Sanyasa Ashrama (75 to100 years) Cultivation of
God-consciousness:Monastic way of life
This
ashrama focuses on final sanyas - the breaking of all ties to the
immanent and entering the transcendent. During the fourth stage, a person renounces the world and embraces the
monastic way of life. That person is no longer bound by social laws. The call
of the Infinite becomes irresistible; even charity and social service are seen
as inadequate. A person rises above worldly attachments, finite obligations,
and restricted loyalties and becomes a friend of all fellow human beings,
animals, all beings. No longer tempted by riches, honour or power, a monastic
preserves equanimity of spirit under all conditions, turning away from the
vanities of the world, devoting life to the cultivation of God-consciousness.
What would this look like in modern terms? Would everyone have the capacity for the monastic life? Or can this be understood in different ways that are more applicable to people with varying natures?
I served as a chaplain for four years in long-term care, after a personal experience with a near-fatal illness. Almost all the elders who entered there were in effect preparing for dying. Most would certainly never leave that place of care to return to life with family, friends and in society. Yet, the only acknowledgement that there were special needs for preparation for dying was in end-stage palliative care. End-stage palliative care was focused primarily on pain management by doctors and nurses. Palliative care was multi-disciplinary and included my spiritual care services and the services of a music therapist and complementary care therapist who offered aroma therapy, massage and other comfort measures, in addition to adequate medical care. On the whole, palliative care is moving in a very humane direction and I have no qualms about it (provided strong ethics committees are in place to guard against disguised euthanesia). My bigger concern is the stage of life before end-stage palliative and how it can be enriched with life completion that is not done to or given to the person, but elicited from their very innermost being. How can that be facilitated? What are the principles involved and how can that be made known, taught and supported?
I served as a chaplain for four years in long-term care, after a personal experience with a near-fatal illness. Almost all the elders who entered there were in effect preparing for dying. Most would certainly never leave that place of care to return to life with family, friends and in society. Yet, the only acknowledgement that there were special needs for preparation for dying was in end-stage palliative care. End-stage palliative care was focused primarily on pain management by doctors and nurses. Palliative care was multi-disciplinary and included my spiritual care services and the services of a music therapist and complementary care therapist who offered aroma therapy, massage and other comfort measures, in addition to adequate medical care. On the whole, palliative care is moving in a very humane direction and I have no qualms about it (provided strong ethics committees are in place to guard against disguised euthanesia). My bigger concern is the stage of life before end-stage palliative and how it can be enriched with life completion that is not done to or given to the person, but elicited from their very innermost being. How can that be facilitated? What are the principles involved and how can that be made known, taught and supported?
