What does renunciation mean and why is it important?
One aspect of renunciation is to be free from desires. We may have a good income and be able to afford anything we want, but yet if we live a simple life, that is renunciation. There are many people who live simply yet give generously for social causes. They fulfil their responsibilities towards their family, friends, and their work, and because they have a broad mind, they keep everyone content, but they know that true fulfilment is to be found in serving society. Such souls choose to use even their spare time for service, not rest or entertainment.
Then there are those who do very little by way of service but project themselves as Good Samaritans. In reality they use their resources more for their own comfort and pleasure than for others – effectively living off their fortune rather than accumulating a fortune. They even live off the ‘income’ of others, claiming credit and rewards for what others have done. It is best to steer clear of this path, which leads to spiritual bankruptcy.
If we do something good and then bask in the acclaim that follows, we do not develop the humility and maturity that is the mark of a great soul. We may be very charitable, but if we make it a point to let everyone know that, our good deeds will be seen as ego trips. We end up depriving ourselves of the quiet satisfaction that comes from unostentatious charity. This stops us from developing spiritually.
The best way to serve others is to do so discreetly. A great donor is one who renounces even the feeling of having donated something. The immediate reward of a charitable act is praise. Those who serve others get appreciation, respect, and a certain status. However, all these are just steps along the path, not the final goal of one who serves. Renouncing these is what makes one truly great.
B.K. Atam Prakash is a Rajyoga teacher at the Brahma Kumaris headquarters in Mount Abu, Rajasthan.