Is Renunciation Necessary for Enlightenment?
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- čas přidán 26. 07. 2024
- Being obsessed with worldly pleasures is an obstacle to spiritual growth and enlightenment. But merely giving up those pleasures won't make you enlightened either. Then, what is the purpose of renunciation in spiritual practice?
The Hindu, Buddhist and Jain traditions all have great value for renunciation or monastic life as a spiritual practice. Shankara, the greatest teacher of Advaita Vedanta was a sannyasi, as were his disciples. But many scriptures, especially the Bhagavad Gita, praise the engaged spirituality of karma yoga as being better than renouncing the world and living as a sannyasi, a monk. There, Sri Krishna told Arjuna to stay on the Kurukshetra battlefield and fight the war, to fulfill his personal responsibilities, his dharma.
In the Bhagavad Gita, four different kinds of renunciation are described by Sri Krishna:
1) Escapism - Renunciation of Duties
2) Sannyasa - Renunciation of Worldly Activities
3) Karma Yoga - Renumciation of the Fruits of Your Deeds
4) Enlightenment - Renunciation of the False Sense of being a Doer of Action
1) Escapism is not an option, because by shirking your responsibilities, you will incur papa karma, sin, which will create obstacles on the path of spiritual growth. Those who live as sannyasis to escape responsibilities are called hypocrites by Sri Krishna. 2) Sannyasa is suitable for those who have fulfilled their worldly responsibilities and are inclined to lead a contemplative life of meditation, study, and prayer. 3) Surprisingly, Sri Krishna describes Karma Yoga as a kind of renunciation, in which you give up the fruits of your deeds, you give up your personal, self-serving agenda, and instead, act for the welfare of all, as did King Janaka of Mithila. 4) An enlightened person has figuratively renounced the false sense of being a doer of action through gaining self-knowledge, atma jnana. That knowledge leads you to discover that your true self, atma, is not involved in activity of any kind. It is the body, mind, senses, and ego that are involved in action, not atma, the so-called light of awareness, unchanging consciousness, cit or chaitanya, that illumines the activities (vrittis) of your mind as the sakshi, the awareful witness, the detached observer.
0:00 Introduction
7:52 Karma Yoga and Renunciation
11:36 Escapism - Renunciation of Duties
16:24 Sannyasa - Renunciation of Worldly Activities
20:04 Karma Yoga - Renunciation of the Fruits of One's Deeds
25:04 Enlightenment - Renunciation of the False Sense of Agency
Swami Tadatmananda is a traditionally-trained teacher of Advaita Vedanta, meditation, and Sanskrit. For more information, please see: www.arshabodha.org/
In Shinto, we believe that all things are Kami (divine). This includes objects. Objects are probably the most underappreciated Kami - we are often focused on other people, or mythical beings, or in general, living beings in our practice, when we don't have to even look further than our bedroom to find ourselves surrounded by things that selflessly offer their blessings to us every day, without asking anything in return. I find objects the greatest teachers of karma yoga. In return for their selfless help, I take care of the objects around me and make sure my bed is made every day, I don't just throw things around, and I keep everything tidy, thanking and letting go of objects that would help someone else more than they are helping me, in order to ensure that they will be fully appreciated.
Throughout my spiritual seeking, I encountered stories of many people who renounced worldly pleasures and went off to live a secluded life. But I have also seen "teachers" online, for example, whom I know speak wisdom but do not seem to understand the wisdom themselves. I know that leaving everything behind is not for me. I was thinking of becoming a priest for a while but I am much more help to others here, among people. I do not know what me becoming a priest would do for anyone, apart from myself. This way, I can work on my practice without upsetting the balance of things around me. I could not be more content.
I think the most difficult thing about practice while living among people is that it is easy to fall back into bad habits of an old life - complaining, grumbling, being dissatisfied with things. That's something that one always has to be really careful with.
Wat u wrote is amazing and thank u for sharing about kami (which seems very similar to our Brahman) !!
What you say is really true things are kami divine andi it comes to s
omeone as them really is
@Wise
Not at all!
I used to watch many spiritual channel on youtube. But this channel is the most fantastic.
Thank you Swamiji for delivering the great wisdom of ancient Rishis..🙏
Can't wait for the next topic.
So clear! So nice to listen to you Swamiji 🤗🙏
What a brilliant, and erudite lecture. Many thanks.
