Verse 18
सुरमंदिरतरुमूलनिवासः शय्या भूतलमजिनं वासः । सर्वपरिग्रहभोगत्यागः कस्य सुखं न करोति विरागः ॥ १८॥
sura mandira taru mūla nivāsaḥ
śayyā bhūtala majinaṁ vāsaḥ,
sarva parigraha bhoga tyāgaḥ
kasya sukhaṁ na karoti virāgaḥ
Live in a temple or under a tree, wear the
deer-skin for the dress, and sleep with mother earth as your bed. Renounce all
your possessions and enjoyments. Blessed with such dispassion, could anyone fail
to be happy?
We have a description of the true Vairagi or
man of dispassion. The simplicity of this person is quite clear.
Indian culture supports religious practices
like no other country in the world. We can benefit from that if we are sincere
seekers. If we are not sincere, we become a burden to that hospitality.
The life of utter simplicity is
described here, not extremism or moderation. This is how great saints like
Swami Sivananda lived after renouncing lucrative careers and choosing to
voluntarily live the simple life described here.
Swami Sivananda left his practice as a
professional Doctor in Malaysia, came to Hrishikesh, slept in a charity home.
He had already attained Self-Realization by then and yet, got formal Diksha
from another monk staying there in that home.
Author cannot help quoting couple of verses
from Jivanmukhtananda Lahari, written by none other than Sri Sankara, to bring
about the state of such a realized vairagi.
Vane vrukshán-pashyan-dala phalabharánnamra sushikhán
ghanaccháyácchannán bahula kala küjad dvija ganán
Bhajañghasre rátrávavanitalatal paika shayano
munir na vyámoham bhajati gurudèkshákshatatamáh
During daytime he may take a leisurely walk
in lonely forests gazing delightfully at the numerous trees standing covered by
thick shades, with their branches bent low due to the weight of leaves and
fruits, with flocks of birds perching on their top cooing and wailing variously
in chorus their unsullied songs and tunes, adding greatly to the charm and
glory of pristine wilderness. At night he may lie fast asleep on the strong bed
of the un-decked surface of Mother Earth, the one common gift of Nature to
mankind. Whatever be thus the resort of the illumined ascetic, whose ignorance
has been liquidated by the graceful initiation of the Teacher, his mind will
not be duped or agitated.
Kadácit prásáde kvacidapi ca saudheshu dhaninám
kadá kále kvacidapi ca küleshu saritám
Kuûère dántánám munijanavaránámapi vasan
munir ca vyámoham bhajati gurudèkshákshata tamáh(3)
Sometimes he may stay in the imposing palaces
of prominent kings, sometimes in the luxurious houses of the affluent people,
sometimes on the slopes of mountains full of rocks, at times on the sandy banks
of rivers and lakes, sometimes in the simple hermitages of great saints and
Knowers; though living variously thus in a wide range of abodes, his mind rid
of ignorance by the benign tuition of the Teacher and seated in its own natural
stability and contentment, will not court further delusion and misery.
This is how the true Vairagi lives. He brings
his mind under control, with practical and sensible dispassion.
And by doing so, he succeeds in attaining
lasting happiness which is the result of true dispassion.
How Sankara says that a man of dispassion
attains lasting happiness?
It is so because his happiness does not
depend upon external environment, on getting something or on losing something.
He has come to terms with eternal joy of the
SELF within. After that, the external conditions cannot affect that joy which
is the very source - THE SELF / ATMAN.
Love.
