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RENUNCIATION
would not be able to remain above these impure states in the midst of social circumstances. They have therefore always inspired us to take resort to and practice the path of renunciation.
Even true renunciation is not successful without resorting to constructive spiritual progress (Sadhana). Let the Sadhaka therefore really affirm, "I am pure life-force, that is Soul (Atma), I am not the owner of other worldly objects," and engross himself in the contemplation of the True and Pure Self. With this, the rise of other passionate feelings will come to an end. Only this is known as the supreme renunciation.
In general, first the Sadhaka should renounce the following:
Gambling, wine, hunting, going to prostitutes, meat-eating, theft, and adultery.
Then Sadhaka should also resort to the following unique order of renunciation :
Renunciation of great sins, abandonment of eating at night, giving up food not worthy of taking, abandoning stage by stage all matters that lead to worldly attachments whether words, things or individuals.
They should do this with due enthusiasm, patience and diligence after having been made aware of it either through noble preceptors or religious scriptures.
GLORY OF RENUNCIATION 1. Renunciation by a great person consists of the voluntary limitation of one's worldly possessions along with the conviction that, "If I were to view things rightly, nothing else is mine except my Soul (Atma), which has a nature of pure knowledge and pure vision." 2. The desire for sensual pleasures and mundane objects are essentially the causes of bondage. How will any Sadhaka then, allow the accumulation of, or attachment to, such objects ? 3. "Self-control is conducive to happiness and its absence to sorrow." On listening this from the wise, who will fall victim to lack of self-control ? He, who practices self-control, also renounces mundane worldly objects as they provide the base for misery. 4. The practice of self-control and the process of renunciation should usually go hand in hand. To illustrate, a person accepts and accumulates gold and wealth, clothes, ornaments and other
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