Detachment is the inner eye
Scriptures say that Vairagya (detachment) is the inside eye. What does that eye see? What should we see with that eye? The inside eye sees the sorrow. No one else other than detached people could see sorrow in the world.
Sage Patanjali says in Yoga Sutra that, dukhameva sarva vivekinah — The intelligent (detached) person sees only sorrow in this world.
The sorrow in this world can’t be seen by our external eyes. It could only be seen through the inner eye – the eye of intelligence.
If a person doesn’t have detachment, and you try to explain him that this world is full of sorrows, would he listen to you? Even if he listens, would he understand them? He will not understand. In turn he will make you understand that this world is full of pleasures.
If a person doesn’t has intelligence/detachment, then he doesn’t has inner eye. He can’t know the difference between happiness and unhappiness. He can’t know the difference between good and bad.
Vairagya (detachment) is the inner eye. What do we see with that eye? We see these things with inner eye: “What is the eternal happiness?” “How could we achieve eternal happiness?” “From whom could I achieve eternal happiness?” “What is the most dangerous sorrow?” “What is the source of the sorrow?” “What is the way out of the sorrow?”
Realizing sufferings
We should know both happiness and sorrow. Importantly we should understand sorrow. We should get the treatment for sorrow. The scripture that treats us for sorrow is called Samkhya.
The complete world might think that worldly objects are full of pleasures and happiness. But, we should clearly see and understand the sorrow present in those worldly objects. The way of looking sorrow in those things in which the world thinks otherwise is called Samkhya.
We can’t evaluate the value of a diamond by seeing it. It needs a level of expertise. Only the experts of diamonds could see the diamond in different ways and exactly evaluate it.
Similarly, we should evaluate the happiness we could get from a particular person/object/situation. That needs expertise of sorrow. And that needs to be practiced. Seeing sorrows in things needs a different way of looking at those things.
Suffering the sorrow and realizing the sorrow are completely different. If one understands the sorrow and avoids it, then he doesn’t have to suffer the sorrow. And the one who actually suffers sorrow never understands the sorrow. When sorrow comes upon him he would shout, “alas…alas…” but he never understands the sorrow.
Kapil Muni realized sorrow. Jada Bharat realized sorrow. Shukdevji realized sorrow. That is the reason they haven’t turn back into the world. They realized that there is so much sorrow in this world.
Know the suffering that is yet to come.
Heyam duhkham anagatam —Yoga Sutra II.16
Prevent the suffering that is yet to come.
Know the suffering that is yet to come. Once sorrow comes on us, we could do nothing. We have to suffer.
If we enjoy something, we should also enjoy the sufferings that are tied to that. We can’t avoid suffering associated with something and enjoy only the enjoyable part.
We should know, “There is enough suffering in that thing/ person even though there is some enjoyment in there.”
Thus, we should question ourselves, “If I try to enjoy that object, I would have to prepare to suffer too.”
Thus we should prevent the suffering that is yet to come. We should be ready to sacrifice the enjoyment of senses, luxury, etc., if we want to avoid the sufferings associated with it.
All these things are seen through the eyes of detachment. Our external eyes can’t see that because Moh (infatuation) has closed our eyes of intelligence. Intelligence is not about, “What should I have for breakfast,” or “Should I sit there or here.” Intelligence is about seeing true happiness and true sadness.
Only detachment could tie you with God
Worldly people respect detached people, worship them, and offer them all the groceries and goodies. But they can’t accept their thoughts and don’t even wish to accept them.
If the detached people say to the worldly people to be detached, they would reply, “Sorry Sir. We are happy and doing good with the world. So, we can’t accept your proposal.”
Worldly people can do the seven-day reading of Srimad Bhagwat. But they can’t accept the teachings of Srimad Bhagwat.
If a kid goes to his father and says, “Swami said that we should completely worship God in this life and do our ultimate good within this life.”
Would the father accept that?
The reason is that the inner eye of intelligence is closed by infatuation.
Nishkulanand Swami says that “Detachment in spiritual life is as important as a Brahmin Pandit in a marriage ceremony.”
