<p>There really isn't anything quite like <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashrama_(stage)">ashrama</a> in Buddhism, at least as it applies to an individual person's life. Buddhism takes a simple view that one is born, lives, and then dies, within a cycle of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sa%E1%B9%83s%C4%81ra">saṃsāra</a> (a belief shared with Hinduism). Within the context of that life, one is either <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enlightenment_in_Buddhism">awakened</a> or one isn't.</p>

<p>I think it's interesting, since Buddhism defines many other "stages" involving <em>aspects</em> of life (just not about life itself):</p>

<ul>
<li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four_stages_of_enlightenment">Four stages of enlightenment</a></li>
<li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhist_Paths_to_liberation#Tibetan_Buddhism">Stages along the path to liberation</a> (in Tibetan Buddhism)</li>
<li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dhy%C4%81na_in_Buddhism#Qualities_of_the_jh.C4.81nas">Jhāna stages of meditation</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/mahasi/progress.html">Seven stages of purification</a></li>
<li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lojong">Seven stages of mind training</a> (in Tibetan Buddhism)</li>
</ul>

<p>Also: Happy birthday!</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-11-12T03:41:19.030Z
Great answer! Along the same thoughts I had when looking at the question!
Suminda Sirinath S. Dharmasena
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-11-11T12:57:14.043Z
2015-11-11T12:57:14.043Z
newbold
<p>Like in <a href="http://hinduism.about.com/od/basics/p/fourstages.htm" rel="nofollow">Hinduism</a>, is there any teaching on the <em>stages of life</em> in Buddhism ?</p>

<p><em>P.S. Answers for this question will be great "Dhamma gifts" for my upcoming Birth day.</em></p>

<modern-world><teaching><daily-life>
Stages of Life according to Buddhism
# Stages of Life according to Buddhism

(Asked by: username_0 on 2015-11-11)

Like in [Hinduism](http://hinduism.about.com/od/basics/p/fourstages.htm), is there any teaching on the *stages of life* in Buddhism ?

*P.S. Answers for this question will be great "Dhamma gifts" for my upcoming Birth day.*

**Tags:** modern-world, teaching, daily-life


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2015-11-11. Score: 5 | Accepted answer

There really isn't anything quite like [ashrama](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashrama_(stage)) in Buddhism, at least as it applies to an individual person's life. Buddhism takes a simple view that one is born, lives, and then dies, within a cycle of [saṃsāra](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sa%E1%B9%83s%C4%81ra) (a belief shared with Hinduism). Within the context of that life, one is either [awakened](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enlightenment_in_Buddhism) or one isn't.

I think it's interesting, since Buddhism defines many other "stages" involving *aspects* of life (just not about life itself):

* [Four stages of enlightenment](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four_stages_of_enlightenment)
* [Stages along the path to liberation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhist_Paths_to_liberation#Tibetan_Buddhism) (in Tibetan Buddhism)
* [Jhāna stages of meditation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dhy%C4%81na_in_Buddhism#Qualities_of_the_jh.C4.81nas)
* [Seven stages of purification](http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/mahasi/progress.html)
* [Seven stages of mind training](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lojong) (in Tibetan Buddhism)

Also: Happy birthday!

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: Great answer! Along the same thoughts I had when looking at the question!  

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