The Four Goals

Catur Purusaartha

Hinduism leads human to achieve a physical and spiritual well-being. To realize the goal, Hinduism teaches it's followers four goals of life, known as Catur Purusa Artha or Purusartha. The first goal is Dharma. Dharma is a law, a rule of life, a support, a good value, which would lead people to achieve happiness, prosperity, security and peacefulness. Dharma delivers mankind from sin and sorrow. Dharma is like a lamp that illuminate when someone in the darkness, like a boat to safely cross the ocean of an enormous human life. Dharma also means noble behavior, performance in accordance with the teachings of the religion, so that one can achieve inner and outer peace.The main source of Dharma is Weda.

The second objective is Artha, ie property. Artha is used to support human life in achieving glory, happiness and enjoyment of life, to reach desires and ambition such as to accomplish higher education and position in society. Humans are not forbidden from getting treasure as much as possible they can but still be anchored in Dharma. In reaching such Artha, Dharma act as a control, if not the cruelty and violence against fellow human beings will arise that in turn will be disastrous for humanity. Artha is a tool to carry out the Dharma, the means to achieve desires based on Dharma. Artha also should be benefit to humanity.

The third goal is Kama: wish, desire, or lust. Every human action is based on the desire. Achieving kama ones becomes happy, satisfied, and stimulate for a better life. Unfulfilling of kama will bring someone to a depth suffering and loss hope for life. Every human has to have desires and ambitions: to get healthy food and beverages, to find a better job, to marry and settle down, to success and praise, and to achieve a high position in society. However, that of all should be based on Dharma.

The fourth goal which is the highest and the end goal of life is Moksa: spiritual and physical happiness of life. At this stage a person already freed from the bondage of worldliness, freed from rebirth or reincarnation or punarbhawa, and already get union of "Atman" with "Brahman". Atman is the small particles of Brahman, God Almighty, who exist in every human being still alive. Moksa is the goal that has always dreamed of by every human being. Good karma, fruits of action, will bring a person to achieve everlasting and absolute freedom and the union of Atman with Brahman.