CHENNAI: The holy man may not buy provisions or cook his food. But the householder who provides the bikhsa has to work for it. There are two types of people in this world. The first type are those like the tree which grows on the shores of the river. Many of us are like that tree, corroded by time and depart when our life span is over. We have no say on our birth or death. The second type of people are like the bird which willingly perches on the branch of a tree and flies away whenever it feels like. They come into this world when they want and leave it at their will. Such souls do not get stuck to samsara, they move on to a higher plane of existence. They leave the body and the world swiftly and softly like the bird’s flight from the tree. Non- attachment makes it possible for them to achieve this.
Describing the fears of life, a Sanskrit aphorism states: Bhoge roga bhayam; kule chuti bhayam;vitte nripaad bhayam;moune dainyabhayam Bale ripu bhayam;roope jaraaya bhayam;saastre vaadi bhayam;Gune akhila bhayam .... sarvam vastu bhayaanvitam...Vairagyamevabhayam
In enjoyment there is fear of disease; in good birth there is fear of a fall; in wealth the fear of kings; in honour the fear of humiliation; in power the fear of foe; in beauty the fear of ageing; in scholarship the fear of opponents; in good virtues the fear of everything; vairagya alone stands fearless. It is only vairagya or an inner poise of non-attachment which can bestow on us a life of happiness free from fear and conflicts. Hence Shankaracharya prays:
Annapoorne Sadaa poorne, Shankara praana vallabhe, Jnana Vairagya sidyartham, Bikshan dehi cha Parvathi...