We have discussed deep love for God which is called bhakti. We have also talked of surrender or sharanagati which is living as per the will of God. When deep love and surrender of God fully manifest in us, the result would be Vairagya or detachment. Detachment gives great courage to meet any emergency or problems in life. Moha is attachment to desires, objects and people. It is getting attached or involved in such things beyond desirable limits. The mind is entwined in the object, desire or person even though it should not be. Discrimination screams warning within and sounds endless bells telling us to keep away. Yet the mind is entwined in tastes, touch, fragrances, sights, etc. When we are attached to the world and ourselves in this way, we suffer endlessly. We need to live in this world, enjoy it, be in it and not be drowned in it. That is possible when we have detachment. Only when there is detachment, will we be able to see and face reality and get the wisdom for reaching the Eternal Light.
The story of Mohajith is a good example of the highest type of detachment. Mohajith was a Prince who had deep desire for enlightenment. He went to the forest and sought a great sage for guidance in the spiritual path. The sage asked him his name. When the name was told to him, he asked if he had overcome moha or attachment as his name indicated. Moha means attachment; Jith means to conquer. The one who has conquered attachment is Mohajith.
The Prince said that not only he, but also everyone in his kingdom had conquered Moha. The sage was surprised at the statement and decided to test it out. He took the robes of the prince and soaked them in blood and rushed to the Palace Gate with the terrible tale of the horrible murder of the Prince by some robbers in the jungle. The maid saw the robe and acknowledged that it belonged to the Prince. But she refused to rush in and break the news to the Royal Family. She said: He was born, he died. There is no urgency that I leave all my regular work and rush to the King and Queen. I will inform after I finish my daily work.
Finally the sage managed to get an audience with the King and announced the terrible tragedy to him. The father of the Prince was unruffled when he heard the news. He said: The bird flew off the tree. It now takes rest in the bosom of the Eternal. The Queen was also calm. She said: Life on earth is like staying in an inn. Men come and go. They stay at the inn for a night and in the morning go away in their different paths. Relatives and friends in life are with us for short period of time. Each one has to go his own way when it is time for him to go. The wife of the ‘dead’ prince was also not affected by the painful news. She said: Husband and wife are like two pieces of wood drifting down a flooded river. They float near each other for a short period of time. When the current moves swiftly, they move apart. Each piece travels to the ocean at its own speed and time. There is no need to grieve over the parting of ways. It is rule of Nature that those who are born will die and those who meet must part.
The sage was very happy to see that the prince’s claims were true. There was one test left. So he went to the prince and said: When you were away, the neighbouring enemies attacked the kingdom and enslaved it. The prince took the news calmly. He said: All life is impermanent and flimsy. It is here now and has to go. Please guide me to reach the Infinite- the Imperishable. The sage taught the prince and the prince learnt effortlessly. Detachment helps us to balance the ups and downs of life and move in equanimity and peace. Let us make effort to cultivate bhakti and surrender to get detachment as reward. The SitaRam Mantra will help us in achieving these qualities.
