Artha And Kama –Security And Pleasure

The first and foremost thing which everyone is seeking is security. Every person appears to be basically insecure, and that is not a comfortable feeling. Money is the most important worldly resource to provide us some security, so that what people want – desperately. The amount of desperation is many a times directly proportional to the extent of insecurity within. We can’t think of life without money. If we were not so insecure then there would not have been any thoughtfulness desperation. It would be just one important thing for which necessary intelligent efforts are called for. Money is not only a means to some security, but it is also means for getting enjoyments, comforts of life. It is our First Purushartha, called Artha. Money plays a very important role in life but is never a complete answer to the problem of providing complete security. Nevertheless, every person must be taught the art of acquiring money and bring about a sense of freedom and independence.

Having acquired some money, having got some security the next step for everyone is to use this money for his/her comforts, enjoyments and for fulfilling duties, desires and responsibilities. That which we want next is the experience of fulfillment, joy and bliss. A various sensual enjoyments are seen to provide that experience we go for them. So fulfillment of our desires is the second Purusharthas – called Kama. Lets remember that we do not acquire or enjoy the objects for objects sake but for the sake of a satisfying blissful experience. The moment an object starts giving us the opposite we change our paths. So even though we should realize that various objects are means to some end, and not the very end itself, still we should learn the finer secrets of making the best of our enjoyments and experience. One full availability is the secret of making the best of our enjoyments and experience. Our full availability is the secret of making the best of all our enjoyments. A person whose mind is free from all worries, hankerings and egoistic problems alone is available for experience. Necessary training is required for bringing about such a mental disposition.
(Swami Atmananda)