The more we are attached to this world, the more unhappy we become. The more we are detached from this world, the more happy we become. And if we are completely detached from this material world then we become eligible to experience unlimited happiness.
Srimad Bhagavatam tells the story of a hawk who was having a piece of meat in his mouth. Seeing the meat the other hungry hawks who were stronger than him started attacking him.
Fearing his life the weaker hawk immediately dropped the piece of meat from his mouth and the angry hawks immediately stopped attacking him. The weaker hawk felt safe now and experienced joy as he was not being attacked any more.
It’s a valuable lesson for all of us. Just think about anything you were attached to in your life. And ask yourself if it caused happiness or pain, fear or joy, frustration or contentment? In almost all the cases, you might have experienced pain.
Any sort of material attachment becomes the cause of unhappiness.
I see in IT industry people are attached to go to onsite to USA or to European countries. Now everyone’s dream cannot be fulfilled. Those who are too attached to go to abroad always remain in anxiety thinking that whether he will get an opportunity or not.
And there are others who too are vying for the same opportunity. So, there is always unhealthy competition. And once one fails to go abroad then he becomes completely dejected.
Now suppose that there is an employee who works hard but is not attached to go abroad and also not attached to not to go abroad then will he ever be in misery? Will any kind of unhealthy competition bother him? Obviously, not.
Attachment to Krishna
In Bhagavad Gita, Krishna teaches Arjuna to do his work as a matter of duty with utmost sincerity and simultaneously not to get attached to this world. Instead, the Supreme Lord, asks Arjuna, the fearsome warrior, to get attached to him.
So, detachment from this world means getting attached to Krishna, the Supreme Lord.
The more we are detached to Krishna, the more we suffer. The more we are attached to Krishna the less we suffer. And if we are completely attached to Krishna then there is no suffering, there is only unlimited happiness.
So, the devotees of the Lord who are always attached to the Lord are always blissful, joyful and peaceful. Nothing of this world troubles them because they understand that nothing of this world is worthy enough to give them anything more valuable than Krishna. So, they are always engaged in chanting and singing the glories of Krishna.
“Always chanting My glories, endeavoring with great determination, bowing down before Me, these great souls perpetually worship Me with devotion.” Bhagavad Gita 9.14
Three Reflections
- Material attachment becomes the cause of suffering.
- Material detachment gives relief from material suffering.
- Attachment to Krishna bestows unlimited spiritual happiness.
Ask Yourself
- Think of anything or any person whom you were attached to and ask yourself whether it caused pain or pleasure?
Action Item
- Identify an attachment which is troubling you and list down the steps which you plan to take to get detached from it.
