Renounce Selfishness Not The World

What does renunciation mean? Try not to see it only through a negative lens. Renunciation is not just about giving things up. More than just dispassion for "the world", it means even more so, longing for communion with God.

"Sell all that you have and give it to the poor, and follow me." - says the Christ.

True renunciation is the total absence of selfish motives not the mere abstinence from physical contact. True renunciation does not come by laborious efforts but comes spontaneously. You don't really renounce things so much as they drop away from you on their own.

You are attached to only that which has meaning for you. When things become irrelevant and useless to you, when things lose their meaning and value, you automatically detach from them.

The beginning of the realization of your aloneness / all-one-ness provides the spark which ignites the spirit of detachment in you.

(However...)

Once you have realized the eternal relation between the eternal God and the eternal Soul, the scene begins to shift. You are now ready to embrace what you had renounced earlier. All the apparent contradictions stand resolved. In that state, says Vivekananda, all delusion disappears.

Maya, instead of being a horrible, hopeless dream, becomes beautiful, and this earth, instead of being a dungeon or a prison house, becomes our playground. Dangers and difficulties, even all sufferings, become deified and show us their real nature. That behind everything, God is standing as the One.

You don't renounce anything anymore, because you are All and are Everything. You began the spiritual quest by renouncing, by negating, by separating.. You now end it by embracing, affirming, unifying.

For those interested in delving deeper into this subject, Monasticism: Ideal and Traditions is available through https://vedanta.com

The book Monasticism: Ideal and Traditions offers a comprehensive exploration of monastic practices across various religious traditions, including Hinduism, Buddhism, Christianity, and Jainism. It features contributions from scholars and practitioners, including Swami Vivekananda, Swami Lokeswarananda, and Swami Swahananda, providing insights into the evolution and ideals of monastic life.

This compilation highlights how the Ramakrishna Order, inspired by Vivekananda's teachings, integrates elements from multiple religious traditions into its monastic practices. The book serves as a valuable resource for understanding the diverse facets of monasticism and its role in spiritual growth.