Self realization-Family and Sanyasin systems.
October 27, 2013 at 1:22pm
One of the most talked and attracted word in Hinduism is Sanyasin", like Atman, birth and Moksha.. Sanyasin is more connected with God. Their alternative lifestyle and their position in our society and their freedom is an attraction. A sanyasi is a normal person until he changed his dress and entered in to the holly life. Then he detached from Samsara ( all kind of worries and duties in this world). And also He made as an authority in a way and gets respect from whole society. This status stands as an enthusiasm to the youth and many middle aged persons as an option or an alternative. Most of these sudden decisions ended in failure and mental disorders in that person.
Why we are still attracted to Sanyaasin life. Even though we are not sure that we can lead an independent life which requires strict discipline and struggle for higher mental and physical levels. Life itself is a struggle. Fears and failures in life leads somebody to take Sanyaasin life. Very few persons are capable of leading a Sanyasin life. It deserves a strong will power and physical fitness and real inner call for the cause. Sudden attitude change or fear to lead a life with family and feeding a family or any setback in life such as anger against parents, discontinuation of education or Love failure may cause for some persons take this adverse decision. Very less takes this decision at their younger age, may be their circle is mostly intellectual's and their deep discussions on self realization.
We have heard that sanyaasam is the way to Mokshaa. A sanyaasin is free from worldly affairs and so, he is able to concentrate on various kind of sadhanas. A real sanyasin's life starts with giving up his belongings and his family, friends and whole social bondage.
He realizes that love with relatives and friends are the enemy of his path of realization of self. So he comes out of all kind of personal relationships and moves freely. Then he only can concentrate on Dhyana and assess his inner strength. He stops earning money and and starts receiving food and dress as daanam (offerings) for keeping his body for a purpose. A Sanyasin spends his time more alone and talks to him and proceeds by clearing his doubts.
Next, the question is,is Moksha or self realization is not accessible for family person? Is that a separate life or family system is against of self realization? We know that daily life in family is not allowing us to meditate properly or regularly. We will be busy with solving issues within family or making food or cleaning the house. We have to go for purchases and we have to interact with family and neighbours. Nothing can be avoided. And we have to work and earn money to run a proper family life.
We are really sacrificing our whole enjoyments only to keep our family at good health. Our dreams and happiness are filled with other family member’s goodness and their happiness. Actually we are forgetting our self and even our age itself. But are still happy, Because of the family. Children are growing, their schooling, sharing partners job difficulties, helping parents and other family members. We may forget the proper timings of our meals and bath. Even we will miss our visit to the doctor or in taking pills. We may be fired by our friends for not calling or in abstaining from a function. All these because of our mind are fixed on the binding and passion with our family. There are no other thing in our mind that makes us satisfy or more important. Family members should dress well, eat well, and reach in time; we will assure that and sacrifice our time for that. Their health shouldn’t effect, so purchasing good vegetables or meat and making food according to the persons taste.
All we can see here is a Sanyasin living without family and struggling for detachment and sacrifice. He is practicing to avoid things and concentrating on the inner self. He is trying to assume that I am not the body and “I”, the atman or soul is mine. He may sit and meditate on that. It took many years to assimilate him with his atman. He will go through various practices for that, like avoiding dress or eating less or tasteless food or even by living on fruits and water. Entire journey of a sanyasin is a struggle to practice his mind to unite with self or keeping away this world and its illusions. Here a family person is living in all misery and forgetting his body and mind, But fulfilling his duties to human kind.
So we can assume that doing and fulfilling our karma is a better way in seeking self realization or Moksha. Human body is made for moving and doing work. By doing his duty honestly and purposefully, as a social being, he can attain self realization and understand the meaning of life and birth.
Attaining the goal may face problems in both ways. Fame, followers, money and many things change the path of a sanyasin. In family person’s life, the same elements and love may set him to this words permanency. Love and assets makes both attachable. We should learn to assess the circumstances and in bonding properly with everyone. Too much affection and greed makes us away from learning the meaning of this birth.
Sincerely, Yours loving Rajeev Damodharan.
