An average individual does not know what lies beyond the physical world and is so engrossed in the pursuit of the senses and collection of wealth and fame; because of this preoccupation he does not want to understand or know that one day this will all go away due to the inherent destructive nature and non-permanency of all aspects of physical creation, He might search for a guru in the hope that what is temporary can somehow be made permanent. One forgets here that even the guru’s body is not permanent, so to look for permanency from something or someone temporary is foolish and will not happen.
The purpose of human birth is experience and going beyond into higher states of consciousness. This is facilitated by the guru who has overcome the bondages of maya (material world) and shows you the reality and futility of the physical world. He plants the seed of detachment in you. But to grow and nurture that seed is up to you, for this is the only reality.
Detachment is the state where whether you have something or not, it does not have an effect on you. Even when it is with you, you are prepared that one day it has to go, that is, you understand that nothing is permanent in a temporary world. It is very easy to leave something when you are given something higher, you think you have now overcome the lower pleasure but you forget that it is actually the satisfaction of getting something bigger and better that makes you think so.
Only when you attain a state of detachment that comes irrespective of whether you get something or not, you can attain to yog. You may overcome the physical world with your power and ability, you may even reach the pleasures of swarglok (heaven), but you cannot overpower the tridev (Hindu trinity), the three-pronged divine power that is the epitome of detachment, for the tridev have and do nothing for themselves, they represent creation. The only way to access them is through vairagya (dispassion) or a stable and firm mind. Even if you rise up to the abode of the gods, thereafter begins the descent, for what rises has to come down; where there is pleasure, pain is not far away as you are attached to pleasure. It is only detachment from pleasure which will nullify the effect of pain and this state of vairagya will effectuate your merger with the tridev.
Just look at all the scams coming out, the levels of pollution in soil, water and air, the animosity and jealousy among people, the disrespect shown to elders — all this is enough proof to us that teachings of deep wisdom are no more being followed and the world is moving towards its logical end, towards a new beginning. I invite you to experience reality so as to get enabled to look forward to freedom from rebirth, the pain and suffering associated with birth, and then move towards liberation.
~Yogi Ashwini
