Beyond Work-Life Balance
By Theresa Shay
Ancient yoga texts describe four pillars upon which a life is built, expanding the modern notion that happiness is finding a work-life balance. Work, or making a living, and life, everything else, is too simplistic for the rich and radiant existence the soul craves. Purushartha in Sanskrit, the four aims in life, provides a model for understanding, examining, and ultimately creating a fulfilled life.
The four pillars are:
Dharma – duty, responsibility, calling, purpose
Artha – material means
Kama – play, delight, pleasure
Moksha – path of freedom and liberation
Over the past few weeks, this blog has been introducing these concepts. Dharma can be described as that which you cannot NOT do, the call in life that feels like your unique contribution to the world, that which is clearly your responsibility or role to play. Artha refers to having the means to support physical life, wealth, and abundance on the material plane. Kama includes delight, play, and the joyful pursuits of pleasure. Lastly, Moksha is the path to freedom, the spiritual aim that informs both the journey on Earth and all that lies beyond this physical reality.
Fulfillment of these aims can come from the same arena or not. It is unusual for one area to fulfill all four pillars. Some people’s dharma is also how they earn their living. Sometimes artha provides the resources to play or support the family. One’s greatest pleasure might be diving into spiritual matters. A person’s spiritual path may feel like their calling, while also bringing freedom. Anything is possible. How these pillars intersect and interplay aligns a life.
Confusion arises when one pillar carries too much import, a pillar is undeveloped or ignored, or indulgence or worry in one area causes neglect elsewhere. Here are examples where the four aims of life are confused or imbalanced:
Assuming that what brings in wealth is equal to one’s calling in life
Expecting what brings pleasure will generate the means to live
Resenting responsibilities because they interrupt pleasure or limit time for spiritual pursuits
Failing to find time for joy amidst duties
Allowing an insatiable desire for wealth to occlude other pillars
Pursuing pleasure in such a way that responsibilities are denied or means are stretched thin
Excluding spiritual pursuits because the other pillars have filled in the day
Establishing a rich and radiant life takes time, energy, attention, and the steady intention to fulfill all areas. With awareness of these pillars, one can build a life from a solid foundation, and contentment and ease will follow.
Theresa Shay is the founding director of TriYoga of Central Pennsylvania, where she teaches weekly yoga and meditation online and trains others to teach TriYoga®. Each week, she shares wisdom cultivated from decades of TriYoga study and practice.
Learn more about her here. Theresa can be reached at Theresa@PennsylvaniaYoga.com. Find her on Instagram @theresa_of_triyoga for more inspiration and light.