Detachment means
We are not disturbed by external events, or material thoughts and emotions.
The reason why we are not disturbed is because of our deep connection and attachment to the Lord.
Attachment to the temporary is the root of all suffering, so detachment with property knowledge does not make us hard-hearted, infact we are more clear-headed.
What is real detachment, the Bhagavadgita teaches us (7.1) –
When we are so-called attached, that makes us hard-hearted and we selectively attach ourselves to the person or circumstance as our senses, please. You don’t have to make a different endeavor for detachment if one practices bhakti detachment follows. The first step to detachment is that we are not this body but the spirit soul. This correct knowledge also makes us aware of emotionally investing in things, people, and circumstances, we are more careful of where to expend our energy. If we are high-headed and detached in its true meaning then we are wise in choosing how we act and where we contribute. It helps us from feeling frustrated and degraded, there is true discernment. Dhritarashtra was too attached to his sons Kauravas, and that led to the great war, Mahabharata, and lose their lives.
Detachment is so powerful
Having inner detachment is powerful because if we are convinced of doing some action, we will pursue it whole-heartedly, but without being attached to the result. If we succeed, that is fine, and if we don’t, we will either try again or move to something else. We are attached to doing our best and at the same time, we let go of the result.
In the Bhagavad Gita, it says be detached, we have to practice the art of being attached and detached at the same time. But, how is that possible? From Gita (5.29), we hear that only those who understand that everything belongs to Krishna can attain real peace. When we see everything as ours, and mine, then we become controlled by attachment. But when we see our parents as belonging to Krishna, our spouse, family, friends, our car, our house, even our own body, all belonging to Krsna, only then do we not get too attached. Nothing in this world is actually ours, yet we become uncontrollably attached. When we realize that the person, thing, or anything belongs to God and only him and that they were never ours in the first place, then only can we become peaceful.
Practise Detachment
We don’t own anything, we are taking care of it on behalf of Krishna. When we connect everything with Krishna then the expectation shifts from “How I should be treated” or “What will be the outcome of this” to “All this belongs to Krishna, he is the proprietor and he has put this person, thing, or situation under my care for me to take care, or learn and grow”.
True detachment is to understand that nothing belongs to me, but I belong to Krishna. And the way we develop this spirit of detachment is to constantly hear and chant about the Lord in love.
