Renunciation

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Om

[The following is taken from " My dear Students ... A

Counsel " , " Manavarukku Oru Sol " -in Tamil by Srimath

Swami Chidbhavananda, translated by N. Subramanian.]

 

The House Holder And The Sannyasin

 

Once there was a debate in a student's union as to

which life-style was better -that of a house-holder or

that of a Sannyasin. Each student put forth his views

with supporting facts and arguments. At the end, the

person who presided over the debate gave his opinion.

He said " In truth this is not a matter for debate at

all. What can one say if someone asks whether fourth

standard is superior or tenth standard is superior?

For students of a certain age fourth standard alone is

suitable; it is improper to admit them in the tenth

standard! Another age group may be fit for tenth

standard; it will be improper to retain them in the

fourth standard.

 

A child passes through several stages as it grows

up. There is a phase when it just starts taking a few

steps. And another, when it is able to run. So also

for any human being who wishes to grow spiritually,

the life of a householder is of great help initially.

Later on when he has attained mental maturity the life

of a sannyasin becomes suitable " .

 

During the debate one of the students criticised

sannyasins saying " Sannyasins are selfish. A

house-holder takes the responsibility of taking care

of his family; he makes use of his energy and earnings

solely for their sake. A house-holder is thus making a

sacrifice for the sake of others. He is shouldering

the responsibility of taking care of a part of the

society. The, sannyasi, on the other hand is

interested in his spiritual progress only and thus

rejects the responsibility of taking care of others.

Hence taking up the sannyasi way of life is

selfishness " .

 

It will be most improper if such an opinion enters the

mind of several students. It will do great harm to the

welfare of our society. It is a perverse, false

argument.

 

You all know that Lord Buddha became a sannyasi at an

young age. Suppose, for the sake of his loving

parents, his wife and his young son, Buddha had not

taken to sannyasa, do you think that it would have

benefitted the society? or take the case of Swami

Vivekananda. He lost his father at an young age and

his family suffered much because of poverty. The

responsibility of earning money for the family fell on

Vivekananda's shoulders. Suppose Vivekananda, for the

sake of his grief-stricken mother and helpless

brothers, had taken up a job in Calcutta, led the life

of an ordinary house holder and died, do you think it

would have been a great benefit or a loss to society?

 

A sannyasin is not a selfish person; nor is he

hard-hearted. He disowns his family; but he considers

the entire world as his own. His goal is not only

Moksha for himself but also the good of the world.

There may be only a single flower in a garden which

has blossomed with all its petals open. Is that flower

selfish or is it serving the society?

 

Sri Sankara, one of the greatest sannyasins of our

country, lived several hundred years ago. In those

times people did not have an international outlook.

They did not possess a broad, national outlook or

national consciousness also. Those were times when

our country was being ruled by fifty six kings, each

reigning over a small state. It was during such a

period that Sankara declared in a ringing tone " The

three worlds are my own country " . Swami Vivekananda

also declared loud and clear " Truth is my God and the

universe my country " .

 

A householder who lives within the four walls of his

home may take care of his own kith and kin but may not

care about the countless poor needy people outside

his home. Is he fit to be compared to a sannyasi, who

cares for and embraces the entire world? There is

water in a small pool as well as in an ocean. But a

pool stands nowhere in comparison to an ocean. This

does not mean that a pool has to feel ashamed of

itself; but it should not arrogantly think that it is

equal to an ocean. Keeping this truth in his mind

Swami Vivekananda once cautioned one of his disciples

" The light emitted by a glow-worm is insignificant in

the dazzling light of the sun; a pebble is nothing

when compared to a huge mountain. In the same way the

life of a householder is nothing compared to the life

of a sannyasi. Never forget to stress this fact when

you preach dharma to others " .

 

I am telling all these details as I do not want

students to use a wrong yardstick in judging other's

motives and actions. Many young men of to-day have a

broad outlook; they are eager and enthusiastic about

doing service to the society. They are putting to use

their energy and talents in diverse fields of activity

such as politics, literature, economic devlopments,

education, service to the poor etc. But there is a

field which is much more important than all the above;

and that is the field of religion and spirituality. A

country needs many youngmen to dedicate themselves to

this field. By doing so they can bring immortal

benefit not only to themselves but also to the

society. Unless atleast a few such persons come

forward to engage themselves in spiritual activity no

society can hope to survive and flourish.

 

Swami Vivekananda called upon the youngmen of India to

take to the path of spirituality thus: " Before

educating the people of this country about socialism

and political science, try to spread spirituality

among them. I do not have any faith in political

debates.

 

The only things I value are the Almighty and truth;

the rest are just useless trash. I need men -men with

valour; the rest will come by themselves. We need

youngmen who are full of strength, vigour and

confidence-they alone will be sincere and hard

working. If there are just such hundred youngmen, I

shall revolutionize the world. Bhagavan Sri

Ramakrishna dedicated his entire life for the good of

the world. I shall also do so. When we shed our blood

in the service of the country courageous men ready to

do religious service to the society will arise " .

 

Again in a letter he wrote from America to Sri

Brahmananda Swami, one of his brother disciples, Swami

Vivekananda said " We should electrify and strengthen

our society. We should electrify and strengthen the

whole world. We need two thousand sannyasins -no, a

sixteen thousand, why even a twenty thousand -we need

both men and women. Please note that I am not refering

to the householder discipls. We need sannyasins. Let

each one of you have a hundred heads tonsured -young,

educated men, not fools. "

 

Tonsuring the head is an external sign of having

taken up the sannyasa way of life. That is the first

ritual, symbolic of the snapping away of one's

attachment to one's body.

 

Swami Vivekananda's words are ringing even now.

Youngmen of today should pay heed to his words.

 

Source: " My dear Students ... A Counsel " , " Manavarukku

Oru Sol " -in Tamil by Srimath Swami Chidbhavananda,

translated by N. Subramanian

 

Jai Sri Guru Maharaj Ji Ki Jai!

Shri Bhagwan Sharanam Mamah!

 

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