Stages of Life

There are also four different stages of life.

Student life - up to completion of education or around age 18-25

Married life - after education one starts working, and gets married and raises a family

Retired life - when the children are grown and providing for themselves one retires, still living with one’s spouse

Renounced life - separation even from one’s spouse toward the very end of life

Everyone does not have to go through all these stages, but they are quite natural.  Once again we find that these stages are present in most human societies, and most people will go through them.

(Student Life) We have a lot to learn in order to become responsible adults.  It makes sense to learn and study while we are young, for when we get older there are usually many other responsibilities. Occupational training forms an important part of this, and should be in accordance with each persons nature.

(Married Life) Some people may have an objection to marriage, saying that it is a religious idea only.  But it does provide a more stable foundation for raising children - if the parents stay together. It is essentially a commitment made between two people, done in a public way, and the community is therefore automatically involved. Community involvement is absolutely vital for raising children.

Others may say that sexual expression should not be limited, and marriage is not important because it is restrictive. But the natural urge for sex is ultimately driven by the deep bodily urge for continuation of the species. Since the body will eventually die, it has a built-in urge to procreate and continue it’s survival on a cellular level. A culture focused on sexual expression for it’s own end is therefore denying the natural function of sex, which includes family and the rearing of children. Therefore modern society’s focus on varieties of such sexual expression while denying the full and natural expression of sexuality breeds dissatisfaction and personal voids in the lives of the population. Artificially preventing the natural deeper satisfaction that comes via natural processes causes the the body to compensate by further increasing sex desire since the true result of sex was not achieved.

Equally as significant is the fact that such modern societies produce fewer offspring than other societies and cultures. Those other cultures will therefore eventually become the majority, and “educating” and “civilizing” such older cultures in so-called modern methods is one way modern society tries to compete with this phenomenon, although subconsciously.

We also see that such modern cultures tend to have a very self-centered view of existence, including the view that nature, not only sex, exists for our personal satisfaction and exploitation. Sex can be viewed solely as an act of personal pleasure or it can also be viewed as a service to family, community, society, and the earth - by producing good progeny. Each of these viewpoints bring about very different outcomes in the lives of the individuals who hold them, and in the environment they create.

(Retired Life) It is also natural that those who have children will be relieved of much of the responsibility for them when they become adults.  During this stage of life some energy and time goes toward helping with grandchildren, and hopefully toward spending time in personal development. The child-rearing years usually mean a lot of self-sacrifice, so after that there is often some catching up to do on a personal level. This is a prime time for spiritual development, especially because the passion of young adulthood is behind us and we have hopefully learned from our various mistakes. It is unfortunate if this period of life is wasted in attempts to live a second childhood by trying to enjoy various mundane pleasures.

(Renounced Life) The fourth stage should only be taken up with great caution and understanding.  It will develop naturally if at all, and of course will happen eventually with the death of a spouse or life partner. Since one spouse will most likely die before the other it makes sense for both of them to cultivate higher pursuits and spiritual understanding so that when one partner dies the other is prepared and is able to continue leading a fulfilling life.

What to speak of losing one’s lifetime partner, some people lose the will to live after retiring from an active career because they have not prepared themselves for the change in responsibilities, relationships, activities, social life and especially the increased introspection, spirituality and personal development that should accompany retirement. The same is true to an even greater degree in this fourth stage, in advanced old age.

This is what life in a community is supposed to be about, not about working like slaves and pursuing personal bodily gratifications until our last breath.  It is about helping and serving one another in all our own personal situations and stages of life. It is about our own spiritual progress, and helping others in their spiritual progress.

These topics are the subjects of a vast number of literatures, both contemporary and ancient. We do not propose to deal with them exhaustively, nor do we promote a particular ideology. We do feel a necessity to provide an overview here so individuals can get an idea of the principles and ideals behind truly sustainable communities.

Next - (Community) Sustainable Communities