In one of the previous posts in comments section, one of the readers of this blog wanted to know the perspective of Radhanath Swami on detachment. So i thought to dig through the mine of wisdom of Radhanath Swami in the form of his lectures, videos, and web articles. I was amazed and thrilled to get a new meaning of detachment and attachment in the path of proper yoga.

I found some valuable gems in that mine.

We all know that yoga is a very popular and systematic process to keep one selves fit, but is there more to it than what we know. There are many yogic centers trying to teach perfection of yoga all over the world. India also has many yogic gurus who propagate yogic exercises, after all yoga has its origin in India. But what actually is yoga? One of the eastern scriptures define the root meaning of yoga. Yoga comes from the Sanskrit word “yuj”. It means to unite. When there is union, obviously there are two parties involved. So when we do yoga what are we uniting with? Is yoga only for the body; for the body to be fit and fine. Or does it have a higher dimension? How many types of yoga are there?

One of the ancient sacred texts of India explain that there are many forms of yoga. Yoga indicates union with GOD since the root meaning indicates union. The two parties involved here is you and GOD, of course if you practice any form of yoga. The most practiced type of yoga in this world as of now is called Ashtanga Yoga – The one we see being practiced by many self-styled yogic gurus. Some of the other yogas mentioned in that sacred text are karma yoga, jnana (Knowledge) yoga, and bhakti (devotional) yoga. So our karma and jnana can be also used to unite with GOD, just like the bodily exercises (ashtanga yoga) does. But nowadays ashtanga yoga is primarily done for good physical health and nothing more.

Now what is the perfection of any type of yoga. Union with GOD. That purpose is laid aside, and people nowadays do yoga for a sense of good being. People are so attached to the sense of good being that they see to it that they do not miss their yogic exercises under all circumstances. This is a wrong kind of attachment. Take Karma yoga – People become attached to their Karma and its resultant. Take Jnana yoga – Jnanis get attached to knowledge. All these type of attachments does not lead to the perfection of yoga. The best they give is a sense of good being which will be fleeting.

Radhanath Swami explains that the perfection of yoga is to become detached. And the perfection of detachment is to become completely attached, attached to God. Now what is this detachment? Do we have to give up things- I mean that is how we view or know the meaning of detachment. We came naked into this world and we will leave from this world naked. Everything that we acquire in between is a source of attachment. To be rightly detached one must know for sure that everything belongs to GOD. We may claim to have created the microphone. But know for sure, that intelligence to create it and the resources for its creation was not ours. It existed and we used it. The Lord made it exist. And everything is meant for the enjoyment of GOD. This could be little too much for people who think they are the enjoyers. But the fact remains as a fact. Accept or reject it. If we can hold to these two things with conviction, then we can properly attach and detach ourselves. Why cant we attach and detach ourselves properly? Because we are not convinced with the above two principles and therefore anything and everything becomes a source of attachment since we want to enjoy it and sense gratification does not allow us to think that we are not enjoyers. Hence detachment never develops. Here is an another angle of thought – If everything is Lord’s and everything is meant for His enjoyment then why is this attachment and detachment there? I mean if nothing is ours then what can we attach to and if there is nothing to attach to then where is the question of detachment.

So if the microphone is used in the service of the Lord, then there is attachment and detachment as well. Attachment to the service of GOD and detachment from it being used in our sense gratification which is the root cause of all suffering. So if you are a karma yogi, then use your karmic results in the service of GOD and not for your own sense pursuits. If you are a jnana yogi, then use your knowledge to spread the word of Lord rather than just being satisfied with the mode of goodness you are in. And if you are a ashtanga yogi, then use your phsyical well-being by yogic exercises in proper service to the Lord, by making oneselves aware that even this body is not ours and hence has to be utilized in a proper way in the service of Lord. And if you are a bhakti yogi, then hold on to the above two principles with conviction and act accordingly and you will soon perfect that yoga.