Lt Col R K Langar
In Hindu way of life Sanyasa and Tyag are commonly used words. Both Sanyasa and Tyag convey similar meanings which is to give up or renounce. Out of these two words Sanyasa is often heard or spoken about. If one gives up a particular type of activity or work it is said that he has taken Sanyasa from that particular activity. Like for example he has taken Sanyasa from politics or he has taken Sanyasa from playing a game like cricket. A person who wears ochre clothes and does not take part in worldly activities, leaves his household and retires either to a solitary place or joins a spiritual or religious organisation on permanent basis for self-realization he is also called a Sanyasi. In India such Sanyasis are seen all over the place. Sanyasa is also the fourth stage of life (starting from the age of 75 years) in Vaanprastha Ashrama Dharma of Hinduism. Here the person completely cuts off his family ties and moves away from his social life for God realization and to work for the welfare of human kind.
Tyag also means to give up but it connotes a number of other activities. Commonly Tyag means doing all actions which are prescribed as per the scriptures without showing any concern for the fruit of actions. What it implies is that while Tyag is an inner attitude Sanyasa is more of an outer activity. Major difference between Sanyasa and Tyag is that while Sanyasa is based on one decision to change the course of life from worldly to the life of a monk, Tyag requires plenty of effort to stay in the world and perform all activities righteously and without any selfish motive or in a spirit of renunciation. The ultimate aim of a Sanyasi and Tyagi is to live a life based on higher consciousness for God realization. The attitude of a Tyagi is to stay in the world but do not belong to the world. That is to stay in the world in a spirit of detachment without being attached to any object of the world his family members and possession like house money and so on. A Tyagi works selflessly without any desires. He considers his duty to work in the world without any attachment. He undertakes work without showing any preference for agreeable works or showing aversion for disagreeable works. Sanyasa and tyag in Bhagavad Gita
In Bhagavad Gita Sanyasa and Tyag have similar meanings which is to perform your duties selflessly. The Gita says that he is a Sanyasi as well as a Tyagi who perform his duties without bothering about the result or fruit of actions. In the Gita Sanyasa is equated with yoga. The Gita wants every one including a Sanyasi to stay in the world for self-evolution and live in the world without being affected by worldly attractions. Live in the world like a lotus in water unaffected by water which means to work without attachment and resigning all actions to the Supreme. In the last chapter of Bhagavad Gita Arjuna asks lord Krishna to explain the difference between Sanyasa and Tyag. Lord Krishna replies that works like Yajna(sacrifice ),Tapa(Austerty) and Daan(charity) should always be performed because these purify the wise. But these works should be performed in a spirit of dedication for the benefit of mankind without any selfish interest. It already indicates that both Sanyasa and Tyaga are inner attitude which has got nothing to do with abandoning of works. Renunciation of fruit of actions is highly praised in the Gita. Renunciation of fruits of action is equivalent to renunciation of desires. Both Sanyasi and Tyagi are to perform dedicated service oriented actions. This requires fixing up a goal or ideal of life which could be knowing your inner self. Higher the goal, higher is your level of energy and higher would be your lever of perfection. Follow the teaching of Katha Upanishad which says,”Arise, Awake and stop not till the goal is reached.” In other words both Sanyasa and Tyag would convey the meaning of a dynamic action done selflessly. When you do not bother about the results of your actions, you fully concentrate on the work in hand and whatever the result comes you are least concerned as you have put in your best in the work. This is the inner attitude towards work.
Tyag as giving up
Tyag as to give up also means giving up your negativities, desires, ego and attachment to your possessions. It would mean that you must be aware of your own self, your negativities and positive qualities. Then you must understand and practice higher values of life which are moral values spiritual values and social values. As these values enter into you, the negativity within loses its grip on you and finally fades away. Next we come to your desires. Desires are a big motivating factor for your undertakings. Desires are not to be supressed but upgraded to noble desires like to serve others, share your values with other, care for others and to raise your state of consciousness to a higher state. Shankracharya had said it is better to do selfish work than to do nothing since there are better chances for a selfish worker to become a dedicated worker to work selflessly for the benefit of others than a person who does not work and sits as an idle man. Ego is the feeling of I-ness and My-ness. Ego also means that I am superior than others or I am separate and not a part of main stream. Ego also means identifying yourself with the body and not the Atma inside you. An egoistic person must understand that the power or energy in him belongs to the soul inside him which is a fragment of God. He must surrender his sense of doership to God and become a part of main stream as the same soul resides in all. These are elevated souls who manifest the power of God inside them and use it in their conduct and dealings. The soul inside a man has inherent qualities of Truth, Knowledge and Bliss. Lastly we come to the attachment to your possession including your family members. Attachment makes you selfish, and you create feeling of dislike for others with whom you are not attached. There is no harm in having your possessions but these should be held with a detached outlook on life. A detached person does not cling to his possessions as he has love for all.
Renounce and Enjoy
When you get attached to God or higher values of life, your negativity gets into the background becomes weak since you have raised your consciousness to a higher degree of existence. This further means that you automatically let go the lower inside you since you are not an ignorant person now. You enjoy the beauty with a detached mind without deadening the senses. A beautiful thing must be appreciated as beauty is God’s creation. Lord Krishna says in the Gita that whatsoever is glorious, beautiful and powerful know that it has come from a fraction of My splendour.
Conclusion
As per Bhagavad Gita Tyag or Sanyasa is a mental attitude where you neither hate nor desire anything and remain free from the pairs of Opposite like pleasure and pain, likes and dislikes. All actions done without attachment enforce real Tyag or renunciation. When you offer or renounce your actions to God it also means that Divine will shall operate in your actions, speech and thoughts as your personal will shall merge into Divine will.
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