SANNYASA ASHRAMA
After having completed Brahmacharya, Grihastha and Vanaprastha Ashramas, we come to Sannyasa Ashrama.
Even while we start with this ashrama in Sadhana Panchakam, it is appropriate to refresh our thoughts on what Swami said on Liberation, which we went through while understanding the (Only) Purushartha involved in Sanyasa Ashrama, in Karma session.
In one of the discourses on Ugadi day, Swami said,
"People aspire for liberation (Mukti). They have no idea what constitutes liberation. Man seeks liberation from the ills of the body, the senses, the mind, the intellect and the Anthakarana (internal motivator). All these are no doubt necessary. But liberation in the ultimate sense consists in liberation from the cycle of birth and death.
This means that one should redeem one's present life so that one is free from rebirth. Men should pray to God for freedom from rebirth so that they will not have bodies which are bound to be afflicted with diseases. People have no clear idea of what Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha (the four goals) mean.
They think that Moksha (liberation) is something, which you attain after death. But, in fact, liberation can be attained here and now.
Moksha means "Moha-Kshayam" the elimination of "Moha" (or attachment). People are not ready to give up attachment to wife, children, property etc., you have a duty to protect your family.
But you must not be immersed in concerns about them. Realize that love is the most important quality in human life. It is not love for kith and kin that is precious. It is love for God that is more valuable".
The knowledge we shall discuss here onwards is valuable for all seekers, even to those who are not yet ready for the actual Sadhana.
i) If we know what lies ahead of us on this most challenging of ventures, it will inspire us to press on with more determination.
ii) We will know what is within our capacity and what is beyond it. We will not foolishly try to do Sadhanas for which we are not ready, and become needlessly dejected.
iii) We will develop patience to become strong in our present stage of Sadhana.
iv) We will develop a self-evaluation skill. We will not fool ourselves, nor be fooled by others regarding the milestones of genuine spiritual progress.
The Essential Qualification for Sannyasa Sadhana
Firstly, let us see who the person we are talking of is. What has he done to qualify or arrive at this stage?
i) Taking purely the stages of life into account, we can say that what he has done is he has arrived at the right age for it, over 70. His main qualification is his age. It is not a cheap entry point. Satisfactory experience of the three previous stages entitles him to this phase of Sadhana.
ii) Exception is in case of few rare souls who is/are born with very good spiritual Samskaras. These surface at an early age.
Due to a natural Sattvic temperament, he leads a good, clean, disciplined life, and decides to bypass Grihastha Ashrama. Chitta Shuddhi and Chitta Ekagrata are already there.
iii) Or, more commonly, whatever his early life was like, due to favorable upbringing, an interest comes early for spiritual matters.
Taking the formal route, he joins an Ashram where he spends at least 12 years or so as a Brahmachari (in yellow or white cloth), and seriously practices the first 12 Steps of Sadhana Panchakam under guidance.
iv) Or, in addition to the above route he decides, in consultation with his Guru, to take the formal Sannyasa vows (the ochre cloth) and becomes a full-time Karma Sannyasi.
These are the four access points for the Sadhana from Step 13 to 24. In all four cases, the Sadhaka clearly understands that true renunciation is the basic requirement and that it entails giving up of one’s Ego and one’s pleasure-serving Desire. Individuality has to make way for universality, and the intellect comes to the fore to check Desire.
The Importance of Renunciation
Sannyasa means renunciation. When the thing we wish to tackle is difficult, we need to give up many other things in order to do that. Giving up something low for a higher goal, is the purest way of defining Renunciation. We give up everything that holds us back from moving Godward. Renunciation is proof of how intensely we really long for God.
Renunciation is not something that is demanded by any external agency such as social convention or custom. When the seeker is at this stage, he is impelled from within to make the needed adjustments in the outer details of life. This adjustment mainly involves renunciation.
Renunciation is the prime criterion to enter the Jnana Kanda stage of Sadhana. In the Gita, the minimum renunciation to start with is the renunciation of the fruits of one’s actions. Thereafter, the renunciation intensifies as we progress further.
Swami answers to a question on this ashrama and sets a serious, purposeful journey for us in the steps coming up on this ashrama, thus:-
What does Sanyasa mean?
“Sanyasa is above and beyond all promptings of sensual or objective pleasure.
The Sanyasi deals with the contemplation of the Lord as the very breath of his life, an essential necessity always and at all places for sheer existence itself; he derives joy only from this contemplation.
He knows that wealth and kinship, affection and attachment are all momentary and liable to decline and end.
He discards the external reminders of even caste-status and samskaras [mental impressions] like Upanayanam [sacred thread ceremony where a person is exposed to the Gayatri mantra]; he wears the ochre robe of the mendicant; he does not live in populous places; he lives on whatever little food he gets; he does not decry the place where he does not get food; he does not eat twice in the same place or sleep two days in succession in the same place; he even conquers the temptation to sleep and eat; he cares little for the rigors of the seasons; he is ever joyful and happy in the company of the Lord whom he invokes by his Dhyana [meditation].”
With this deeper understanding, we will take up STEPS related to Sanyasa Ashrama in the upcoming posts.
Love.
