Renunciation centers not on running away from the worlds but
running towards God by Chaitanya Charan Das Based on Bhagavad Gita Chapter 18
Some people say, “Those who can’t face the world’s problems
run away from them by becoming renunciates.”
Sadly, it’s true that some people do take to renunciation
for escaping from the world’s problems. However, the Bhagavad-gita doesn’t
commend or even condone this kind of renunciation. It (18.08) mentions those
who find work too troublesome for their body and try to evade that trouble by
joining the renounced order. Declaring that such renunciation is in the mode of
passion, it warns that these renunciates won’t get the fruits of renunciation.
The fruit of renunciation is the same as the ultimate fruit
of life: everlasting spiritual happiness. We are at our core souls and are
meant to relish a life of eternal love with the all-attractive supreme soul
Krishna. The various orders of life – be they engaged or renounced – are meant
to help us move towards Krishna.
Devotional service helps us realize that Krishna is more
important than everything else in the world and that the happiness of loving
and serving him is life’s only true happiness.
The best way to progress towards Krishna is bhakti-yoga. Devotional
service helps us realize that Krishna is more important than everything else in
the world and that the happiness of loving and serving him is life’s only true
happiness. Bhakti being inclusive can be practiced in all orders of life
(ashrams), but the focus on practicing bhakti can be much greater in the
renounced order. Therein, most worldly entanglements get minimized, so seekers
can run as fast as possible towards Krishna. However, if renunciates focus not
on attaining Krishna, but on escaping from the world, they defeat the purpose
of the renounced order.
Significantly, the renounced order serves a purpose greater
than just facilitating the rapid progress of renunciates. Genuine renunciates
who wholeheartedly live for seeking Krishna, savoring Krishna and sharing
Krishna become living examples for everyone in society, reminding them that
Krishna is for real and is life’s ultimate goal.
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