ब्रह्मचारी, गृहस्थः, वानप्रस्थः सन्न्यासी चेति चत्वारः आश्रमाः कर्मानुसारेण स्थूलदेहे आरोपिताः। मनुष्यमात्रस्य धर्मो न हि। अतः नाहं आश्रमः, नाश्रमो मम, आश्रमः स्थूलदेहे आरोपितः, अहं आश्रमस्य द्रष्टा घटद्रष्टृवत् तद्विलक्षणः।
how do I know that I am not an āśrama, and it is not mine
Brahmacārī, gr̥hastha, vānaprastha and sannyāsī are the four āśramas. Based on actions, they are superimposed on the gross body. It is not a dharma inherent in a person. Thus, I am not āśrama, nor is it mine. It is superimposed on the gross body. I am it’s seer, like I see a pot, and am different from it.