Posted by mu on Janurary 1, 2008
Let’s talk a little bit about renunciation; the idea or belief that one must give up, relinquish, abandon, reject, leave, surrender, disown etc. home and all personal ‘worldly’ attachments in one’s spiritual quest. It isn’t necessary.
The idea of “well, that didn’t work, it is a distraction to my leading a truly spiritual life; it is a hindrance to finding that which will work for me or to my finding what I am seeking, so therefore I will/must give it up” or something along those lines is just a mind game. For some it is viewed as a rite of passage to travel to India or some other far off land in their ‘quest for enlightenment’. People are abandoning their relationships and lives either temporarily or permanently (or thinking they must] in the name of this quest or the search for their teacher, guru, or spiritual community. In the western world this is becoming a popular trend, especially in certain circles. For many, it happens after having achieved goals and/or attaining material wealth or possessions that did not serve to give the inner-peace or happiness the attainer sought through the achievement of such things, and thus they have become even more depressed and disenchanted with life.
Embarking on a quest or journey with or without renunciation is the belief that the ‘it’ sought lies out there somewhere – outside self. It is like substituting one addiction for another. If the material possessions, job, partner, house, or whatever didn’t do it, a trip to India, a pillow, guru, or renunciation might. For some renunciation or the actual physical journey is part of one’s Dharma or path, but either way, it is still simply a matter of inner-Realization. No physical journey or renunciation of anything physical is necessary.
As Ramana Maharshi said, “True renunciation is in the mind” and is “neither achieved by physical renunciation nor impeded by the lack of it.” It is as the Zen saying goes: ‘Before enlightenment, chop wood carry water; after enlightenment, chop wood carry water.’ It is having the change of mind and awareness and bringing it into the ‘real’ or everyday world with you, or as you.
That is the blessing and the challenge of it. I have often said it is easy to find ‘enlightenment’ sitting on a rock in a cave somewhere; away from civilization; away from the noise, crowds, and myriad of distractions and responsibilities. It is more challenging to uncover the enlightened mind right where you are, in the midst of everyday life with all of its distractions, and is perhaps more impenetrable when done so.
Having renounced his home and life at the age of 17, Sri Ramana was often asked about renunciation. His answer was usually unexpected. It was a matter of ‘Do as I say, not as I did’, which surprised many people and went against common thinking.
The following is part of a conversation between a devotee who questioned Sri Ramana about abandoning life to live as a sannyasin [One who has renounced home. property, caste, and all human attachments in the spiritual quest. The renunciation is permanent.]
[read more]
