Journey to Renunciation and Back

Journey to Renunciation and Back

  • Submitted By: MrsCos08
  • Date Submitted: 12/10/2008 8:47 AM
  • Category: Religion
  • Words: 538
  • Page: 3
  • Views: 1

The Journey to Renunciation and Back
Individuals are constantly seeking for something new, something to fulfill their desires. One may be ambitiously seeking a hobby in painting one week, and yoga the next. When an individual decides to make a step in a new direction they are ambitious. When it gets difficult or holds no extrinsic reward it is forgotten. No individual could truly reach the renunciation stage and stay there. Common desire and karma bring individuals back to desire.
Human beings naturally have a desire to feel successful, respected, appreciated, and good about themselves. At first, letting go of all materialistic desires will boost self esteem. The individual will feel like they’re doing something positive, something that will give them direction. However, when they turn to their community for fulfillment, or for support, disappointment will be waiting. Most individuals in their lives will not be ready to give up their desires.
The individual who strives for renunciation will be depriving themselves of natural wants, and watching those around them partake in them. For example, individuals who previously drank and partied will now be watching. Envy will set it. Naturally they will yearn to partake in the fun. How many times could these individuals deprive themselves? Of course they could find new friends, or try to do good and reform their friends. Either way, both of these alternatives will prove to bring more frustration or disappointment. Renunciation is difficult.
If an individual suddenly begins to believe in reincarnation, they will feel as if they have already been through the desire stage. Their lives will have consisted of desire up until this point. Being motivated and feeling high and mighty with their new belief, they will try and cast off previous desires. However, they will realize the reality of how difficult, and impossible, this task truly is. At this time they will feel failure and look for a new faith which will fulfill...

Similar Essays