Four Stages
There are four stages of evolution: brahmacharya, the novice or
pupil, is the first stage, in which one learns the skills and trades of
society and survival.
Grihastha, is the stage of the householder, in which the learned
skills and trades are applied to surviving and attaining the plateau in
life known as status. This is reached when both the individual and others
recognise the individual's position in society.
The different plateaux represent a type of fulfilment. That of brahmacharya
is learning. That of grihastha is the implementation of what has been
learned to attain stability in all dimensions (social, financial, personal,
emotional, etc.) of life.
Third is vanaprastha, literally translated as 'the forest dweller',
in which the individual withdraws from active participation in the world
to consolidate the experiences gained through the first two stages. The
last stage is sannyasa (renunciation) in which the wisdom acquired
over a lifetime of interaction and reflection is given back to enrich
society.
 In
all stages the individual is subject to dharma (duty), kama
(desire), artha (security) and moksha (the desire for liberation).
These are the inherent qualities of all the different plateaux and therefore,
in order to deepen the experience of sannyasa, the path has been laid
out and defined as jignasu, karma and poorna sannyasa.
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