Shankara was a well know revivalist who brought Vedanta back to the fore and reestablished a monastic tradition in India. But then the pendulum continued to swing and it came to be understood that withdrawal from the world was necessary for real spiritual progress. Renunciation became the way, partly because of the dark age.
To put this in a larger context, in Vedic philosophy of dharma, our lifespan is divided into 4 sections:
Study, Work and Family (Householder), Retirement, and Sannyasa.
In the last, Sannyasa, we retire from the world and focus on spiritual life- around age 70-75. As an option, young students could skip the householder stages and live a lifetime as a Sannyasi(ni) monk. In some teachings this became the only way.
There are certainly texts that can be quoted to support this position. One is by Shankara himself. He said that you have to take Sannyasa (vows) to get the Mahavakyas, the keys to full enlightenment.
But if we look closer, another understanding arises. The term Sannyasa means to abandon everything. In Self Realization, we shift from being a me identified with the world to being the cosmic witness, observer of the world. We detach from it and experience separation from the world.
Fully established, the attachments to the world have wound down. We have abandoned everything that was “mine” and taken Sannyasa. We then become qualified for the Mahavakyas. But this doesn’t mean we have to leave the world at all – we can be in the world but not possessed by it.
In other words, Shankara may have been referring to an inner stage of development rather than some outer behavior.
This can be further corroborated using the first 2 verses of Chapter 6 of the Bhagavad Gita (6v1-2):
The Blessed Lord said:
He who performs actions which ought to be done,
without depending on the fruit of action,
he is a sannyasi and he is a yogi;
not he who is without fire and without activity.
That which they call Sannyasa,
know it to be Yoga, O son of Pandu,
for no one becomes a yogi who has not
relinquished the incentive of desire.
Notice some key points here. ‘He who is without fire’ refers to a renunciate as they renounce cooking fire too. Krishna is saying a renunciate who abstains from activity is Not a sannyasi unless they are in Yoga. Yoga is the observer established in their own nature – again, the witness. ‘relinquished the incentive of desire’ is another reference to the fruits (results) of action. Non-Attachment is not something you practice; it results from Self Realization.
How you are in the world is of much more significance than what role you play.
Davidya
Last Updated on June 16, 2016 by
“Non-Attachment is not something you practice; it results from Self Realization.”
So glad to read this. It became my living experience. I also include other ‘positive attributes’ such as compassion as things that happen on their own. I find on my own path, that trying to cultivate such qualities doesn’t allow for a full experience of what is actually happening. Being attached or not attached isn’t a problem; it’s more like information about where I am … I am finding a sort of feedback loop has developed with the (often but not always) absence of self-judgement. Hope this makes sense; it is late & I am tired 🙂
Thanks David
Exactly, Amaryllis. All too common, spiritual practices try to mimic the effects rather than culture the cause. And so often this ends up being just a concept or mood – something that increases identification rather than winding it down. People become attached to non-attachment. (laughs)
But when it arises naturally, then it can be useful to hear it spoken of. The mind is then able to digest what is here better. And it may be easier to be OK with what is new too.
Davidya, this excellent post could be considered the start of an important conversation.
Especially this part, “How you are in the world is of much more significance than what role you play.”
Seems to me, you’ve sorted out the confusion beautifully.
What remains for humanity, however, is more than intellectually sorting this out. (Although that’s a really good start.)
Before us lies the huge opportunity to bring full knowledge, and widespread experience, of a kind that is uniquely possible in this Age of Awakening that began on 12-21-12.
Seems to me, this can be an Age of Enlightenment. Or, as I am beginning to understand things, an age when millions of people can move into Enlightenment — and do it as householders.
Hi Rose
Thanks. Yes, so many chase superficial roles without realizing how they are within matters so much more. Or they resist roles that life presents to them because it doesn’t fit what they’re chasing – not recognizing thats not the important bit.
But yes, understanding is a good first step. But more important is making our own internal dynamics conscious. Then we can make sensible life choices that bring us peace. We can put down burdens we need not carry. We can heal what needs to be healed in ways far beyond modern medicine.
What many people don’t realize yet – a Golden age isn’t just about some Utopian inner space. It’s about day to day life, as we live it. In a relationship with ourselves and our life thats right off the radar of most people. And yet, very practical and grounded. Peace, even in our cells.
Thank you, David.
🙂