Bored of his well settled life, Amit goes to his Swamiji’s
ashram to renounce his life. The perfect family and professional life no longer
fascinates him and at the age of 42, he decides to call quits. Swamiji advises
him to return on the day of Shukla Paksha
Ekadasi which falls exactly 6 months later. Amit acknowledges Swamiji’s
advice and returns home.
ashram to renounce his life. The perfect family and professional life no longer
fascinates him and at the age of 42, he decides to call quits. Swamiji advises
him to return on the day of Shukla Paksha
Ekadasi which falls exactly 6 months later. Amit acknowledges Swamiji’s
advice and returns home.
He is constantly living in the anticipation of a newer
life 6 months from now. He is finding ‘greener grass’ on the other side and
starts finding his life even duller than before. Since he has reserved his
happiness for the prospect of renunciation, he is no longer enjoying any event
or moment that his current life offers. His dull life starts getting
depressing. His mind which was dominated by the absence of happiness, now is
been occupied with sadness. The only thought that brings a little cheer to his
life is the thought of renunciation. As Ekadasi
started approaching, his restlessness started growing stronger and patience
started diminishing.
life 6 months from now. He is finding ‘greener grass’ on the other side and
starts finding his life even duller than before. Since he has reserved his
happiness for the prospect of renunciation, he is no longer enjoying any event
or moment that his current life offers. His dull life starts getting
depressing. His mind which was dominated by the absence of happiness, now is
been occupied with sadness. The only thought that brings a little cheer to his
life is the thought of renunciation. As Ekadasi
started approaching, his restlessness started growing stronger and patience
started diminishing.
Unable to curb his excitement, he reaches ashram, 11 days
prior to Ekadasi at the onset of Shukla Paksha. As he had programmed his
mind to feel good only if he gets to live ashram life, he did feel good for a
couple of days. As the days started passing by, that ‘dull’ feeling began
haunting him again. Now, that he is in the perfect environs he had ever dreamt
of, he still is experiencing those feelings from which he wanted to break free.
The day dawns of the much awaited Ekadasi.
The excitement that he had for this day was not the same as before. He meets
and greets Swamiji as per his morning routine but none of them have any conversation
about his decision. Though very firm about his decision earlier, Amit is very
confused now. If he goes back, his life isn’t that interesting. If he stays
here, he still may not experience that bliss which he is in search of. He is
expecting Swamiji to initiate the conversation about his decision as he is now
unsure of his decision. The day passed with all possible conversations between
Amit & Swamiji except the one about Amit’s decision. The dilemma within
Amit’s mind was not letting him feel relaxed. He decides to confide in Swamiji
that very night.
prior to Ekadasi at the onset of Shukla Paksha. As he had programmed his
mind to feel good only if he gets to live ashram life, he did feel good for a
couple of days. As the days started passing by, that ‘dull’ feeling began
haunting him again. Now, that he is in the perfect environs he had ever dreamt
of, he still is experiencing those feelings from which he wanted to break free.
The day dawns of the much awaited Ekadasi.
The excitement that he had for this day was not the same as before. He meets
and greets Swamiji as per his morning routine but none of them have any conversation
about his decision. Though very firm about his decision earlier, Amit is very
confused now. If he goes back, his life isn’t that interesting. If he stays
here, he still may not experience that bliss which he is in search of. He is
expecting Swamiji to initiate the conversation about his decision as he is now
unsure of his decision. The day passed with all possible conversations between
Amit & Swamiji except the one about Amit’s decision. The dilemma within
Amit’s mind was not letting him feel relaxed. He decides to confide in Swamiji
that very night.
Amit: “Swamiji, I no longer want to pretend. But I do not
feel as excited as I was about my decision of renunciation.”
feel as excited as I was about my decision of renunciation.”
Swamiji: “I know son, I purposely did not utter anything
about your renunciation today as I sensed your dilemma.”
about your renunciation today as I sensed your dilemma.”
Amit: “Then you must be aware of why I am experiencing this
restlessness and confusion?”
restlessness and confusion?”
Swamiji: “Very much son. I knew this is going to happen,
hence I did not welcome your decision 6 months before.”
hence I did not welcome your decision 6 months before.”
Amit: (joins hands)“Swamiji, please guide me. What should I
do?”
do?”
Swamiji: “You have to be extremely true to yourself while answering
the questions I am going to ask you now. No fear, no pretence, only truth.”
the questions I am going to ask you now. No fear, no pretence, only truth.”
Amit: (closes his eyes) “Sure”
Swamiji: “Why did you want to take renunciation six months
back?”
back?”
Amit: “Because life did not interest me. It was monotonous, dull
and dry. I wanted to retire from the same old responsibilities I have been
carrying throughout my life. ”
and dry. I wanted to retire from the same old responsibilities I have been
carrying throughout my life. ”
Swamiji: “So why do you want to take recourse to renunciation
for solving your problem?”
for solving your problem?”