Only a Brahmin can actually tie the knots between the bridegroom and the bride. Similarly, only detachment can actually tie the knot of the soul with God and keep the hand of the soul in the hand of God.
God loves the devotee with detachment
When a bridegroom accepts the bride, his family sends a lot of ornaments of jewels and diamonds to her. Similarly, to make the marriage between God and the soul, God sends an ornament called detachment. When the soul wears the ornaments of detachment he/she looks so beautiful to God. And God takes the hand of the soul into His hand.
Shukdevji had the ornaments of detachment. Jada Bharatji had the ornaments of detachment. And God loves them.
When God thinks of marrying a soul, he sends the precious jewels and ornaments in the form of detachment and asks the soul to wear it.
In the marriage, the bride should wear the clothes and ornaments that is sent by the groom. She should not wear things from her home even if they are good. Similarly, if we want to marry God we should wear the ornaments of detachment.
Once we wear the ornaments of detachment we look so beautiful for the eyes of God.
God accepts only those who wear the ornaments of detachment. God says that, “I am not proud of all the opulence I possess. I am not proud of anything. But I am proud of my devotee who doesn’t get attached wherever he is. I am proud of my devotee with detachment.”
If we don’t possess detachment, God feels ashamed.
God doesn’t mind if a worldly soul is attached to something. But God feels sad if His devotee is attached to something.
Detachment is more precious than worldly ornaments
Worldly ornaments are good to show-off and good to keep safe in a locker. Other than that, there is no use of it.
Vairagya (detachment) is not so. It always bestows bliss on you.
If you wear a worldly ornament and nobody asks you about that, you wouldn’t enjoy that. The happiness from a worldly ornament depends on how many people saw the ornament and how many people spoke about it.
If you wear a worldly ornament and someone comes to you and asks you, “How many grams of gold is it?” Then you would get a full dose of happiness and would explain, “It is 24-carat gold, and it has these many number of diamonds.” The longer questions you get, the stronger the dose of happiness. If no one asks about your ornament, then there is no dose of happiness.
Detachment doesn’t depend on others to get you the dose of happiness. Nobody is needed to ask you, “When did you get the Vairagya?” “In which year?” “In what season?” None of these are required for a detached person.
If someone asks you about your detachment and if you get a dose of happiness by that, then it is not real detachment. It is clearly a fake detachment.
Real detachment can only be obtained from the complete mercy of God and a pure detached Saint. To get their complete mercy there is no better process other than serving them and pleasing them.
Nishkulanand Swami says that if you are fortunate you can wear the ornament of detachment and enjoy the bliss of it. And you would enjoy the life here and the life-after-death.
Wear the ornament of detachment
Nishkulanand Swami says that whether you are small or big, little or great, rich or poor, doesn’t matter at all. If you don’t have detachment, all other qualities are useless. Even Lord Brahmaji – the creator of the universe faces trouble if he doesn’t possess detachment. He might possess all great qualities and does all great tasks. Even then he might fall from his position just because of attachment.
God is so great and makes the complete world happy. Yet, devotees with attachment spoil the name of God. God doesn’t like that. Still God would accept him and protect him, but God may not like the devotee with attachment. God is ashamed of the devotee with attachment. God is very happy with the devotee with detachment. God is respected a lot because of pure devotees like Prahladji. God likes detached devotees more than attached devotees.
Shukdevji, Jada Bharat, Sanak and other Saints such as Nishkulanand Swami, Muktanand Swami, Gopalanand Swami, Gunatitanand Swami, Adbhutanand Swami, etc., are the Saints who always wear the ornament of detachment. Janak, Jaydevji, Kadraj, Govardan Bhai, Parvat Bhai, Dada Kachar, etc., are the devotees who always wear the ornament of detachment.
Nishkulanand Swami stresses that if you wish to wear ornaments, wear the ornament in the form of detachment. By seeing you decorated with detachment, God would be very pleased and would take your hand into His divine lotus hand.
References:
Sarsiddhi Katha Part 13