What is Renunciation?

True renunciation is the capacity to set the right value for all the worldly things and to realize how inconsequential they are to our existence, even though we may have them when we are here in this world, and may even enjoy them. 

As long as we are not attached to having them, and do not depend on our possessions for our

happiness we can place the right amount of value on Things. The Things you think you must have might not be what makes you happy, because they may not be there tomorrow.  Even the people you are with today may not be there tomorrow. It is okay to enjoy your things and the company of people you like at this moment. Enjoy this moment and be happy that you have this time, but if you start counting on those things and people to make you happy, you are asking for trouble and unhappiness which is sure to come.

Renunciation is the measure of spirituality.  It is a misconception to think that renunciation is the resignation of life. You do not have to go barefooted to the mountains or forests and be alone to practice renunciation. It must be practiced in our daily lives, at home and in business.

Renunciation does not mean to give up all your worldly possessions or not thrive to do well and grow in business. It is good to have goals and reach them through hard work and intelligent decisions. It is not right to grow at the cost of hurting yourself or others, as if winning and succeeding were the only way to be happy.  Winning by hurting others may bring you things but it will not bring you everlasting happiness.

A successful and rich person can be a renunciate if he is not attached to his money and knows that it is momentary and a temporary possession.  He should know that possessions are not his existence, while a poor person, who always thinks about money, and is always looking for ways to possess material things is a materialist, whether he has the money or not.

Here is a poem from my favorite book Vedanta Treatise to clarify the meaning of renunciation:

“EVEN THIS SHALL PASS AWAY”

Once in Persia reigned a king,

Who upon his signet ring

Graved a maxim true ad wise

Which, if held before his eyes,

Gave him counsel at a glance

Fit for every change and chance.

Solemn words, and these are they;

“Even this shall pass away.”

Trains of camels through the sand

Brought him gems from Samarkand;

Fleets of galleys through the seas

Brought him pearls to match with these;

But he counted not his gain

Treasures of the mine or main;

“What is wealth?” the king would say;

“Even this shall pass away.”

 

Mid the revels of his court,

At the zenith of his sport,

When the palms of all his guests

Burned with clapping at his jests,

He, amid his figs and wine,

Cried, “O loving friends of mine;

Pleasures come, but not to stay;

“Even this shall pass away.”

 

Lady, fairest ever seen.

Was the bride he crowned his queen.

Pillowed on his marriage bed.

Softly to his soul he said:

“Though no bridegroom ever pressed

Fairest bosom to his breast,

Mortal flesh must come to clay –

Even this shall pass away.”

 

Fighting on the furious field,

Once a javelin pierced his shield;

Soldiers, with a loud lament,

Bore him bleeding to his tent.

Groaning from his tortured side,

“Pain is hard to bear,” he cried;

“But with patience, day by day,

Even this shall pass away.”

 

Struck with palsy, sore and old,

Waiting at the Gates of Gold,

Said he with his dying breath,

“Life is done, but what is Death?”

Then, in answer to the king,

Fell a sunbeam on his ring,

Showing by a heavenly ray,

“Even this shall pass away.”

 

Enjoy this moment, this is all we really have!

Light and love to all!

Veera

*****

 

 

 

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