Thank you, Swamiji. You are such an engaging guru !
I am a mother in a great self-inquiery quest. Renunciation and material detachment was a great deal for me because I feel the calling of detachment but I have responsabilities to fulfill with my son and my elderly. It has never felt correct to abandon one's duties when it affects greatly to others. So this video answered clearly and beautifully that big doubt in my spiritual path. AGAIN Swami your teachings have bring light and understanding to my spiritual path ✨️ THANKS FOR SHARING! And for putting it in so eloquent manner! 😊
AGAIN Swami your teachings have bring light and understanding to my spiritual path
What a fantastic year to start with a great spiritual teaching and knowledge... Unlimited thanks Swamiji🙏
Swami always brings everything to the point so that we can understand it and work with it in a spiritual way. Thank you very much for all the valuable work for us, Swami. Your teachings are like a treasure chest that never empties. 🙏
Thank you for another amazing lesson, Swami-ji! What an amazing surprise it was, to log on and see a new video from you! 🙏
Thank you yet again. This is the best capsule on renunciation. My pranam.
Namaste, om shanti. Thank you for the insight!
Dhanyvaad Swamiji for bringing clarity in karmayog, renouncation and escapisim,
Thank you, Swamiji. I always find your teachings very helpful and applicable to a recent situation or mood.
Thank you Swamiji🌱
Love the humour in the thumbnail! Thank you for all your talks, film and chanting series 🙏
Lots of love to you Swami Tadatmananada 💌
Great discourse as a summary of what we have studied in Bhagwad Gita.
So lucid and clear!!
Very good explanation Swamiji 🙏
Fully support to Swami 's work😊
Wise words here from this monk on the Bhagavad Gita.
Love you Swami Ji. Pranam. Namaskar🙏🙏❤
Such a great and elaborate lesson again by you. I really like this format, as it summarizes classes and knowledge from the Gita.
More relevant in life with a deeper understanding of peaceful and contented living..
Peace and love. I hope that you will have an Arabic translation available, because we are in need of these sciences. We, the third world countries, need these spiritual sciences more than others. Thank you very much.
My thoughts on karma yoga.
The reason people are attracted to religion is because there is sorrow (dukkha) in life. Assume for a moment that life is all pleasure. No sorrow at all. Kind of heaven. Who would want to renounce it? Who would even think of God or spiritualism? The whole exercise of righteous behavior (dharma) is to escape dukkha in life. In the design of this world dukkha plays an essential part which, through trial and error, brings people to the right path. When there is dukkha, be sure there is a message which "prakriti" is trying to give. Message to correct course. It's just like pain in the body. Pain is a symptom that there is something wrong in the body. Life is a practical course on dharma. Of course, there is theory also which the gurus teach us on the way.
Failure to lead a happy life automatically compels people to investigate it's cause and to get back to the right path. Life is a great teacher and the way of the "prakriti" to teach is through karma yoga. Action-failure-understanding -rectification. The understanding dawns when you act on your dharma without any attachment to the fruits of action. That way there is contentment and inner peace irrespective of whether you achieve the purpose of your action or not. (Life's) Mission accomplished.
In my view, karma yoga will teach you dharma eventually, whether in this life or subsequent ones. The success rate of "prakriti" in teaching the lesson of dharma to mankind seems to be 100%, especially if you believe in karma and reincarnation. You can pass the class only when you achieve moksha (freedom from dukkha by following the path of dharma) or else you have to repeat the class (have another life).
Very good thinking and explanation..🙏
Gratidão Swamii, ensinamentos deveras esclarecedores!!
Hari OM!!
Renunciation is very important to shed our bad instincts like greed, anger, hate, jealousy these are like old computer programs they take a lot of brain energy and in return give us pain, misery and suffering.
Swami jee thanks for your divine discourse filled my heart and mind with joy and happiness and enlighten faith in my lord of lords shri Krishna and his Bhagwad Geeta Om Namo Narayan Govindam shri krishnai Namo LtCol Man Mohan Bisht kangra
Thank you very much for the Spanish subtitles. Hopefully one day, they could translate their teachings from what is written on the website, into Spanish.
Great video Maharaj, thank you for your work
Thanks for the effort and another great teaching.
