Actual Renunciation recommended for devotees!
People are thinking that physically deserting our relations is called renunciation. This is not recommended for the devotees.
Why?
Let us now read what is the actual Renunciation recommended for devotees:
Read what Srila Prabhupada explains the words of Sri Rupa Gosvami:
“Some scholars recommend that knowledge and renunciation are important factors for elevating oneself to devotional service. But actually that is not a fact.
(Why the women are not recommended to take Sanyasa? READ HERE!)
Actually, the cultivation of knowledge or renunciation, which are favorable for achieving a footing in Krsna consciousness, may be accepted in the beginning, but ultimately they may also come to be rejected, for devotional service is dependent on nothing other than the sentiment or desire for such service. It requires nothing more than sincerity.
Actually, Krsna consciousness–devotional service itself– is the only way of advancing in devotional life. Devotional service is absolute; it is both the cause and the effect. The Supreme Personality of Godhead is the cause and effect of all that be, and to approach Him, the Absolute, the process of devotional service–which is also absolute–has to be adopted.
This is confirmed in Bhagavad-gita by the Lord Himself: “One can understand Me only through devotional service.”
In beginning His teaching of the Gita, the Lord said to Arjuna, “Because you are My devotee, I shall teach these secrets to you.”
Vedic knowledge means ultimately to understand the Supreme Lord, and the process of entering into His kingdom is devotional service. That is accepted by all authentic scriptures.
(Real Sanyasa Ashrama recommended by Vedic Scriptures! READ HERE!)
Mental speculators neglect the process of devotional service, and by simply trying to defeat others in philosophical research they fail to develop the ecstasy of devotion.
In the Eleventh Canto, Twentieth Chapter, verse 31, of Srimad-Bhagavatam,
Krsna says, “My dear Uddhava, for persons who are seriously engaged in My service, the cultivation of philosophical speculation and artificial
renunciation are not very favorable. When a person becomes My devotee he
automatically attains the fruits of the renunciation of material enjoyment, and he gets sufficient knowledge to understand the Absolute Truth.” That is the test of advancement in devotional service.
A devotee cannot be in darkness, because the Lord shows him special favor and enlightens him from within.
In the Eleventh Canto, Twentieth Chapter, verses 32 and 33, of Srimad-
Bhagavatam the Lord further instructs Uddhava, “My dear friend, the profits derived from fruitive activities, austerities, the culture of philosophical knowledge, renunciation, the practice of mystic yoga, charity and all similar auspicious activities are automatically achieved by My devotees–those who are simply attached to Me by loving service. These devotees have everything at their disposal, but they desire nothing outside of My devotional service.
(Work Renouncement (Sanyasa) and Karma Yoga – Which Krishna says, is better? READ HERE!
If ever a devotee should desire some material profit, like promotion to the heavenly planets, or some spiritual profit–to go to the Vaikunthas–by My causeless mercy his desires are very easily fulfilled.”
Actually, a person who is developing Krsna consciousness and still has some
attachment to material enjoyment will soon be freed from such a tendency by regularly discharging devotional service under the instruction of a bona fide spiritual master.
Srila Rupa Gosvami, then, recommends that one should not be attached to
material sense enjoyment, but should accept everything enjoyable which is in relationship to Krsna.
For example, eating is necessary, and one wants some palatable dishes to satisfy his sense of taste. So in that case, for the satisfaction of Krsna rather than for the satisfaction of the tongue, some palatable dishes may be prepared and offered to Krsna. Then it is renunciation.
Let the palatable dishes be prepared, but unless they are offered to Krsna one should not accept them for eating. This vow of rejecting anything which is not offered to Krsna is actually renunciation.
And by such renunciation one is able to satisfy the demands of the senses.
Hope you are now clear about what the actual Renunciation recommended for devotees is!
(What to do if I am unable to follow both renouncement and balancing devotion? READ HERE!)