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Sitaram · Site Admin Joined: 14 Sep 2005 Posts: 1079

Date: Sat May 17, 2003 9:27 am
Subject: Ramana Maharshi on Renunciation

http://www.sulekha.com/chpost.asp...ilosophy&show=0&cid=59485

http://www.hinduism.co.za/renuncia.htm

Renunciation

By Sri Ramana Maharshi

Edited by David Godman

Renunciation does not imply apparent divesting of costumes, family
ties, homes, etc., but renunciation of desires, affection and
attachment. There is no need to resign your job, only resign yourself
to God, the bearer of the burden of all.

One who renounces desires actually merges in the world and expands
his love to the whole universe. Expansion of love and affection would
be a far better term for a true devotee of God than renunciation, for
one who renounces the immediate ties actually extends the bonds of
affection and love to a wider world beyond the borders of caste,
creed and race.

A sannyasi (wandering monk) who apparently casts away his clothes and
leaves his home does not do so out of aversion to his immediate
relations but because of the expansion of his love to others around
him. When this expansion comes, one does not feel that one is running
away from home, instead one drops from it like a ripe fruit from a
tree.Till then it would be folly to leave one's home or job.

Question: How does a householder (grihastha) fare in the scheme of
moksha (liberation)? Should he not necessarily become a mendicant in
order to attain liberation?

Sri Ramana Maharshi: Why do you think you are a grihastha
(householder)? Similar thoughts that you are sannyasi (wandering
monk) will haunt you, even if you go out as a sannyasi. Whether you
continue in the household or renounce it and go to the forest, your
mind haunts you. The ego is the source of thought. It creates the
body and the world and it makes you think of being the grihastha. If
you renounce, it will only substitute the thought of sannyasa for
that of grihastha and the environment of the forest for that of the
household.

But the mental obstacles are always there for you. They even increase
greatly in the new surroundings. It is no help to change the
environment. The one obstacle is the mind and it must be overcome
whether in the home or in the forest. If you can do it in the forest,
why not in the home? Therefore, why change the environment? Your
efforts can be made even now, whatever the environment.

Question: In the early stages would it not be a help to a man to seek
solitude and give up his outer duties in life?

Sri Ramana Maharshi: Renunciation is always in the mind, not in going
to forests or solitary places or giving up one's duties. The main
thing is to see that the mind does not turn outward but inward. It
does not rest with a man whether he goes to this place or that place
or whether he gives up his duties or not. All these events happen
according to destiny. All the activities that the body is to go
through are determined when it first comes into existence. It does
not rest with you to accept or reject them. The only freedom you have
is to turn your mind inward and renounce activities there.

Question: Is solitude necessary for vichara?

Sri Ramana Maharshi: There is solitude everywhere. The individual is
solitary always. His business is to find it out within, not to seek
it outside himself.

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