TYAGA –Sacrifice and VAIRAGYA—Non attachment are very rare
qualities that we find in humanity! Man
is a greedy creature. Entangled in the shoreless sea of samsara and tossed by
his endless desires and unable to satisfy the wishes of his wife and children,
he struggles to carry on his existence! He is unable to give up his material
possessions. There is no question of Vairagya or non attachment on account of
his total involvement in mundane affairs! He spends all his time in catering to
the needs of his people but does not think of himself, his spiritual future and
his final destination. He does not bother about his real nature, his
relationship with the everlasting Soul or the atma! That is why man is called a
mortal—one who is capable of death.
Is there any
way to reach a deathless state? Can man progress from being a mortal to the
state of an immortal? Narayana Prasna of
Taittiriya Upanishad answers this question. It asserts that man can become an
immortal by means of sacrifice or
Thyaga!
“ na karmana
na prajaya dhanena tyagenaike amrutatwa manasuhu
Parena nakam nihitam guhayam vibrajadetad
yatayo visanthi.
Emancipation will not come through performing karmas like ‘agnihotra’.
Even children will not release the debt of the pitrus-forefathers! Charity is possible
only when you have money but it will not offer mukti! The Upanishad says that
immortality shall happen when man sacrifices all his mundane actions and turns
his gaze inward to know who he is! In other words those who have control over
the senses are qualified to become immortal! This moksha is far superior to
Swarga or heaven. It is established in one’s own intellect and is radiant! Even Jnana and Sanyasa- monkhood are capable of
leading man to immortality!
Is it possible for man to develop the
quality of Tyaga easily? The inner
enemies of man are ready to thwart any attempt by him in this direction! ‘Lobha’
among the six—miserliness-- prevents him from turning to that direction. Sri
Ramakrishna illustrates this point through one of his parables. A couple renounced
the world and went on a pilgrimage to holy shrines. The husband, advancing,
happened to see a piece of diamond on the road! He tried to hide it lest she
might see the diamond and yearn for it. He feared that she might lose the merit
of her renunciation. Noticing him trying to hide the diamond , she asked what he was doing. The husband gave an
evasive reply. She was very smart and easily found out the diamond. Reading his
thoughts she made this remark, “Why did you leave the world, if you still feel
the distinction between the diamond and dust?”
Neither
renunciation nor Vairagya is easy to attain! It requires an inherent desire to
loosen the worldly bonds! A wife told her husband about her brother and how he
was preparing to become an ascetic. She said she was anxious about him because
he was trying to reduce his desires and wants. The husband told her not to be
anxious about her brother as he will never become a sanyasin. No one can become
a sanyasin in that way. The wife said, “How does one become a sanyasin then?” “ Thus”
the man exclaimed tearing his flowing dress to pieces! He tied a piece round
his loins and remarked that she and all other ladies were, henceforth,
his mothers! Vairagya should come instantaneously! Saying that you are
preparing for it is a sign of procrastination! Vairagya is diluted easily by
such thoughts! The person should be fired by the spirit of renunciation and
intensely pant after God like a mother for her child! The world ,for him, is a
well without a wall! He is ever vigilant lest he may fall into it! A fiery
determination brings him Vairagya!
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