Sadhaka Sadhana | Vairagyam & Raga
Jai Maa, @Sadhvi Aparna and all members of this beautiful community,
In the context of vairagyam, suppose a person no longer partakes in something they were once addicted to and now feels complete dispassion toward it. Yet, due to an underlying latent vasana, they also know that even a small amount would rekindle intense passion (raga) and make it difficult to stop.
For example, I think of Shunya-ji’s reference to chai—how she stopped for a time and is now able to have and enjoy it discerningly, without passion. That, however, is not possible for some people with respect to certain substances.
Can such a person still be considered to be in a state of dispassion toward that thing, even though they dare not partake again?
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Jai Maa Denise,
Vairagyam or dispassion only comes after appropriate Viveka or discernment. The ultimate discernment is between what is Nitya (eternal, unchanging, absolute - Brahman/Atman) and what is Anitya (ephemeral, temporary, changing - everything else). When we seek God/Self Realization, we cultivate through consistent practice, our discernment to identify what brings us closer to truth, and what brings us closer to samsaara/the world - ”Nitya-anitya vastu vivekaha”. Vairagyam in this context is a natural response to pure clarity of discernment. When we know what is GOD we no longer cling to temporary pleasures and pursuits and people. We act in the world with knowledge, and are no longer led ignorantly by our uncontrolled senses and our unexamined mind.
However, its not possible to have this kind of discernment without having a stable sattvic mind. Addiction - mental or physical, is a type of compulsive attachment - to a substance, a thought, a relationship, a habit. These compulsive attachments build rajas (agitation and need for more more more) and tamas (ignorance, apathy, resistance), as well as ill health. Making a choice to NOT partake in something that increases rajas and tamas in the mind and dis-ease in the body is an example of a healthy anitya-anitya discernment. This is making a better, more dharmic choice, within impermanence.
Vairagyam functionally supports discernment to keep us on a spiritual path of self-realization, when we develop a subtle distaste for those substances and habits that keep us confused and focused on impermanence. This subtle distaste is not a strong dislike or aversion (Dvesha) that keeps us focused on the same impermanent choices, rather it is the inner knowing that tells us “this is out of alignment with my higher self”. When you have that inner knowing, its quite easy to not feel so excited or agitated or afraid, or attached to a substance. There is no “coloration” (Raaga) then towards the object, no pull at all.
Making healthy choices that support your body and mind, and avoiding unhealthy choices that cloud or agitate your mind, are necessary steps to stabilizing your mind and body. With a more stable mind and body, you can begin to explore more subtle knowledge and understanding.
Discernment and dispassion are not about denial or will power. They are about aligning our ego-mind with what is eternal, and then living our lives turned towards Brahman/Ishwara, and not lost in chasing temporary pleasures and validations over and over. True dispassion is not avoiding something from fear, its understanding its impact on our consciousness, and finding no value to cultivating more ignorance through chasing impermanence. We then act with knowledge and wisdom, instead of agitation, fear, attachment and confusion.
In Sacred Service,
Sadhvi Aparna