The Purposes of Life and Vedic Philosophy

            The four purposes of life, according to the Vedas, are Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha.  Dharma is the fulfillment of our right purpose in life.  This is often associated with the selection of the most appropriate career.  However, it is more related performing right actions to fulfill one's purpose.  We will see how Vedic astrology can help you identify your dharma.

Artha is the achievement of goals.  It is related to the acquisition of the material resources needed to fulfill one's dharma.  After all, you can't realize your life purpose if you spend all of your time eking out a living.  An analysis of specific houses, signs and the planets that affect them will help you understand your ability or struggles in achieving your goals.  Kama is the realization of desires and emotional and sensory happiness, and Moksha is freedom, liberation or spiritual growth.  Again, Vedic astrology can help us understand our paths towards Kama and Moksha.   Astrology needs to be able to help us find the answers to these questions if it is to be useful in our lives.  Vedic Astrology gives us profound insight into our Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha.

            The teachings of the Vedas can have a profound effect on our world view.  When we learn to see things as they really are and use them according to their true potential we are able to take "right action".  There is a big difference between doing the "right" thing and doing things "right".  We like to define "doing things right" as being efficient in life and "doing the right things" as being effective.  We often find ourselves efficiently doing the wrong things or doing the wrong things right.  An understanding of Vedic astrology can help us have an effective and fulfilling life.  We eventually come to recognize that we are not the body . . . the body is only a vehicle for the expression of consciousness.  In fact, we are not even our minds.  They too are just an expression of our consciousness.