Narayanasramam

[Guest guest]

Inner Renunciation by Swami Bhoomananda Tirtha

 

Generally people think of recluses, sannyasins, ascetics, in ochre robes as

renunciates. We are not discussing that kind of renunciation. We don't mean to

say that one can have interactional excellence only

when one becomes a sannyaasin. The renunciational note is a quality, it is an

embellishment, it is an attainment. This can be acquired by

anyone who has mind, intelligence and heart. The inner renunciation is

not reserved for the sannyasins alone.

 

Just as everyone else, the Sannyasins are also products of households.

The majority in the society are non-sannyaasins. We are discussing this subject

particularly with reference to Bhagavadgita. And what is the Bhagavadgita? It is

a dialogue between Arjuna, a householder, and Sri Krishna, another householder.

The conversation took place in the

battlefield of Kurukshetra. And for what purpose? Only to serve the

kingly purpose of fighting a war to establish a just rule.

 

Right from the beginning, although Sri Krishna had been explaining the

nature of the Soul or the ultimate Reality, all this was to help Arjuna overcome

his weakness and delusion, and make him fight. " Therefore, O Arjuna, get up and

fight, " was the last message. What does it mean? In the case of Arjuna, the

warrior, it was fighting – an

activity that needs the most intense involvement. For householders, it

is to run the household properly, without delusion or fear. For

professionals, the message is to be good professionals with clear and

comprehensive vision. The call ultimately is to perform your

interactions properly and well.

 

We should never waver, never feel disgusted. We should have sufficient

enthusiasm, enough of confidence. Never be subdued by any situation. On the

other hand, we should `overwhelm' the situation. Our mind

has got the capacity. It is not mind alone, it is the power of the

infinite Soul available to us in the nature of the mind. The power that moves is

the Soul, and that is greater than space, greater than the created universe. It

is that expression of the Soul that comes to us in the form of the mind. We are

the infinite, the unconquerable.

 

Who were those standing before Arjuna? Bheeshma, his beloved

grandfather and Drona, the adorable teacher. Both of them were leading

the opposite army! So, psychologically, emotionally, Arjuna felt weak,

indecisive and confused. Even from the military point of view also, the opposite

army was much more powerful – it was an unconquerable army. In both ways Arjuna

felt subdued. It was such a subdued mind of Arjuna that Sri Krishna was able to

elevate and invigorate through a process of enlightenment.

 

What did Sri Krishna do? He only offered enlightenment. He activated

the clouded, uncreative intelligence of Arjuna. As a result, the

intelligence started working on the mind and senses. As the conversation

progressed, Arjuna's activated mind raised more and more doubts and questions.

Krishna deftly cleared all of them.

 

Sri Krishna spoke about renunciation, about sannyaasa. What he meant was

renunciation or sannyaasa as an inner orientation, as an inner

attainment. Did he ask Arjuna to shave his head and become a sannyaasin?

Certainly not! Sri Krishna instituted the attitude of renunciation in Arjuna.

Arjuna understood and absorbed the message. He picked up the Gandeeva, the

famous bow that had slipped from his hand, to fight the war with full fervour

and determination.

 

In the same manner, unless we are able to incorporate this

renunciational note in our minds, to crown our intelligence and heart,

we will not have interactional excellence. To put it positively, by

incorporating this renunciational note, we will certainly have

interactional excellence. That is why we discuss it as a subject.