The Indian Ikigai (our Purushartha)

Ikigai is super trending with Gen-Zs. There’s even a bestseller book on it. But our Bharat has had a similar concept since ages, so here’s the tea.

Ikigai is a Japanese concept about finding the sweet spot between four things: what you love doing, what you’re good at, what you can be paid for, and what society needs from you.

Interestingly, our Sanatan Sanskriti has already mapped this idea through the Purusharthas, the four goals of the human spirit & life.

First - Dharma. It’s not just ethics or rules. It’s about serving the world, doing your duty, making life better for others - and finding joy in that service. Everyone’s dharma is different, so you need to figure out your natural skill & put that to helping a social cause, directly or indirectly. So trhis is similar to the “what society needs from you” & “what you’re naturally good at” angles in Ikigai.

Second - Artha. Earning wealth, building security - to support your duties and your family. Sanatan is clear: business, profit, hustling - none of it is “bad”. It’s necessary to pursue a stable life, provided the money’s coming ethically. This is similar to the “what you can be paid for” aspect.

Third - Kama. This involves spending time with loved ones & investing in relationships, feeling healthy pleasure through art, aesthetics, beauty & love. Sanatan doesn’t shame natural human desire - it acknowledges its place in life. This is similar to the “what you love doing” aspect.

Fourth, when these 3 are balanced, you become ready for Moksha - dissolving the false Self-Ego notion of “I do” and “I am.” And truly realising, not just saying, that we’re all One - this is the ultimate freedom.

Bottom line? Purusharthas and Ikigai both aim to integrate life’s many aspects - so you live meaningfully, joyfully, fully.

Did you know this already?