Last week’s talk on attachment and renunciation was focused on a very specific type of misuse of these noble spiritual ideals, where someone seeks to take advantage of another person. After posting this talk I received a number of inquiries related to the broader understanding of these two principles, attachment and renunciation, and their meaning and application in a broader spiritual context. So that’s is what we are covering this week.
As part of the talk I did give one quote from the Śrī Īśopaniṣad which I am adding here:
ईशावस्यमिदम्सर्वं यत्किञ्च जगत्यां जगत्
तेन त्यक्तेन भुञ्जीथा मा गृधः कस्य स्विद्धनम्
“Everything animate or inanimate that is within the universe is controlled and owned by the Supreme Soul (Īśvara). One should therefore accept only those things necessary for oneself, which are set aside as one’s quota, and one should not accept other things, knowing well to whom they belong.” – Śrī Īśopaniṣad Text 1
