The Rishis (ancient thinkers) of India had envisioned a scheme for living one's life so that on the end one could get essence of complete fullfilment from it. The scheme entailed spending one-fourth of the lifespan acquiring knowledge that enabeled one to earn livelyhood. The second-fourth in acquiring wealth, raising a family and gaining respect from society. The third-fourth should be devoted to gain that knowledge that brings total fullfilment. The last fourth is meant to help others to gain that knowledge. This search for the knowledge that brings fullfilment can only be successful in a place that is condusive to undisturbed, peaceful thought.
"We have to learn the art of living, but alongside we need to learn the art of leaving. That is the focus of the stage of life called vanaprastha."
- H.H. Pujya Swami Tejomayananda Ji
Pujya Gurudev Swami Chinmayananda Ji initiated the vanaprastha movement in the 1980s, which evolved into the Chinmaya Vanaprastha Sansthan (CVS). CVS is meant for guiding senior citizens toward the very goal of their life Self-Realisation - to declare, “Enough of all worldly pursuits!” At Chinmaya Pitamah Sadan, Laoua-Laxmanpur, Pujya Gurudev created a place that is exactly tailoerd to this need. Here, since its inception in 1985, many elders have lived and found it.
Vanaprastha is the period of inquiry, of turning toward God. It is the path of graceful aging... not the age of helplessness. At this stage of life, they become supportive of and useful to society. Aging is not decaying; it is maturing for the inward journey. It is the birth into empowerment - leaving the world of dependency on objects and relationships.
The establishment of Pitamaha Sadan directly embodies and modernizes the ancient Vedic concept of the Vanaprastha Ashram, making it both relevant and holistic.
The Vedic tradition outlines four stages of life, known as Ashramas, designed to ensure that life is lived purposefully and ultimately leads to spiritual liberation (Moksha). Pitamaha Sadan represents a modern, urban manifestation of the third stage — Vanaprastha (the forest-dweller/retiree stage).