If you have intense and real Vairagya born of Titiksha and Viveka and if you have
strong Mumukshutva, you can take Sannyas. The Srutis declare: “Renounce the world on the
very day you get Vairagya”. If you have Moha for your wife and children, you cannot get any
spiritual progress, as your mind will be always thinking of them. Therefore, destroy Moha first.
Possess real Vairagya.
When you are in the world, do a lot of Japa and meditation. When you advance a bit, go
to a far-off place, live in seclusion, see the strength of your mind and see if you still have any
Moha lurking in your mind. Then you can take Sannyas. You will get success.
Before you renounce, see that your wife and children are well-provided. Otherwise, they
will constantly be thinking of you and you will be drawn by their mental currents. When you live
with your wife, teach her the importance of Sannyas and ask her to do Japa and meditation. She
must lead a spiritual life. Then only she will not interfere with you after your Sannyas.
Bhartrihari, Gauranga, Sadasiva Brahman and others deserted their wives. After their
Sannyasa, they did not think of their wives. Did they not attain Self-realization? Did any sin or
curse touch them? Even if you do not provide for your family well, you can take Sannyas if you
have real Vairagya. Just isolate yourself from your family and see whether your children are
looked after or not. Ram Tirth left his wife with two young children without providing anything.
But his elder son became an engineer and the other a professor. Have perfect faith in God.

From "May I answer that" by Swami Sivananda (1987-1963). More Informations on Swami Sivananda: on the Website of Divine Life Society, Photographs of Swami Sivananda, German Pages on Swami Sivananda
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Comments

  • I do not agree with this reply. Krishna says in Gita, you should be like Janaka i.e living amid the wealth and all the luxury in life you should be able to attain Moksha or Self Realization. When Siddartha left his wife and children, when once he returned his wife asked him can this not be attained without leaving us, for which Sidhartha never answered. When you have a responsiblity of a Grihastha, you should be able to fulfill your duties to that role. But practise of Vairagya should be made in all our activities. It should not be a step or reason to leave all our dependants and take up Sanyasa somewhere in the mountains. True Sanyasin is one who has been liberated from all his mohas even while living in the duties or role he has been given. Vairagya is an attribute of the mind and does not associate with your performance or non performance or your association or non association with the activities of the world but lies in the proper mental attitude with one's relationship with them. A true Vairagi is not who runs away from or rejects the world and its activities, but performs his obligatory duties without sense of possesiveness or the anxiety of enjoyment of the fruits thereof. Your reply is very mis leading and I am sure many families will be suffering such situations in their house, where either the husband or wife who will be involved in some so called spiritual groups and due to their ignorance will not do their responsibilities towards their families well and spend much time with such groups creating a problem in their relationship. Your such comments will encourge them much. You may have given it in the right spirit wherein you have highighted after destroying your MOHA first, which is very difficult to do.
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