BEYOND IKIGAI: Purushartha as a Holistic Framework for Human Flourishing in the Modern Age

The rapid acceleration of contemporary life has stimulated increasing attention to conceptualizations of personal meaning, purpose and overall wellness. Contemporary conceptualizations of human development include Ikigai; Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs; Seligman’s PERMA Model; and Sinek’s Golden Circle. These frameworks are primarily based upon either western psychological theory or Japanese culture. Many of the concepts included within these frameworks are limited to particular aspects of human experience with other important elements including moral agency, materiality and transcending being insufficiently addressed. This article suggests that the ancient Indian philosophical construct of Purushartha which consists of the four goals of human existence: dharma (moral responsibility and purpose); Artha (economic/material stability and well-being); Kama (pleasure/ desire/ creative expression); Moksha (liberation/ self-realization/ transcendence); is both a better developed and more integrally inclusive theoretical framework for understanding holistic human development when viewed through a secular/humanistic perspective as opposed to strictly religious. A systematic comparative evaluation of Purushartha with contemporary conceptualizations of human development/wellness will demonstrate that Purushartha provides the most complete integration of dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha in a non linear and reciprocally dependent manner. Additionally, this research will explore the application of Purushartha in contemporary life coaching, workplace well-being, educational settings, mental health, etc. While it will acknowledge Purushartha”s historical limitations and the need for careful, non appropriative interpretations.