The act of renunciation

I have covered in earlier blogs briefly about the importance of renunciation to achieve bliss. I propose to delve more deeply into the concept of renunciation.

What is renunciation? I would define renunciation as the ability to give up the longing for an object of pleasure, be it a physical object, emotional object or an intellectual object. Next is to define the characteristics of renunciation.

Renunciation should be of an object that I desire and I can easily possess. Suppose I love to eat sweets and I can afford to eat sweets, if I can give up the longing for sweets, then I have renounced sweets. Please note that I did not say, giving up sweets is an act of renunciation. I may physically stay away from sweets, while mentally desiring it. This definitely is not renunciation. On the other hand, suppose I say I am giving up my desire to drink vodka, when I am not a drinker, is not an act of renunciation. We have heard of the story of the fox and the grapes. When the fox after repeated trying could not get the grapes, it walked away telling it has renounced it because the grapes are sour. This surely is not renunciation. On the other hand, suppose I desire something, but to achieve it, there is some work to do and I am too lazy to do the work. Being lazy, even though I desire an object, I give up telling I am renouncing the object. This again is not renunciation.  Many a times, because of personal traumatic events, one may get a feeling of not wanting anything that is otherwise desirable. It may happen that a person loves movies and goes regularly. Suppose there is a death in the family and the person gets a feeling of futility in watching movies, this is only temporary renunciation owing to an external event. This is not true renunciation, since the desire for the object is likely to return once the impact of the traumatic event wears off.

Now suppose I am the richest man in the world and I can afford anything. I voluntarily give up my passion for material objects after realizing through my intellect, that my longing for material object will not give me long term bliss, which means, I have truly renounced.

Let us now look at different types of renunciations and try to analyze based on above concepts. Let us assume a couch potato who spends all his time on a couch and does not do anything, even getting up to get his favorite drink. This is an example of ignorant renunciation or renunciation born of sloth or laziness.  Next, let us take a typical case of most of us householders who have responsibilities, have the need to spend our time towards family responsibilities, but are willing to give up that time and use it to focus on the higher purpose. This could be anything including charitable activities, studying spirituality etc. Here the individual is voluntarily giving up the desire to enjoy selfish material objects in favor of something higher. This surely is an act of medium level intellectual renunciation. Next, let us take a mendicant or a yogi or a sanyasi, who dons saffron clothes and gives up all existing relationships, including family and possessions and dedicates himself to a life of higher purpose. The individual of his own volition has given up the pleasures of the world and opted to stay away from the materialism. This is an act of renunciation of a high order.

We have seen earlier how the Lord advises that any act must be done without an expectation of the fruits of the act. This act of renouncing the fruit of action is among the early levels of spiritual renunciation. In this stage, a person is serving or doing obligatory acts with absolutely no expectations. He is renouncing the fruits of his action and doing something because that is the right thing to do.

I have indicated earlier that the only thing that separates man from God is Ego. If a person can give up ego, he achieves divinity. This act wherein a person loses his own small identity and seems himself as the integrated whole and thinks of the entire universe as one and he being that one, is the act of ultimate spiritual renunciation.

As readers may be aware, 3 of my books on spirituality are available on Amazon.com.

I invite readers of my blog to try any of the books and give me feedback so that I can make changes in the next edition.


1. My Humble Understanding  Of Spirituality


My Humble Understanding Of Spirituality

2. Attain Infinite Bliss

Attain Infinite Bliss - A Spiritual Guide

3. The Spirit Of Spirituality

The Spirit Of Spirituality