Hari
Om
Each 'Choose-day' we will investigate the process by
which we can reassess our activity and interaction with the world of plurality
and become more congruent within our personality.
Now we
come to one of the most challenging facets of self-analysis and inner
discipline.
वैराग्य /vairaagya
is the second point in the saadhana chatushtaya. This is translated directly as
'detachment'. The word taken in its
blatant English form can seem cold. As do another two interpretations;
dispassion and renunciation. Vairaagya is perhaps the most misunderstood and,
indeed, misused of the four qualities ('virtues'), insofar as many believe it
means to turn one's back on commitments, responsibilities, joy.. To become hard
and withdrawn.
Which
demonstrates how limiting language can be in conveying concept. Running from life, retiring to the 'seas and
trees', denial of the basic needs of life (austerity), lack of appreciation of
the world… these are not vairaagya.
Vairaagya
comes about from viveka; having seen that there is Real and unreal and, having
chosen to seek the Real, it is necessary to drop the unreal. It is an internal
process which may or may not manifest physically. It can be practiced as
equally in society as in retreat. On a day-to-day basis this can be observed as
keeping even temperament; not becoming overly excited neither overly
maudlin. It shows in the ability to take
on the news of the world without it breaking us apart. Dispassion does not mean to lack compassion,
rather, that one does not become overwhelmed by
passion in order to see more clearly
what can (or cannot) be done. Observers
frequently take this to mean that the vairaagee is without feeling, is unmoved
by events of joy or sorrow.
Not
so! What happens, when vairaagya is
fully expressed, is that the practitioner has full sensory control and is not
thrown about by the vicissitudes of life.
There
are four stages within the process.
(This is an introduction; much discussion will arise in later pages.)
...Firstly,
there is the simple attempt to avoid temptation. To keep the mind from running
away on matters inconsequential and sensual. It is the stage of learning how
much we surrender control to the
external world; understanding our attachment to the senses, to desire and to
outcomes.
...Secondly,
as direct consequence of the recognition, we begin the process of releasing our
attachments. This is best represented by the 'cup of tea' method so often found
within the ranks of early practitioners.
Yes tea itself can be released, but it is a symbolism of all other
things which can bind us. It should be
understood that tea, in and of itself, is not a 'bad' thing (we will not get
caught up in health matters here), but that the image is an ideal one for
demonstrating the bubbling of vaasanas
(desires) and how we react.
...Thirdly,
is when we reach the stage of the senses being reigned in, yet still the mind
has the urges; desire, likes and dislikes, are recognised but not acted upon.
...Fourthly,
the advanced and complete state of the conquered physical being - which
includes the mind - where the habit of desirelessness (for anything other than
pursuit of moksha) is now ingrained.
Again,
you may be thinking (because it is the human habit to look at the top of the
tree, forgetting the seed which grew it), this is all rather grand and
theoretical. Go back to the first point
and perhaps the second. A good deal of time is spent in these stages.
If nothing more than an advanced level of stage two is achieved, opening the
door for three, you will unquestionably start to appreciate the benefit of such
practice. What is more, once a pattern of recognition is established, it will
be found that the process is almost self-propelling… which points to one of the
ways in which it can be practiced; i.e.
by substituting improved habits over the more damaging ones. Do not think of 'habit' as being only
confined to the physical and whether one overindulges in ice cream or not…
habit can be emotional ("I always cry at weddings"…) and
psychological ("I hate all spiders just because they are spiders"…)
We
are creatures of habit when all else is said and done; will you allow the habit
to choose you, or will you choose the habit?