INNER RENUNCIATION

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 sannyasin. 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 ele, the Sanyasins are also products of households. The majority in the society are non-sanyasins. 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 formt he 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 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 univrerse. 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 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 Sanyasa. What he meant was renunciation or sanyasa as an iner orientation, as an inner attainment. Did he ask Arjuna to shave his head and become a sanyasin? 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 mind, 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.
By Swami Bhoomanand Tirtha
(Courtesy: Kabir Shanti Mission)