3 Stages of Sanyās
The first birth of a man is from his father/mother; Upanayana marks his second birth, and Sannyās the third.
Who is fit to take Sanyās – Explained by Shri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa?
- He who can give up the world altogether without having any thought of tomorrow, as to how he will eat or how he will be clothed, is fit to be a true Sannyāsin. His mentality must be like that of a man who can, if need be, let himself fall fearlessly from the top of a tall tree, without any thought of saving his own life or limbs.
Shri Ramakrishna Paramhamsa explains the meaning of a true sanyasi in this video.
What is the sign of a genuine Sanyāsi and a Tyagi? Answered by Shri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa
- Both (Sanyasi and Tyagi) must be entirely unconnected with lust and gold. Should they feel an attachment for gold, or be troubled by pollution even in a dream, all their spiritual exercises would come to naught.
- The man who becomes a Sannyāsi owing to some misunderstanding with his father, or mother, or wife may be called an ‘ascetic-by-disgust’. His asceticism is momentary; he gives up the ascetic way of life as soon as he gets a good lucrative job.
Shri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa says the True nature of a Sanyāsi is…
- Forgiveness is the true nature of a Sannyāsi.
- A person in whose heart the fire of renunciation burns intensely; who pants after God as a mother’s heart does for her child – he wants nothing except God. To him the world appears like a well without a wall; and he is always cautious lest he should fall into it. He does not think like others – ‘Let me first settle my family affairs and then I shall meditate on God.’ Such a man has a fiery determination to complete his task He is fit to be a sanyasi.
- The insect flies from darkness as soon as it sees light; the ant loses itself in the syrup without leaving it. So does the bhakta/ Sannyāsi cling to God forever and leaves all else.
Shri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa explains the difference between – Sanyāsi and Tyagi
- Utter the word Gita, in quick succession, a number of times – Gi-ta-gi-ta-gi-ta-tagi. It is then virtually pronounced as Tagi. “Tyagi” means one who has renounced the world for the sake of God. Thus in one word, the Gita teahes: Renounce, you world-bound people! And fix your mind on the Lord.
- The soul that is wholly world-bound is like the worm that lives for ever in filth, and dies there and has no idea of anything better. The soul whose worldliness is of lesser intensity, is however, like the fly that sits now on filth and now on sugar. The free soul (like that of a Sannyāsi) is like the bee that always drinks honey and tastes nothing else.
- A boat may stay in water, but water should not stay in the boat. An aspirant may live in the world, but the world should not live within him.
