Vairagya

Last week a theme in one of my yoga classes was non-attachment, or in Sanskrit, Vairagya.

I started thinking during and after class how extremely important this principle is and how little I think about it anymore.

Non-attachment is pretty much the core of Buddhist philosophy and the purpose of life.

Non-attachment is easier to understand than it is to practice.

The simplest way of describing non-attachment is as the process of letting go. We gradually learn to let go of our attachments and aversions, systematically moving subtler and subtler through the layers of attachments in the mind. However, non-attachment goes beyond this; it is not just a practice of letting go, but is a practice of not taking on in the first place. 1

While the principle applies to all the gross and subtle levels, a gross level example will help. Think of two people who stopped smoking many years ago. One is still attached to cigarettes, and when he sees a cigarette, the craving begins. When he resists acting on that desire, and then let's go of the desire, this is the meaning of detachment. The other person also used to smoke, but when he sees a cigarette there is literally no reaction; the desire has completely disappeared at all levels of his conscious and unconscious mind. This is the meaning of non-attachment. The attachment is not released, but is simply not there any more; it is non or the absence of attachment. 2

The more I thought about it the more I realized that the past 2 years I’ve been practicing more non-attachment than I realized. I’ve detached myself from a lot of unhealthy behaviors, unhealthy habits, unhealthy people, unhealthy ideas and concepts.

However,

There are still many areas in my life that need to be detached.

To me, non-attachment and acceptance go hand in hand.

If I don’t practice acceptance on a daily basis—and surrender to the here and now, I become more and more attached to things that don’t serve me. I become mentally and physically attached and it is extremely difficult (once attached) to let go.

Basically, the more I cling to people, things, places, ideas, concepts, etc….the more un-evolved I become; the more irritable, restless, and discontent I become. And it’s harder to let go. I don’t believe that a person can be stagnant. To me, either we’re moving forwards or we’re moving backwards. If I’m not practicing acceptance and non-attachment on a daily basis, then I’m moving backwards. I’m regressing.

The art of non-attachment (or Letting Go) still seems a bit distant and vague to me.

But at least I think I’m headed in the right direction.

And of course the question beckons…

What are you attached to?

Can you let go?

It’s harder than it sounds.