Amit: “Because I couldn’t think of any other options before
me.”
me.”
Swamiji: “I appreciate your honesty. Unless you are true to
yourself, you could never find answers to your questions. Now listen carefully,
the three conditions under which a man should never take recourse to renunciation:
yourself, you could never find answers to your questions. Now listen carefully,
the three conditions under which a man should never take recourse to renunciation:
a.
When you find your life uninteresting/frustrating/situation
going out of control/ not going according to your will:
When you find your life uninteresting/frustrating/situation
going out of control/ not going according to your will:
In such situation, renunciation becomes a
means to run away from the cause. Once you enter the viscious cycle of running
away from situations, you perpetually tie yourself to problems. You do not get
out of problems; only keep on vaulting from one problem to another. Such a
person looses the ability to face the challenges and develops the knack of
running away from it. Unless, you develop the courage to settle your problems, you
will not find peace with renunciation.
means to run away from the cause. Once you enter the viscious cycle of running
away from situations, you perpetually tie yourself to problems. You do not get
out of problems; only keep on vaulting from one problem to another. Such a
person looses the ability to face the challenges and develops the knack of
running away from it. Unless, you develop the courage to settle your problems, you
will not find peace with renunciation.
b.
When you do not get what you want from life When a person doesn’t get what he
wants in life, he will not get anything either with renunciation. The objective
of renunciation is to give and not to get. An unfulfilled urge wants to find an
expression and will continue to haunt you even after taking up renunciation in some
form or the other. Before choosing the path of renunciation, this urge, vasna needs to be either completely
uprooted (not by coercion but by will) or completely satiated.
When you do not get what you want from life When a person doesn’t get what he
wants in life, he will not get anything either with renunciation. The objective
of renunciation is to give and not to get. An unfulfilled urge wants to find an
expression and will continue to haunt you even after taking up renunciation in some
form or the other. Before choosing the path of renunciation, this urge, vasna needs to be either completely
uprooted (not by coercion but by will) or completely satiated.
c.
When you have the responsibilities
When you have the responsibilities
Every
individual has certain responsibilities which are non transferable and non
refundable. Even as Sanyasi, Adi Shankaracharya upon receiving news of his
mother’s illness, left his disciples and preceded to his hometown, Kaladi. He met
his ailing mother and performed the last rites as his responsibility as a son. Make
sure before renouncing, you complete your responsibilities.”
individual has certain responsibilities which are non transferable and non
refundable. Even as Sanyasi, Adi Shankaracharya upon receiving news of his
mother’s illness, left his disciples and preceded to his hometown, Kaladi. He met
his ailing mother and performed the last rites as his responsibility as a son. Make
sure before renouncing, you complete your responsibilities.”
Amit (listening very carefully): “Then under what situations
should a man renounce?”
should a man renounce?”
Swamiji: (with a slight smile) “A man should renounce under
3 conditions:
3 conditions:
a.
When you
have found peace with yourself.”
When you
have found peace with yourself.”
Amit: “Sorry to interrupt you Swamiji. But unless you
renounce, you cannot get knowledge and without gyaan you cannot find peace.”
renounce, you cannot get knowledge and without gyaan you cannot find peace.”
Swamiji: “Peace is a state of mind. It has nothing to do
with renunciation. I have seen a few of my contemporaries restless as they have
physically renounced the world but mentally they are still attached. Finding peace
within you is an art of living which can be easily mastered by having faith in
GOD. Peace comes when a man frees
himself from worldly desires and attachments. Peace is as much an ingredient of
renunciation as its by product. ब्रह्मार्पण
ब्रह्म हवि ब्रह्मानों
with renunciation. I have seen a few of my contemporaries restless as they have
physically renounced the world but mentally they are still attached. Finding peace
within you is an art of living which can be easily mastered by having faith in
GOD. Peace comes when a man frees
himself from worldly desires and attachments. Peace is as much an ingredient of
renunciation as its by product. ब्रह्मार्पण
ब्रह्म हवि ब्रह्मानों
b. When there is a true urge for aatma gyaan. In this case, man
realizes the vanities of the physical world and goes in search of truth and
self realization.
realizes the vanities of the physical world and goes in search of truth and
self realization.
c. When you are creative. A creative human
makes the most of renunciation. With Renunciation, the sarjatmak shakti or the creative strength increases. Hence, the
saints who have created the mantras, strotas, shashtras have all undertaken
renunciation.
makes the most of renunciation. With Renunciation, the sarjatmak shakti or the creative strength increases. Hence, the
saints who have created the mantras, strotas, shashtras have all undertaken
renunciation.
Amit: “Swamiji, unfortunately, I thought of getting free
from my problems by renunciation.”
from my problems by renunciation.”
Swamiji: “Either I am a good teacher or you a fast learner!”
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