Ancient Indian Education (Brahmanical and Buddhist) c16.13

c16.13

**Discipline of Āśramas.** The discipline of the other *āśramas* of life is also necessary for the purpose. It is necessary for purifying and preparing the mind so that it can grasp Brahman as the only and ultimate Reality. This means that the mind must be able to discriminate between the eternal and the non-eternal (*nityānitya-viveka*), to perceive the ephemeral character of the world so as to detach itself from it and ultimately to renounce it in an utter indifference to all enjoyment both here and hereafter (*ihāmutrabhoga-virāga*). Then alone will be awakened in the disciple the desire to know the Brahman (*brahma-jijñāsā*). One must be fired with the desire for self-realization as the only way to salvation (*mumukshutva*).