The four aims are the pillars of a fulfilling life. In this self-inquiry practice by Sally Kempton, you’ll consider where your current priorities lie and how you need to shift them to create a deeply satisfying life. Don’t worry about getting your whole life in order at once; do the exercise each week, and you’ll become more in tune with yourself, more present with the world around you.
By Hillari Dowdle
“They are simply part of being human, and embracing them is loving life.”
Find 30 minutes in which you can be alone and undisturbed. Settle in to a cozy space with a journal, a pen, a candle, and a seat.
Light the candle to signify that you are in a sacred space. “A candle symbolizes the flame of the inner witness,” says Kempton. Breathe deeply, close your eyes, and relax for a few minutes.
Begin to think back over your activities of the preceding week. Consider all of the things you did related to your dharma. How did you serve your family, your community, and yourself? What were your obligations? What ethical tests did you face, and how did you deal with them? Record the answers in your journal.
When you’ve exhausted your thoughts about dharma, consider artha. What did you do this week for the sake of your livelihood? What did you do to maintain your health? Write the answers in your journal; note your concerns.
Next, think deeply about kama. What actions did you take solely for the purpose of creating more joy in your life and in the world? What were your greatest pleasures? What were your strongest desires? Were you able to realize them? Write down your thoughts.
Then, record the activities you engaged in for the sake of moksha. These might include yoga, meditation, prayer, chanting, spiritual reading, or self-inquiry. Did you find a feeling of freedom? Which areas of your life feel constricted or burdened? What do you need to do to liberate yourself? Write down the answers.
When you’ve gone through each purushartha individually, analyze the balance between them. Looking at what you’ve written, see where your emphasis was in the past week. Which parts of your life were unattended to? Are you working too hard—or not hard enough—in one area? What are the consequences of your priorities? Formulate a simple statement about the way the purusharthas manifested themselves in your life. It might be something like, “This week, I worked hard to meet my obligations, but I felt burdened. I took the most pleasure from my friendships. I didn’t find time to work toward liberation.”
Finally, set an intention for the coming week. You might relate it to each of the purusharthas, or you could focus on one or two that need more of your attention. Record the intention in your journal. Then say it to yourself— first out loud, then inwardly. Close your journal, blow out the candle, and ease back into your day with a new understanding of your soul’s priorities.
This article was first published in the print edition of Yoga Journal Singapore, which is now Yogahood Online.
