Vairagya: A Practice of Detachment

AGRITA CHHIBBER

The concept of attachment is taught, experienced, and preached, but on the contrary, the word ‘detachment’ is less heard as it means to leave everything.

Just as you learn different things like the art of cooking, dancing, or swimming, similarly you should learn the art of detachment. In Sanskrit, the word detachment is called Vairagya.

In the ancient text Yoga Sutras of Patanjali there is a reference to dual concepts named ‘abhyasa’ and ‘vairagya’. The term vairagya does not mean ‘to renounce’ this is a wrong notion that is conceived.

In simple terms, vairagya can be explained as a ‘skill of not losing self’. It means not getting involved in life’s unending drama and losing your unique self. Real vairāgya is not an outer existence but an internal state of mind pursued equally successfully by renunciates and those with careers and families.

Vairāgya does not imply repression of physical pleasures or the development of aversion to them. The aspirant gradually develops a strong attraction for the inner spiritual source of fulfillment and satisfaction. Restricted attachments naturally fall away by applying vivek (spiritual discrimination or discernment) to life experience.

Understanding Detachment:

To enhance the value of your encounter, detachment is a crucial attribute. The state of mind is like if you have a pessimistic outlook on life and a bad life experience. The way you feel is the reason behind your unhappiness. Your mental state will be evident if you believe that there is no hope or if you believe that everything is fantastic.

When you practice detachment, you start to appreciate life because you stop being fixated on things and start appreciating things for what they are. You must master this art, and the earlier you do it, the better, as it becomes harder to develop certain habits as you get older.

You connect because you are worried that you might not be able to get back. Why do we connect ourselves so strongly? Because of our fear. We worry that when we separate, we’ll let go of that grip and plunge into oblivion. After that, we would become lost.

There is an issue with that. Because of this, you need to be extremely grounded and keep in mind that you are Satchitananda Atman, your true nature, to learn how to detach. When you recall who you are, you realize that being attached causes you to lose who you are, while being detached causes you to remember who you are.

Being linked makes it easier for you to feel alive, especially for individuals with intense and emotional natures. You find it harder to be detached since you don’t feel like you’re still here.

It’s not true that you’re dead; instead, you need to learn how to experience other kinds of emotions, including inner joy and serenity. It is not an exhilarating or fulfilling sensation on an emotional level. It has a better, more sophisticated level of detachment. Being detached does not imply lack of love. It just indicates that you are showing deeper love.

Karma Yoga

The first stage in spiritual practice is to do karma yoga, which allows you disconnect and relax your emotions so that you can disconnect the mind when you sit for meditation. The foundational practice of karma yoga is upon which meditation is based. It doesn’t matter what you do; without karma yoga, meditation is impossible.

A practitioner of karma yoga takes two actions. First of all, a karma yogi meditates constantly while at work. He sees Lord Narayana while helping others and says, “Oh Lord, I am working and worshipping and serving You through this specific person.” I appreciate you providing me with this chance.

Second, he disengages himself from the outcome of his actions. He is not concerned with the outcome of his actions, whether they are successful or not. “Serve, serve, serve” was the first lesson that Master Sivananda would ever give. Karma yoga is assisting others. Whether performing office labor, dishwashing, temple prayer, or lawn mowing, the karma yogi understands that his labor is worship during service.

When someone practices meditation regularly, they can complete more work in less time without making himself or others unhappy. Inside, there is tranquility. Every person he comes into contact with is naturally elevated since all of his activities are sattvic (clean).

Even the most slothful will find bravery, support, and inspiration in his company. Because the yogi is a powerful dynamo, they learn that just by his presence, they can accomplish things that they could not or would not perform somewhere else. A yogi like that will not tolerate tamas or lethargy.

The first step in mindfulness is to get separated from what you do every day. One of the first things to learn is this. Acknowledge the Lord in all things. Serve everybody. Serve the ill, the hurting, and the impoverished.

See the Supreme Presence within, not the titles and forms. This will accelerate your progress in meditation and focus. You will learn that self-knowledge is a bird with two wings, and those wings are service and realization.

Hari Om Tat Sat.

Agrita Chhiber is a research scholar and from Jammu

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