The path of attainment

It was understood by religious leaders that the way to BECOME an angel, a deity, a saint, etc. was through renouncing those aspects regarded as sinful, bad, devilish, etc.
A man was understood as a creature with the potential to BECOME something BETTER by removing or renouncing those traits believed to be “bad.” This path is easy to understand. The masses were happy with something so simple. Just take away the “bad” and keep the “good.”
That childish view of “spirituality” has remained for centuries.

“With the help of God, “I” can remove those “bad” traits.” There is only one-step remaining. We need to believe it. Once this belief is collective among followers, it becomes a “truth.”
Since renunciation became something hard to follow, few individuals remained, known as “saints.” The stigma was created. A “saint” is someone who can renounce. That is hard to DO. It is only for few, just like the idea of a BK yogi.

The idea of “attainment” came into existence as the realization that man can always BECOME BETTER. I could be “good” but I could be “lacking” some virtues which will make ”me” BETTER.
All I need to DO is to “work on” some virtues. I need to follow some steps or methods to get to “heaven,” “purity,” etc.
This new “idea” was cherished by the masses. Many “Best sellers” were written about this. In Brahma Kumaris, “tips” to DO yoga to attain certain levels of purity, were prescribed by seniors. Let us not focus on “taking away things,” but let us focus on “earning” something. ATTAIN something.
The work of the mind, goes from one extreme to the other.

The path of renunciation leads to the path of attainment and vice versa. This is duality.
If a neophyte reads the above, he may think: “I get it. Both are WRONG.”

No. This is not about “right or wrong” (another duality.) Avyakt7-NG is not sharing intellectual ideas. He is sharing his experience. You will need to go through this to understand. Renunciation is not “bad” but it is “ugly.” The path of “attainment” is not “bad” but it is “nice.” That duality will keep the mind of the seeker entertained.
Both (renunciation and attainment) are the “elementary school” of spirituality; but those who only grasp these things intellectually without experience, are in “kindergarten.”

“Spirituality” for those in “high school,” is in BEING. For those in “college,” is in “Non-BEING.”
Those in “elementary school” are not ready for “college,” but they are ready for renunciation and attainment.
Finally, “College,” is NOT better than “elementary school.” It is only different, one label is an introduction to the other in the circle of Life. Thus, enjoy were you ARE, for what you ARE NOT NOW will arrive at its own time.

Note: I do not mean to compare, but through the limitations of our language, I need to do it in order to illustrate my point.

The “ugliness” of renunciation

In Brahma Kumaris, the word “renunciation” is glorified. To “renounce” something is a sign of “improvement” in the spiritual Life.
A neophyte follower will be at awe whenever a BK tells a story of renunciation.

“Look, he renounced his worldly family to join the BK family.” “She renounced sex to become a pure person.” “ He renounced his drinking habit to become better,” etc.
Renunciation has repression underneath.

I recall the story of a BK brother, who was born in a third world country. Through many “efforts” he was able to live in the USA. Through “effort” he had a good social position there. He had a family. After becoming a BK, he “lost” all those things unwillingly. Destiny made that happen. When he returned to his home country to visit, a well-known BK sister, gave the advice for him to “Do service in his country of origin.” Obviously, this BK brother wanted to “obey” and he followed the advice. Nevertheless, very few knew about the internal suffering he went through. The BK label for that state is “attachment.” This BK brother needed to break that attachment through his will power, yoga power and any other power, to become “successful,” a “worship worthy deity.”

Eventually, through another well -known BK sister, the BK brother had the “permission” to go back to the USA (save face.) After many years of working in the USA, this BK brother naturally developed a distaste for the USA. Eventually, he went back to his home country to live there. There was no “effort” of his part. No “ugly” renunciation to follow. This incident taught the BK follower an important lesson in Life. There is timing for everything.

The mental ideal of following a word, will not allow us to look inside. When we are naturally ready for the next step, there cannot be renunciation.
If there is renunciation of any kind, then there is repression, violence. Even if a drunk person “renounces” to drink a drop of alcohol in his life, that person is only repressing. That which is negated and repressed (renounced) will become more attractive, a temptation.
“Lead us not into temptation” is a popular prayer. Repression is inside. Inner violence is unavoidable.

A drunk person does not have self-love. That is the beginning of the “cure” and not to count how many days he has been sober. Of course, will-power is needed to start a process, but to believe that will power alone (translated as “renunciation”) will be able to “cure” is naïve.
BapDada has mentioned in the Avyakt Murlis that “the greatest renunciation is the one without renunciation.”

Life has its own timing. Life is not concerned with the agenda of a religious group, a leader or an ideal. The “sacrifice” of renunciation is not only ugly, but utterly violent when it is a mental ideal to follow.
In our society, we punish those who are violent towards others, but we oversee when there is inner violence towards the self.
Many religious followers are completely oblivious of all the damage that they are inflicting towards themselves. The ideal of not “harming others” is blindfolding them to look inside. That inner violence eventually will be unleashed toward others.

To renounce renunciation

Those were BapDada’s words as I recall them, from when I was attending Murli classes.
Observe that the word “renunciation” is taken in many ways by many Brahma Kumaris followers.
For some it is the renunciation of the “bad” so the “good” appears. That is easy to understand intellectually. It makes “sense.” However, it is completely, utterly meaningless.
“Good and Bad” are dualities. All dualities are complementary in nature.

DO what you BELIEVE to be “Good.” Sooner or later, it will turn into “Bad” for others and yourself. That is the superhero story in the movies. That is self-righteousness.
There is movement of dualities all the time. Observe Life! Nothing remains the same but only the IDEAL that something is “good,” forever.
Of course, the above will not be understood by the masses, the majority; so it will be dismissed as “manmat.” There cannot be a “best-seller” book with that.

BapDada has said many things about renunciation in every type of Murli, there are many apparently contradictory statements.
For most Brahma Kumaris followers, it is about letting go of whatever they feel it is “bad” for them based on what the religion believes to be “bad.”
Sex is bad. Renounce it.
To eat food from non-Brahma Kumaris followers is “bad.” Renounce it.
Anger is “bad.” Renounce it.
Relationships with people is “bad.” Renounce it.

Let me ask: How would you make sense of the greatest renunciation of all, to “renounce renunciation”?  🙂

If I AM anger and then I make myself believe that “I will renounce anger,” I am kidding myself. I could reject anger, I could suppress it… to make others as well as myself believe that there is no anger in me. However, it is a lie.

When anger goes away, then that is who I AM. It happens without renouncing anger. I have renounced renunciation.
It is natural. Remember that word, natural? BapDada uses it as well.
We may ask, how do I make anger go away?
The answer is: “I” don’t make anything happen. “I” ALLOW it to happen.  If that “I” DOES something, it will only be to comply with an ideal, a belief which does not fit, who “I AM” now. Observe that.

To understand anger, we need to observe it. We need to be AWARE of the triggers. Then we need to be AWARE of the emotions that are making the knots of anger… and untie them through emotional healing, realizations, forgiveness, etc.

“I” AM not renouncing anything. “I” AM not labeling anything as “bad” to make me feel guilty if “I AM” that. Neither I am labeling that as “good” to judge others. “I” am out of the duality, thus I can observe, realize, become aware and use this opportunity to know myself by allowing it to change…naturally.
I have renounced renunciation, thus; I am truly following Shrimat.

The stern, serious face of a renunciate is almost like he is constipated.  He must renounce going to the bathroom, for that is dirty, impure, etc. The “bad” things are kept inside, not allowing them to express. Think about the consequences.

For the common good.