Vairagya is Not Escapism
To
understand the difference between Vairagya or Detachment and Escapism, one has
to understand two important of aspects of Hindu tradition. One is Purushartha
and the other the Ashrama system.
Purushartha
deals with the aims or goals a person is expected to have in life. They are
Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha. Dharma represents both high ethical values and
observing specified rituals. Artha represents the means to earn money to
fulfill one’s responsibilities in life, Kama represent fulfilling one’s desires
and Moksha represents deliverance from the cycle of birth, death and rebirth.
The
Ashrama system deals with four stages in a person’s life, namely, Brahmacharya,
Gruhasthashrama, Vanaprasthashrama and Sanyasa. Brhamacharya is the stage
before adulthood when a person gets educated. Gruhasthashrama is the life of a
householder when a person earns money, marries, has children and takes care of
them till they are old enough to be independent. Vanaprasthashrama is the stage
when one starts contemplating about the transient and uncertain nature of life
on earth and tries to find answers regarding the existence of life as a
whole. Sanyasa is the stage when one
decides to renounce the external world and seek self-realization and the nature
of the soul distinct from one’s body.
The
Ashrama system is a very practical system where a person is expected to
shoulder his responsibilities in life. There is no question of Vairagya in
either Brahmacharya or Gruhasthashrama.
The
realization that a person is put into situations where he is not in command and
the very nature of Birth, Growth, Decay and Death leads one who is
philosophically minded to seek answers to what is life, what is beyond, what is
the purpose of life etc.
It is
not given everyone to take the philosopher’s mantle. The majority of people go
through life without even faintly thinking of philosophical issues. Most have a
deep faith in the Almighty who they expect will come to their rescue when in
trouble. Many who follow the Charvaka or Materialistic way of life take life as
it comes and are Atheists.
It is
only a few who have regard for Dharmic values and a propensity towards
philosophical thought who are likely to take to Vairagya and Sanyasa. Such
persons cannot be accused of being Escapists.
