guru: Desire, yes, but not indulgence alone. Kama is the joy of life—music, art, love, family, friendship. Without kama, life becomes dry. But remember, kama must flow within the banks of dharma—like a river between its shores. Otherwise, it floods and destroys.
Shishya: That’s true today also. So many of my friends chase pleasure but end up empty.
Guru: Yes. Now, the fourth is the crown jewel: Moksha—the liberation of the self, freedom from ego and ignorance. In the past, people thought moksha came only from renouncing the world. But today, it can mean inner peace, freedom from stress, contentment in one’s own being.
Shishya: So even a student, or someone working in an office, can seek moksha?
Guru: Indeed. If you learn to live mindfully—balancing dharma, artha, and kama—then every day you move closer to moksha. Think of it not as escaping the world, but as being free within it.
Shishya: (smiles brightly) Gurudev, the shastras sound so alive now! Not old rules, but a compass for modern life.
Guru: Exactly, my child. The purpose of life is not a single destination, but a journey through these four paths—dharma, artha, kama, moksha. Use them as your guiding stars, and you will never feel lost, whether in ancient forests or modern cities.
Shishya: (bowing) I understand now, Gurudev. My purpose is not just getting marks or money, but to walk this balanced path.
Guru: (smiling) Well said. Remember: you are not in the world to run after life, but to let life blossom through you.
