A river flows because it is not attached to the earth. Jayaram V
Liberation in its essence is true and complete detachment in all aspects of life. In a general sense it means to be able to sleep well despite problems and worries. Jayaram V
In Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism detachment (vairagya) has a great significance. Detachment means not having any physical or mental connection with the things of the world or with your own mind and body or with your achievements, qualities, fame, name, status, etc. Attachment to things interferes with your thinking and makes you blind to certain truths of life. When you are attached, you lose balance, and seek things that may harm you both physically and spiritually or impede your success and progress. Every habit that you form is an intense kind of attachment only. Whatever you like, be it a person, profession, religion, state or condition, is also an attachment. Collectively they bind you to this world and make your life a great struggle as you cannot easily let go of things and move on
Many people who are deeply drawn into worldly life do not even know that they are bound by attachments. They do not consider it a problem because it seems so natural to like or dislike the things of the world. Those who know about it vaguely may think it is something about which they do not have to worry. For many people, the idea of detachment invokes images of sadhus and sanyasis who have renounced the world and lead an ascetic life. It seldom crosses their minds that the practice of detachment can give them wings to fly freely in this trouble ridden world.
It is true that detachment is the foundation for spiritual life. You cannot progress far on the path of liberation without cultivating it. With detachment you can cultivate sameness towards both pleasant and unpleasant aspects of life and avoid unnecessary stress. You cannot fully control what happens to you, but you can control how you can respond to it. It is in using that choice that detachment can play a significant role.
Hindu ascetics take the practice of detachment to extreme so that they become fully detached mentally and physically from their minds and bodies and develop great fortitude, equanimity, will power, concentration, patience, and tolerance. However, with the practice of detachment you can greatly control your responses to external and internal events. If you believe that detachment is good for only spiritual people, you are missing a great opportunity to stay in control of your thoughts and emotions.
Whether it is in personal life or professional field, you can use detachment to manage your expectations and protect yourself from the emotional consequences of setbacks and failures. It will also help you think clearly, without worry and anxiety, and make better decisions. You can also improve your chances of success by focusing upon your performance rather than the outcomes. Most importantly, with detachment you will have an open mind, and you will learn quickly from your failures.
Therefore, if you want to have peace of mind, learn to let go of things. Do not cling to your relationships, not become excessively involved with them. It is always better to keep a little distance and give some space to others in your relationships. Do whatever is necessary for reaching your goals, without worrying what may or may not happen. Focus upon your tasks, what needs to be done, and how it can be done and give your best, leaving the result to God, the Supreme Self. Taking things lightly, not taking life too seriously, and letting go of things, these are a few very important beginner’s steps that can really help you stay in control of your emotions, life, and relationships.
Your place in Life is to become an outlet for Its wisdom, intelligence, love, beauty, and creativity. Your relationship to Life is that you are of like nature to It. You are in it and It is in you. Some part of you exists as pure, unmanifest Spirit. This side of your nature has never been troubled. Since you are fashioned from the stuff of the Invisible, Its nature is incarnated in you. Because of this, your word has the power in your world of localizing itself, of manifesting itself in concrete form. You are in Life. Life is flowing through you. It is you. It decrees, affirms, knows, and imagines. That which it decrees transpires. You are like it. You rule your own world.
Every idea you have automatically sets the Law of Life in motion in such a way as to produce the definite form of that idea. There is something involved in a sunflower seed that acts upon the creative energy of nature in such a way as to produce a sunflower and not a cabbage or a potato. Definite ideas produce definite results. This means that if you are using this Law to bring loving friendship into your life, then you are specializing it for this definite purpose and not for something else.
I choose to live the kind of life that I deeply desire. Accepting and affirming the truth of my being, that God and I are one, I free myself of beliefs in limitation and lack, and move forward into a new life of loving friendship and joy.
I have the power to live the life of good. My power is from on high; it cannot be taken from me nor will it leave me desolate. Power flows through me and is in me, and I can feel and sense it. The power to live is in me and it cannot desert me. It is my power and is continually present. I have the power to live.
The Household of God is the Household of Perfection. It is the Secret Place of the Most High. The inhabitants of this Household are all divine Beings. Nothing can enter the consciousness of any of these inhabitants that contradicts the unity of Good. Each and every member of this Household is at peace with all other members. There is a community of peace, of understanding, of fellowship, and of love and unity.
In this Household of God – which is any person’s household who declares it to be such – there is no bickering, no jealousy, and no avenue through which any littleness or meanness may operate. It is not only a household of peace, but also a household of joy; it is a place of happiness and general contentment. Here is warmth, color, and beauty. This earthly household symbolizes the Divine Harmony of the Kingdom of God. No one is a stranger within this household. Nothing is alien to it. It is protected from all fear, from every sense of loss. Nothing can enter it but joy, integrity, and friendship. This same good I realize belongs to everyone else.
I do not desire a good for myself that is greater than the good I desire for all people. Neither do I deny myself the good I affirm for all others. In this Household, the Host is God, the Living Spirit Almighty. All are invited and all who dwell in this Household are guests of the Eternal Host. I dwell here in peace, joy, and love.
Today is a day to focus on serenity. I will remove those things from my life that are not contributing to my serenity and sense of calm. Actions, thoughts, habits people, places, things – whatever does not contribute to my sense of calm and balance will be replaced with actions, thoughts, habits, people, places, and things that keep me poised and calm and serene.
Evening
I know I did my best today to focus on staying calm and serene. Tonight I will rest knowing that I can sleep serenely. Those things in my life that were keeping me unbalanced have no power over me and I am serene, calm, and tranquil.
-From the book ‘A Daily Book Of Pagan Prayer ‘ by Megan Day
Kelly's Quest 