Gandhi and the ‘Four Canonical Aims’ of Life (Purusharthas)

Summary

An updated theory of the ‘canonical aims of life’ (Purusharthas) is the general framework of Gandhi's philosophy. The good life consists in the co-ordinated pursuit of dharma (ethical integrity), artha (wealth and power, or economics and politics), kama (pleasure) and moksha (spiritual transcendence). Supporting evidence is presented below. [Ed.]

From Gandhi's Foreword to Gokhale's Speeches

Gandhi regarded Gokhale as his ‘political guru’. In the Foreword he states that the secret of Gokhale's achievements was the co-ordinated pursuit of artha, dharma and moksha. [Ed.]

In these difficult and degenerate times [kali-kal], the pure spirit of dharma is hardly in evidence anywhere. Men who go about the world calling themselves rishis, munis and sadhus rarely show this spirit in themselves. Obviously, they have no great treasure of dharma to guard …

I have not the least doubt that Gokhale was wise in the truth of the Self. He never made a show of ritual practices but his life was full of the true spirit of dharma. Every age is known to have its predominant mode of spiritual effort [pravartti] best suited for the attainment of moksha. Whenever the spirit of dharma is on the decline, it is revived through such an effort [pravartti] in tune with the times. In this age, our degradation reveals itself through our political condition. Not taking a comprehensive view of things, we run away with the belief that, if but our political conditions improved, we would rise from this fallen state. This is only partially true.