Vanprastha Ashrama (50 to 75 years) Scriptural studies and meditation on God is the traditional purpose of this ashrama..This
ashrama is like a halfway house
living between the immanent and transcendent
- disengaging from the world. In
ancient times, people retired to simple forest hermitages after turning over
their material possessions and obligations to their children. In modern times,
rather than retiring to the forest, people turn their energies and resources to
volunteer service for the upliftment of society, thus extending their
unselfishness beyond the biological family to the larger human family. At this stage, the pleasures
and excitements of youth are exchanged for quiet simplicity and physical needs
are reduced to a minimum. The skills acquired through a lifetime of experience are offered in a mentoring capacity and one's intimate life is devoted to scriptural study, meditation
on God and serving others.
