Passion for dispassion - Chapter 11

Dispassion towards the enjoyment of the fruits of one’s actions here and hereafter which was listed as the second of the fourfold qualification is now elaborated by the learned teacher.

विरागः कः ?

What is dispassion?

इहस्वर्गभोगेषु इच्छाराहित्यम् ।

The absence of desire for the enjoyment (of the fruits of one’s actions) in this world or in heaven.

Viraaga (विराग) although translated as dispassion does not imply denial of desire. The pursuit of spirituality or learning Vedanta does not involve giving up one’s possessions, suppressing one’s desires, developing hatred towards the world or running away from one’s responsibilities as the word dispassion may imply. The basis for all of our desires is our belief that the external world (objects, people and situation) is our source of happiness and fulfilment. We acquire and safeguard possessions, have and fulfil desires, get in and out of relationships, take up and give up responsibilities driven by the universal desire to be happy or for sukha prapti (सुख प्राप्ति) or conversely to not be sad or for dukkha nivrithi (दुक्ख निवृथि).

The inability to discriminate creates a role reversal of sorts between the object of happiness and the subject of happiness where the object of happiness is seen as the source of happiness and results in us placing an exaggerated subjective value on the external world as a source of happiness. Viraaga (विराग) is attaining a state of mind where one does not superimpose subjective value on objects, people and situations. Money when objectively looked at as an instrument that has buying power and not as a solution to one’s insecurity becomes dispassion for money. Even while one continues to possess and put to use money one does so without holding an exaggerated subjective value for it.

Desires are the privilege of a human being and they are not looked down upon or abhorred by the Shastras (शास्त्र). Viraaga (विराग) merely is the absence of binding desires. Most desires bind us through reactions where one is anxious to get the desire fulfilled, ecstatic when the desire is fulfilled and dejected when it is not fulfilled. Through these myriad, confusing and often conflicting desires one remains bound to the desires themselves and their pursuit becomes the principal focus of one’s life. Viraaga (विराग) is remaining equanimous and not having either like or dislike for anything (objects, people, situations) by intimately understanding their role and value and it is this state of mind that is the second qualification that a student of Vedanta needs to possess.