What an inspiring video 🙏✨ thank you Smawiji
Another great video and a timely one at that, answered a question for me deep within, which I have been contemplating for a few years now, or, perhaps even a lifetime; I would like to live a Sanyasani lifestyle, however, have elderly parents and although, there are four other siblings, they are also getting on towards the winter season of their lives. Namaste, love & light SwamiJi!
Om shanti.
Fantastic explanation 🙏🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿
Renunciation of mistaken understanding and renouncing the need to renounce are both elements of Advaita and Shaivism 🙏
Excellent video and information. Thank you for this lesson.
Excellent explanation, Swami ji. Thanks
Absolutely. No doubt. Who says no simply doesn't know.
Namaste swamiji, a nice and simple explanation.
Energetic Swamiji thank you....
I love your honest and cristal clear witnessing ! Thank you
Wonderful explanation of Karma yoga Swamiji. My deep respects to you
🙏 my conscious pranaam to you swamiji .
Thank you, I feel so lucky to have found this place
Thanks Swamiji. Good video. It did help to remove confusions regarding the renunciation.
Nice to see you from 1993 - thanks for sharing your path from computer engineer to sanyasi.
Pranam guruji!
Thank you guruji
Thankyou Swami ji
Thank you so much for this clarity Swamiji 🙏
Thank you for your guidance Swamiji☺🙏🙏🙏🙏
Nice 👍
beautiful
Brilliant.
Muito obrigado
Whilst I don't consider myself to be anymore understanding than any other in the particulars of a journey towards enlightenment, I would like to take this opportunity to share a little about my personal experience...
In my actions I attempt foremostly to follow synchronicity rather than simply seek personal fulfilment directly, even though many of my practices often lead me towards fulfilling ends, the goals are not the driver of my decisions.
I could not personally achieve the results I am blessed to find for the efforts of my own initiative alone, thus, I must humble myself at the divine will of nature.
It is apparent through the resulting experience of seeking without directing, that; I could never perceive what blessings are available to those who give up the attachment to outcomes and personal goals, yet, only through undirected action may I find what cannot be sought.
Nonetheless, I find myself in a position where I have little responsibility to others with the exception of an internal drive to create opportunities for both myself and others to grow in appreciation of the divine.
I consider it a blessing that I should be unrestrained by the shackles of most attachments, yet, I do not avoid them, I am simply where I am by the grace of that which words fail to define.
I suppose, I would, as you may suggest, be living within the modality of the Karma Yoga, existing in the modern world yet unbound by it's regular constraints.
I consider every part of life to be a uniquely spiritual experience, and, while I do find myself at times constrained by a lack of will to intervene much like Arjuna, I subsequently found much understanding within the Bhagavad-Gita about my position and duty to carry forward in my authenticity in the face of such hindrances.
We each must move forward as we are guided.
While my journey may seem confusing or conflicting to those whom I come across, it is for not only my own sake that I must strive to achieve the potential afforded to me by that which is beyond my control.
I should also take this opportunity to thank you for so clearly delivering your perspective to us on this subject, you have done a great service in your efforts to convey this wisdom to us in a very concise and compassionate manner. Thank you.
Thank you Swami
Super!
Grazie di cuore 💓🙏🏻
Spiegazione molto chiara!
Thank you Swami for your teachings. I hope to one day be able to repay you for your help.
Got it swamiji, thanks a lot
i'm still learning thank you swami
Thank you a hundred times Swamiji. The last type of renunciation seems the most attractive - is it really so difficult to know one's true Self? Deep gratitude and immense affection. shirin
Loved the thumbnail 😅❤
this was such a complex topic... but loved the way you explained everything. Thank you so much. I have a question though. but not sure where I can ask that. it is a personal question about responsibilities ...
Grazie 🙏
Om
🙏
🙏🙏🙏
It happens automatically
Thank you for the knowledge.
but am confused.
if indeed consciousness is our true nature, actions of body speech and mind are triggered by what? and if we should dwell in our true nature consciousness who is doing the action? and what makes the doer of the action do the action? pls am confused and need some more clarifications.
🕉🕉🕉
please start taking our questions?
Please make video on fear of death before achieving enlightenment
once you understand Atma-Brahma there is no longer a fear of loosing body and mind.
