Purusharthas: Yogic Pathways to Purpose & Fulfillment
An overview of the Vedic four universal aims of human life and journal prompts to explore your relationship to prosperity, pleasure, purpose and liberation.
“Yoga practice is to serve all of the purusharthas, helping us to function better in order to achieve all our desires and fulfill all our obligations. When you are flowing through all the purusharthas in your own way, there is the feeling of living the life you were designed for.”
- The Radiance Sutras
The Purusharthas emerged from Vedic philosophy to offer the four universal aims of life. They are often understood as “goals of human existence” or the “Soul’s purpose.”
Purushartha is a Sanskrit word that is composed of Purusha, relating to “spirit, essence, soul and original source of universe.” Artha implies “purpose, object of desire, or meaning.” These are:
Artha - Wealth, prosperity, economic values
Kama - Sensual pleasure; desire, longing, sexual love, psychological values
Dharma - Duty, morality, true purpose, divine order, moral values
Moksha - emancipation, liberation, setting free (& release from worldly existence), spiritual values
Cultivating a self-understanding in relationship to the Purusharthas can be a powerful way to explore your personal value systems and blueprint to living a fulfilling and meaningful life.
Darshana: Exploring the beliefs that build your reality
The Sanskrit word ‘darshana’ comes from the verbal root dṛś, or “see.” It can be understood as ‘to see, to understand, philosophy or framework in which one sees or experiences, perceived reality.’ In Ancient India, there were ṣaḍ darśana, or “six views” on reality or philosophical frameworks that explain the Nature of reality, the cosmos, and consciousness.
Samkhya
Yoga
Nyaya
Vaisheshika
Mimamsa
Vedanta
As modern-day practitioners, we live in a world that holds a myriad of truths and realities. There is a diversity of human beings, life paths, cultures, and ways of understanding how the world works. When we are in touch with our own frameworks of reality, we can learn how to reshape them to serve the highest vision of Self.
Journal Prompt: Define your darshana or perspective
Free write your answer to the following questions to explore your perceptions.
How do you describe reality or existence?
What laws of order feel inherent to how the world works? What feels true to you?
You may consider what beliefs you hold around ideas like: karma, past lives, free will and fate, the world of subtle energy, spirit guides, spirituality & more.
Journal: Identify limiting beliefs in your reality
Look at an area of your life that “isn't working.” This could be an area or situation that consumes your energy, challenges you or creates dissatisfaction. It could also be something you are resisting. Be specific. Ask yourself:
What does your mind (internal dialogue or narrative) say when you think of this?
What keeps you trapped in this situation?
What beliefs are here?
Are there any disempowering thoughts?
Blame, judgment, criticism
Excuses or rationalizations
How do these thoughts or beliefs feel in the body? (Are there somatic markers, like shortness of breath, tension, temperature changes or others?)
If you are able to define a specific negative or limiting belief that you’d like to begin to shift, you can journey deeper to ask:
When was the first time I ever heard this negative thought?
How many times has this thought impacted my life since?
If I don’t change this belief, what will my life look like 20 years from now?
What will it cost me to keep this negative belief?
How do I actually want to show up to this part of my life?
What does my highest self want to communicate to me about this?
The above inquiries help us unpack Samkara and define Core Beliefs
In Yoga the word ‘samskara’ is often used to describe subtle impressions from past actions that become habits, tendencies or even addictions. Through recognizing our beliefs, we can learn to address our samkaras or the tendencies that keep us entrenched in unconscious action & cycles of suffering.
A modern day take on this is the therapeutic modality Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), which invites individuals to recognize and challenge the limiting beliefs in order to rewrite them into supportive narratives.
Core beliefs are understood to be schemes, which shape how we process and interpret new information. They are formed through our early childhood experiences and thus, run deeply embedded into one’s way of thinking. Negative core beliefs can influence one’s attitude, behavior, implicit rules, and ways of being.
A few main categories of negative core beliefs relating to the self include:
Helplessness (incompetence, vulnerability, inferiority)
Unlovability (fear of not being liked, incapable of intimacy)
Worthlessness (feelings of insignificance, a burden to others)
Understanding our core beliefs and negative narratives is the first step to unblocking our highest vision of Self. If we recognize the ways in which we perceive reality, then we have the power to change it.
Purusharthas: Values as a compass
Defining one’s personal values can be a powerful tool for guidance in life. Each person has their own personal set of values, created from their unique life experiences, backgrounds, upbringing and history.
