What is asceticism?
*Vairaagya*, the state of detachment, is a fascinating yet profound concept that transcends beyond the ordinary. It’s about freeing oneself from the clutches of extreme emotions — neither getting entangled in attachments nor harboring enmity. It’s a serene state of mind that holds immense power to transform how we perceive and interact with the world around us. Vairaagya means No Vair and no Raag.
In the realm of Vairaagya, the work is carried out with an unfathomable disinterest. It’s not about indifference but about performing actions without the burden of personal desires and expectations. This liberation grants a sense of freedom that is unparalleled.
The seat of the soul is often likened to the forehead, where it governs our thoughts, actions, and ultimately, our happiness. But the question arises — can one attain permanent happiness, or does it fluctuate? Does your happiness go up and down?
The essence lies in understanding that breath, our lifeline, holds the key to our happiness. As long as we breathe, happiness is within reach. It’s not something external; it’s entwined within the rhythm of our breath. So, breath is happiness.
True happiness doesn’t hinge on reasons or external circumstances. Instead, it springs from within. Working with happiness rather than for happiness is the crux of this philosophy. Even in the face of death, this happiness remains untouched — a testament to its depth and resilience.
Interestingly, the more you give happiness to others, the more it returns to you manifold. It’s an eternal cycle of joy — one that becomes more profound when connected to a higher power, guiding us to be light amidst life’s challenges.
We have to do all our karma which are destined for this lifetime. Perform without getting entangled and without getting disturbed. Remain happy as you accept.
The burdens we carry in this life ought to be unburdened and surrendered to a higher force. Whatever you suffer in this life should be not taken as a baggage. Every karma unfolds gradually, allowing us to accept, move forward, and remain in a state of contentment and ease. So, do your dute and also relax while our karmas gradually finish in this life.
In this era, a wave of disinterest in the mundane is the need of the hour.Stay in relationship with Karma and not in bondage to Karma which means have a relationship of acceptance of Karma and not a relationship of bondage with the karmas. For very small doses of happiness we become happy but that is temporary. This leads to expectations of mind. And our energy goes in striving in such minor momentary happiness. Vairaagya, devoid of envy and attachment, beckons us to transcend the shackles of desires.
We need small doses of happiness because we are not fulfilled from within. To be fulfilled knowledge and meditation is mandatory. Slowly weakness of mind and vices will end. We will become fulfilled and happy.
Yet, there exists a spectrum of vairaagya — limited and unlimited. In critical situations or moments of loss, temporary detachment may arise. This is awareness of our mortality and is called limited state of Vaairagya. However, true vairaagya requires unwavering alertness and fulfillment from within, surpassing situational variations.
The road to soul-consciousness demands shedding the acquired vices and transcending the ‘I’ and ‘me’ associated with the physical body. Old habits and vices may provide fleeting pleasure, but practicing pure sanskaars — the inherent traits of the soul — leads to a state of contentment.
The emergence of old sanskaars happens when we avoid meditation. Avoiding meditation can reawaken these dormant traits, causing us to fall back into patterns we wished to leave behind. These traits make us feel helpless and then we usually say “i did not want it to happen but it happened”
Ultimately, vairaagya invites us to evaluate our actions, detach from the trivial, and embrace a path that leads to a higher state of being. It’s a journey towards fulfillment, shedding the layers that hinder our true essence, and embracing the purity of our soul.
