True Nature Of Renunciation

Many have externally renounced the world and gone to the forests, but have not realised the Absolute. It is not necessary to renounce everything that is external.

Because, it is not the outer condition that matters so much as one’s inner state of mind. If we are dedicated in our search for the Absolute, it does not matter where we live.

We can live in the family and carry out our worldly duties, and at the same time, continue on our spiritual journey.

Sri Krishna and King Janaka have shown that even for the work of Lokasangraha, the normal duties of life that fall to our lot need not be abandoned. To attain moksha, it is not necessary to break all ties with the external world. What we really need to give up is the ego-sense, that idea that we are the doers.

God within us is the doer, the sole master of all our activities. If we dedicate all our actions to Him, we can destroy our ego-sense and find the way to Supreme Union. Surrender to the Absolute is the right attitude even as we deal with external duties.

I have expanded my narrow family circle to include the world family. So it is strictly not really renunciation but expansion.

Action in itself is neither virtuous nor sinful. The error lies in attributing it to our false individuality, when it really emanates from the Absolute. So, no action we are engaged in needs to be discarded. Surrender all actions to the Supreme Power that is the master of all actions.

DISCLAIMER : Views expressed above are the author's own.