Why four stages of life is important?

 The four stages of life, mainly for the men of the household are as;

• Brahmacarya
• Grihastha
• Vanaprastha
• Sanyasa

These four stages are very much important for us to maintain the society. But in this age we are going away for these four stages system and because of this we are facing so much issues in our life. Actually these system has not been made by any ordinary person but Lord Krishna himself. And if we don't follow it we will make our life miserable.

Here are the importance Srila Prabhupada explaining it in Srimad Bhawatam 1.15.39.  If we try to understand and implement in our life, we really make our life happy and blissful.

The system of four orders of life and four castes in terms of quality and work, known as varṇāśrama-dharma, is the beginning of real human life, and Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira, as the protector of this system of human activities, timely retired from active life as a sannyāsī, handing over the charge of the administration to a trained prince, Mahārāja Parīkṣit. 

The scientific system of varṇāśrama-dharma divides the human life into four divisions of occupation and four orders of life. The four orders of life as brahmacārya, gṛhastha, vānaprastha and sannyāsa are to be followed by all, irrespective of the occupational division.

 Modern politicians do not wish to retire from active life, even if they are old enough, but Yudhiṣṭhira Mahārāja, as an ideal king, voluntarily retired from active administrative life to prepare himself for the next life.

 Everyone’s life must be so arranged that the last stage of life, say at least the last fifteen to twenty years prior to death, can be absolutely devoted to the devotional service of the Lord to attain the highest perfection of life.

 It is really foolishness to engage oneself all the days of one’s life in material enjoyment and fruitive activities, because as long as the mind remains absorbed in fruitive work for material enjoyment, there is no chance of getting out from conditioned life, or material bondage.

 No one should follow the suicidal policy of neglecting one’s supreme task of attaining the highest perfection of life, namely going back home, back to Godhead.

Hope you have understood the importance of four stages of life.

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