Page 71 - Basic Writings of Sriramchandra

Efficacy of Rajayoga : The Natural Path
his itching sensation in a perfectly unconscious state during sleep. A man, far away from the place where a band of music is being played, does not hear its sound, while another man standing nearby feels it but little if he is deeply absorbed in his own thought. He does not find himself with music but feels himself dwelling in his own pious thought. How does he acquire this state of mind ? The reply, as already said above, is that he finds himself absorbed in something of the most important nature. Then naturally the unimportant things will have no effect on him.This is the condition of vairagya2 or renunciation. The Inattention that he feels towards worldly objects does not allow his heart to be impressed by things other than those of important nature - the pious thought of realisation he now has. For an abhyasi the only important thing is to seek his goal within his own self. Many people are striving hard for vairagya or renunciation. How easily it is gained!
2 Vairagya as it is commonly understood today is only an outward show of asceticism, detachment from all world relations and the total disregard of the duties of life. Really speaking it is neither the forced physical detachment nor aversion to, or hatred for, worldly objects required in life, nor any other thing of the kind. It is simply an inner feeling which turns our heart away from all that is superfluous for our normal living. Thus even an ordinary man, leading a worldly life, looking to all worldly affairs and possessing and claiming things for his requirements, can well acquire the state of vairagya in his ordinary worldly life.
31