Whenever people speak of spiritual life, they entertain ideas of renunciation, dispassion (vairagya), sacrifice and sanyas. Generally these concepts are not liked.
Whenever people speak of spiritual life, they entertain ideas of renunciation, dispassion (vairagya), sacrifice and sanyas. Generally these concepts are not liked. People often ask me whether I regret becoming a sanyasi and are disappointed at my reaction. Not only am I free of regret, but maintain that I would not give it up for anything in the world. People do not like the word “renunciation”. But can we achieve anything in this world without renunciation
We may not like the word, but no growth or accomplishment is possible without renunciation or sacrifice. If you hold onto your childhood, will you become a youth To gain maturity you have to renounce your childishness. Play schools and primary schools are very attractive, but have to be renounced for higher education. A seed has to die to become a plant; a plant has to die for the tree to be born! If the knowledge you want is not available in your country, you may have to travel abroad. Following their search for spiritual knowledge, foreigners leave their countries and come to India. It is not possible to gain anything without giving up something.
Consider the vast difference between compromise and sacrifice. To give up higher values and ideals for lower gains is a compromise, and to renounce lower gains for higher goals is sacrifice. The appearance of corrupt people being successful is very short-lived. It seems that they do not renounce anything, but that is not true. They give up all the higher urges or values of life for lower gains. In sacrifice, one holds on to one’s ideals, bracing oneself against privation, poverty or even starvation. We may applaud people for achievement, but we respect only men/women of renunciation and sacrifice. Who do we respect Those who cling onto power or those who sacrifice, refuse to compromise and uphold higher ideals
Spirituality is neither running away from life nor is it very difficult. Spirituality is a complete vision of life. It is not a particular, special activity, but when every action is done in a special way. In order to avoid ad hoc or impulsive actions, we should act with an understanding of the totality of life and consider the long-term consequences of our actions.
In this spiritual adventure, true importance lies in gaining a total vision of life and doing every action with that inspiration in mind. Swami Vivekananda said that just by doing one great action, a man does not become great; a great man is one who is great in every little action.
Swami Tejomayananda, head of Chinmaya Mission Worldwide, is an orator, poet, singer, composer and storyteller. To find out more about Chinmaya Mission and Swamiji, visit www.chinmayamission.com.© Central Chinmaya Mission Trust
