August 1983 - Exact date not recorded

[Karma Yoga]

August 1983 - Exact date not recorded

Shri Babaji and Shastriji comment on Detachment

One evening in August, a devotee went to Babaji and asked Him three questions concerning "detachment":

• What is the definition of detachment?
• What is it for, or to what does it lead?
• And, when you don't have it, how do you "practice" it?

Babaji told the devotee to ask tomorrow, so he went back to his seat.

A while later, Shastriji came out of Swamiji's room and went to touch Shri Babaji's feet. When Shastriji stood up by Babaji's side, Babaji called the devotee back. He came forward and touched Babaji's feet and Babaji told him to ask his questions of Shastriji.

The questions were repeated and Shastriji replied that detachment is knowing that the world is illusion. This did not mean much to the devotee, who felt confused and disappointed.

At this point, Shri Babaji leaned forward and entered into the conversation, saying there were many kinds of detachments, "Vairagyas." For instance, the men who invented the atom bomb were detached - they focused all their attention on one problem, forgetting everything else. The main theme, He said, is to focus your attention completely, to concentrate on your goal, whatever it is, forgetting all other things. This is renunciation. It leads to God - realization.

Shri Babaji said further, that being one-pointed is "Vairagyas." He told the devotee that he was "liberated," that he was "most detached." The devotee felt neither "liberated" nor "detached," but he touched Shri Babaji's feet and headed to his seat. Shri Babaji called him back.

Babaji reemphasized that whatever decision you make, whatever goal you set, go after it with great faith and firm determination, focused on it entirely. Babaji said that just by shaving one's head or putting on orange garb, one does not become "detached." One must have firm faith, strong will and complete concentration. The devotee again touched Shri Babaji's feet, thinking the conversation was over.

Shastriji then told him to stand up and Shastriji began to speak again. He said that Shukadeva had asked the same three questions of his father, Vyasa. Vyasa had told Shukadeva to go to King Janaka and ask him these questions. When the questions were put to him, King Janaka instructed Shukadeva to circumambulate the city of Mithila, carrying a full bowl of milk. Shukadeva was to be accompanied by two guards with bared swords and if he spilled even one drop of milk they were under orders to cut off his head. Shukadeva was then sent on his walk, holding the very full bowl of milk. Hours later, he came back into the presence of King Janaka, who asked him what he had seen of the city. Shukadeva replied that he had not seen a thing of the city because he had focused entirely on not spilling the milk, the sword of death hanging in his mind. King Janaka then explained that this was how he had to concentrate on his goal - with complete concentration. This was "detachment" from all the things in life.

The devotee thanked Shastriji and again, with gratitude touched Shri Babaji's feet. At this, Shri Babaji turned from another conversation and asked, "What was your third question?"
The devotee replied that it was "How does one practice detachment when he doesn't have it?"

Shastriji answered: "Dire, dire - slowly, slowly" and the devotee laughed. Shri Babaji leaned forward and pointed at the devotee and clarified: "With total concentration and great faith and determination! Focus on your goal and everything else fades from view. Then you have 'detachment.'

"JAI MAHAMAYA KI JAI!"