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Spirit of renunciation

CHENNAI: Practice of renunciation is the principal means for attaining God. There are many places in the Bhagavad Gita where Lord Krishna spells out the true nature and spirit of renunciation, which is after all the essence of spiritual life.

The fundamental message is on the performance of the ordained duties of life by individuals whatever be their state, and whatever stage of life they may be in. The advice is to follow the scriptures that lay down the moral code that should govern the individual's life. But more importantly it is the spirit in which acts are performed that assumes greater significance, for the Lord expects one to be free from attachment and thoughts of worldly gain, and devoted entirely to Him, said Kumaravadi Sri Ramanujachari in a discourse. It is a discipline that has to be practised by all including monks and householders. This spirit of renunciation is at the core of the practice of the Karma, Jnana or Bhakti yogas. The focus is not on renunciation of action but on action with renunciation of desire.

Lord Krishna also points out that all human beings are fettered by their past deeds, both good and bad, and also by their acts born of their individual nature. The compulsive power of one's nature that drives one to act in a particular manner causes the soul to get entangled in repeated births. Out of His infinite compassion He reassures that it is He alone who can release the soul from this entanglement, and promises to offer salvation to those souls longing to be freed from human bondage, and absolve them of their sins, if they surrender themselves unconditionally to Him.

The greatest truth to be comprehended is that total surrender can happen only when one accepts Him as the Supreme Being who is omnipotent, omnipresent and omniscient. In this state of awareness there is no room for ego. The ultimate promise of the Lord that He will take care of everything, provided one surrenders to His will is the essence of the Bhagavad Gita. In this surrender lies the true spirit of renunciation.

For when one seeks His lotus feet, one is not actually relinquishing all dharmic codes, but holding on to the greatest embodiment of Dharma.

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