Viraagaha kaha?
Iha swarga bogashu Ichahaah ahithyam
What is dispassion?
As a result of one's discriminative capacity (Viveka), when one differentiates
between the real and the unreal in the world outside or in the world within,
all false values automatically drop off.
When once a thing is understood to
be full of bitterness, pain and imperfection, rare is the man who will continue
to court it.
Thus, Vairagya born out of Viveka is
what is called as detachment.
The author (in his teens) interacted
with a sanyasi while he was in Mathura. The sanyasi was from the West and had opted
for sanyas and was staying in Brindavan in an ISKCON ashram. He was young and
energetic.
Author asked him one question -
"If you ever happen to like a girl and want to marry her, what would you
do"?
The answer was - "I shall leave
this sanyas and marry the girl".
The reason for narrating this
incident is not to undermine that sanyasi but to drive home one point strongly.
If the sanyas was taken up out
of differentiating between real and unreal and out of a strong conviction to
discard this world and take up spiritual Sadhana and evolve spiritually to
realize SELF, then the possibility of marrying would have never ever been there
for that westerner turned sanyasi.
How Vairagya Dawns
Note how Vairagya arises in the
mind. Once, through Viveka, one is able to clearly see and know the transitory and perishable nature of all objects in this world, then, to the extent one is able to know / experience this unreal / anitya nature of all objects in this world, to that extent - dispassion towards the same sets in!! More you are aware that some thing is unreal / ephemeral, more you develop dispassion or Vairagya towards that!!
An irresistible feeling arises in
our mind, viz., that the finite can never satisfy the Infinite within us, that
the changing and perishable cannot satisfy the changeless and deathless nature
of ours.
Love.
PS - While Vairagya has been described in the traditional way it is understood
for centuries (detachment / dispassion developed for that which is known as
unreal through Viveka), here, the author would like to give a newer and more
positive dimension to "Vairagya".
Vairagya need not be due to dispassion / aversion for unreal things.
Vairagya could also be (and is most preferred) due to our Love / our craving for
that which is eternal and for that, we could prostrate and bid goodbye to
all other things / all other companions / all other objects that have
been closer to us until then. In this case, even while discarding all that is
ephemeral or temporary, there is no dispassion / negative feeling developed. We
just say within, "My gratitude to you for being with me in my life all
through, now I am taking off for a higher journey towards SELF, so I may not be
able to be with you from now onwards, Prostrations and love to you!!".
Love.
Viraagaha kaha?
Iha swarga bogashu Ichahaah ahithyam
What is dispassion?
The absence of desire for the enjoyment (of fruits of one's action) in this
world and also in any other world.
When once a thing is understood to
be full of bitterness, pain and imperfection, rare is the man who will continue
to court it.
Thus, Vairagya born out of Viveka is
what is called as detachment.
The author (in his teens) interacted
with a sanyasi while he was in Mathura. The sanyasi was from the West and had opted
for sanyas and was staying in Brindavan in an ISKCON ashram. He was young and
energetic.
Author asked him one question -
"If you ever happen to like a girl and want to marry her, what would you
do"?
The answer was - "I shall leave
this sanyas and marry the girl".
The reason for narrating this
incident is not to undermine that sanyasi but to drive home one point strongly.
If the sanyas was taken up out
of differentiating between real and unreal and out of a strong conviction to
discard this world and take up spiritual Sadhana and evolve spiritually to
realize SELF, then the possibility of marrying would have never ever been there
for that westerner turned sanyasi.
How Vairagya Dawns
An irresistible feeling arises in our mind, viz., that the finite can never satisfy the Infinite within us, that the changing and perishable cannot satisfy the changeless and deathless nature of ours.
Love.
PS - While Vairagya has been described in the traditional way it is understood
for centuries (detachment / dispassion developed for that which is known as
unreal through Viveka), here, the author would like to give a newer and more
positive dimension to "Vairagya".
Vairagya need not be due to dispassion / aversion for unreal things.
Vairagya could also be (and is most preferred) due to our Love / our craving for that which is eternal and for that, we could prostrate and bid goodbye to all other things / all other companions / all other objects that have been closer to us until then. In this case, even while discarding all that is ephemeral or temporary, there is no dispassion / negative feeling developed. We just say within, "My gratitude to you for being with me in my life all through, now I am taking off for a higher journey towards SELF, so I may not be able to be with you from now onwards, Prostrations and love to you!!".
Love.
