09/09/2011 Comments Off on Renunciation

Renunciation defined: an act or instance of relinquishing, abandoning, repudiating, or sacrificing something, as a right, title, person, or ambition.
1. denial or rejection: a denial or rejection of something or somebody, usually for moral or religious reasons
2. declaration giving something up: an official declaration giving up a title, office, claim, or privilege
[14th century. Via French renoncer< Latinrenuntiare “report” < nuntiare “announce”]


There is no (true) renunciation by discarding action, nor by reciting the mantras at the formal ceremony of renunciation. Renunciation has been declared to be the oneness of the individual self (Jiva) and the universal Self (Atman). – Maitreya Upanishad 2.18
A wise man should embrace renunciation only when there has risen in his mind dispassion for all worldly things; otherwise he is fallen. – Maitreya Upanishad 2.20


ekam eva samam tattvam vadanti hi vipashchitah
raga-tyagat punah chittam akanekam na vidyate

The sages call Atman the “ever-same.” By giving up attachment the mind sees neither duality nor
unity – Avadhuta Gita 1.22


An intelligent person who has controlled his mind and conquered fear should give up all attachment to material objects such as wife, family and nation and should wander freely without embarrassment, hearing and chanting the holy names of the Lord, the bearer of the chariot wheel.The holy names of Kṛṣṇaare all-auspicious because they describe His transcendental birth and activities, which He performs within this world for the salvation of the conditioned souls. Thus the holy names of the Lord are sung throughout the world. – Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 11.2.39


vittaishanâm yajn’a-dânair grihair dâra-sutaishanâm
âtma-lokaishanâm deva kâlena visrijed budhah
grâme tyaktaishanâh sarve yayur dhîrâs tapo-vanam

An intelligent person should learn to renounce his desire for wealth by performing sacrifices and acts of charity. He should learn to renounce his desire for wife and children by experiencing family life. And he should learn to renounce his desire for promotion to a higher planet in his next life, O saintly Vasudeva, by studying the effects of time. Self-controlled sages who have thus renounced their attachment to household life go to the forest to perform austerities.
S’rîmad Bhâgavatam 10:84:38



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