Consider values as an inner compass for decision making. When we take actions guided by our core values, it offers a deep sense of alignment. Values offer the light of “tejas”or the clarity that sharpens discernment, and enables us to prioritize what is most important in life. They support the practice wise energy management (brahmacharya) and connect us to radical honesty, truth (Satya) and our authenticity.
Here is a list of values by Brene Brown, American professor, author, and researcher on human connection.
Journal prompts to explore the Purusharthas
The following journal prompts are designed to help you unpack your personal meaning behind each Purushartha or yogic goal, what beliefs you hold around this goal, how you can begin cultivate a conscious relationship to it.
Artha: Prosperity & Economic Values
Artha refers to having the material and financial security to live with ease. It can be translated to wealth, abundance and prosperity.
Journal Prompts for Artha
What comes to mind when I think of wealth?
What are my beliefs around money?
What are my barriers to wealth? (Systemic or personal)
What are my inherent skills, talents or gifts? Think of what comes naturally to you.
What do I feel society or the world needs?
What do I see as truly valuable?
If money was not a factor, what would I do?
Kama: pleasure, enjoyment, intimacy, passion, art, music, beauty, aliveness.
Journal Prompts for Kama
What comes to mind when you think of pleasure?
What are my barriers or limiting beliefs to experiencing pleasure?
What brings you pleasure, joy or aliveness?
When in your life have you felt most creative, most alive, or most in love?
What do you find beauty in?
Dharma: Duty, Purpose, Righteousness, Ethics
The Sanskrit word “dharma” translates to “that which is established, firm, rightful action, rightful direction.” One’s “sva-dharma” is “that which one was born to do, one’s personal path through existence.” Dharma is said to arise from the heart of every being and is often understood as one’s contribution to the welfare of beings.
:श्रेयान्, स्वधर्मः, विगुणः, परधर्मात्, स्वनुष्ठितात्,
स्वभावनियतम्, कर्म, कुर्वन्, न, आप्नोति, किल्बिषम्śhreyān swa-dharmo viguṇaḥ para-dharmāt sv-anuṣhṭhitāt
svabhāva-niyataṁ karma kurvan nāpnoti kilbiṣham
It is better to do one’s own dharma, even though imperfectly, than to do another’s dharma, even though perfectly. By doing one’s innate duties, a person does not incur sin.
The Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 18, Verse 47
Dharma rises from within you and your karmas. There is no need to seek dharma, but rather to awaken it from the depths of your Soul. Uncovering your life’s purpose is an internal process, peeling back the layers to reveal connection to Self.
Journal Prompts for Dharma
What comes to mind when I think of dharma, duty or purpose?
What feels challenging about defining my life purpose?
What is clouding your dharma? Can you separate other’s imposed desires for what you do with your life from your own desire? What myths do you hold around dharma?
How can I serve? What is my moral obligation?
What qualities would I improve in everyone if I had the capacity to do so?
If I could give a gift that would make a stranger’s life better, what would it be?
Moksha: Liberation
Moksha is marked by the quality of sattva: content, peaceful, non-violent, compassionate, all loving power of the Universe. It is said that that artha, kama and dharma serve Moksha, liberation from the cycle of rebirth, the highest of the puruṣārthas, the aims of human existence.
Journal Prompts for Moksha
What does liberation mean to you?
In what ways do you feel free? In what ways do you feel restricted?
What sociocultural constraints influence your decision making?
Are you operating from ego mask or inner spaciousness? Are your actions and pursuits guided by Ego Ahamkar or your Higher Self?
When do you feel most connected, present and here?
In what areas of your life do you experience contentment? What conjures contentment?
Out of this self-exploration, you may consider writing down a list of your personal values. If any powerful insights emerged, take note. If any personal intentions or goals are presenting themselves as an option, write down your goal and begin to tend to it. Call in support as needed. Processing with a trusted friend, a therapist, life coach or mentor can help you create a clear path to living with aligned action.
Written by Gaby Colletta
Gaby is a Somatic Therapist, Yoga Instructor E-RYT 500, YACEP, Ayurvedic Health Counselor AHC. She holds a Masters degree in Integral Counseling Psychology and is a Yoga Alliance continuing education provider.
Disclaimer: The content on this website is intended for educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult with your physician or another qualified health provider regarding any medical concerns.