February is here and Love is in the air…
I hope that everyone is enjoying the collective sigh that took place on January 20th. I know that I am noticing a sense of lightness in my own mind/body and seeing much of the same in my clients.
“And, when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.”
The Alchemist, Paulo Coelho
We are beginning this year by unpacking Purushartha, the four aims of life. Last month we explored Dharma which is when are living our life’s purpose and experiencing the most authentic version of ourselves. This month we will dive into Artha which is related to prosperity or that which supports us.
Artha directly refers to our income and our ability to provide for ourselves. It is regarded as that which allows us to have the material goods needed to exist so we can pursue our dharma. In a rudimentary way, prosperity is the required support structure that allows you to live your purpose.
This is the beauty of living your dharma. When you do what you find were born to do it often becomes a career. You then receive artha, income, to do what you love to do. This does not mean that life will be easy all the time. But when you are living your purpose you will attract the support that you need to continue your work. This cyclical existence can lead to a complete sense of fulfillment.
If we take a broader look our relationships can also be Artha. Any supportive and loving connection that encourages us to live our dharma should be viewed as Artha. Good health is an important aspect of Artha too. When we feel well, we will experience Artha with joy and enthusiasm which will then bring even more prosperity.
A common belief is that to live a spiritual life you need let go of material goods. Not only is this not true it can create a sort of spiritual egoism. We will all need varying amounts goods to support our unique existence and situation. A married couple with four children and a home in the suburbs will require different possessions than a single person in an urban apartment.
Material goods are not a problem and should not be considered “bad”. They exist to support and benefit us. What is important to pay attention to is our relationship with the material world and the goods we acquire. The goal is to balance the right amount of Artha to fully support your Dharma.
One can have immense material wealth but dwell in a spiritual vacuum. Another person’s Artha might be considered by many to be poverty and yet they are a Dharmic millionaire. Mother Teresa come to mind whenever I think of this. We know the Divine lives within us, and one quality of Divinity is pure abundance. As Parahamsa Yogananda said so well, “Seek spiritual riches within. What you are is much greater than anything or anyone else you have ever yearned for. And remember, the fear of not having, disguises the reality that we have everything.”
From: February 2021 Newsletter