Using the paycheck to describe results Krishna is saying that the amount of the payment is not a reflection on whether or not you are fulfilling your Dharma. You should not let the amount determine your happiness or sadness.
Do we need a formal initiation (Diksha) to advance on the spiritual path to Enlightenment ? Do we need a formal Guru ? or we could just watch youtube teachings and lectures and meditate on the meanings and receive siksha from many siksha gurus ?
He has a video on this titled "Is a guru really necessary? Who is a true guru?"
Renunciation of the mind is the key. Asceticism is pointless. A life of pleasures isn’t the way. Moderation and transcendence is the way. Control of mind and Body first. Can you be enlightened in everyday life? How can one be enlightened fully if they are scared of dealing with the turbulence of life? You see
Please teach me Sri Vidya
The last part was not so clear when he says it’s not the consciousness that is the agent of action. Then what…
People have different inherited biology that manifest in their mental and physical health. Austerities can stabilise and benefit some and destabilize and damage others, so religious practice should not be one-size-fits-all.
"THERE is really absolutely no place for renunciation in my religion.
I can understand the question...But there is a distinction between dropping things, and things dropping by themselves.
Renunciation is the enforced dropping of things. And whenever you do anything with force, nothing really drops away.
It simply goes deeper into your unconscious. It becomes more of a problem than it was before. Now it will try to come up in different ways, garbs, masks, and you may not even be able to recognize it.
But it is going to assert itself, and with force. You have given it that force by forcing it deep down into the unconscious.
When you force something, you are giving force to it.
You are making it stronger, and you are making the enemy hide within you, in the darkness, from where you become more vulnerable. When it was in the conscious, it was in the light; you were less vulnerable.
Renunciation is repression.
That is the right psychological word for it: repression. How can you renounce sex, except by repressing?
And repressed sex becomes perverted.
It is easier to understand sex, to become more aware of it and let it drop by itself, than to understand it when it is perverted - because then it comes in an unnatural form.
First it is difficult to recognize it - that it is sex. A person too greedy for money - can you think that this greed for money can have anything to do with suppressed sex? It is so far-fetched it needs a Sigmund Freud to see it. An ordinary person will not be able to connect them at all. How? - money and sex seem to be so far away. They are not so far away.
If you repress sex, it comes as ambition.
It can become politics. The politician can completely forget about sex, because all his sexuality, his sex energy is now converted into his political ambition. He will have the same kind of enjoyment by reaching higher and higher in the hierarchy. The higher he reaches, the more he will feel a kind of sexual pleasure, which you cannot understand."
Renunciate renunciation
Two sides of the same coin. Not caring either way is the ticket.
Krishna did not describe them as giving up.
The meaning of detachment has been twisted into the biggest lie.
Krishna is stating follow your Dharma and do not let the results good or bad affect you.
Doesn't enlightenment as renunciation of agency undermine the whole process? You come to understand that it's the gunas, or the structure of you mind and character played the decisive role in all your choices. It's not you who chose the path.
Renunciation is pretty old-school. Ain’t nobody got time for that. Now, two or three hits of high-powered blotter acid is the modern way to do it. It’s like Windex for your Third Eye, a Nirvana Express. Of course, your ego structure is destroyed in the process. That’s what all that meditation and Hindu mumbo-jumbo is for, to ease you into ego death. But it’s not strictly necessary. IMHO.
Absolutely not, Nissargadatta Maharaj is all the proof you need
Sannyasa is for those who have given up.
Quitters
Absolutely not. Also vegetarian. Not needed.
Swami-ji
You are an agent of God
I didn't renounce anything except for bad habits and behaviors. After 23 years of purging and integrating my shadow, I experienced the ego death, which is experienced as a kind of agonizing death, but which is actually the ego returning to and re-integrating with the Soul Core or Self. Sri Aurobindo identified 3 levels of enlightenment. The first level of attainment is of the Psychic Being or personal evolving Soul, which is Divine. The next level would be the Atman or Higher Spiritual Self. The Psychic realization is partially non dual. It is a perfect unity of the unique evolving person, embraced and sustained by the Divine Mother. The next level is the Universal Transpersonal Self, which I believe the Hindus call Atman. This is an even higher level of unity. The Soul is married to and integrated fully with Spirit. Above this, Sri Aurobindo identified the Super Mental Consciousness, which I know nothing about ! Peace.
🙏