sannyAsa and vairAgya

[Vidyasankar Sundaresan]

I realize that I may have given the impression in some of my recent
postings on sannyAsa ASrama and gr.hasthASrama, that total vairAgya is
necessary for taking to sannyAsa. This is not entirely what I mean.
vairAgya is a sufficient condition for taking to sannyAsa, but it is not
always necessary. To expand on this further, the Jabala Sruti (yadahareva
virajet, tadahareva pravrajet) says, "if you have vairAgya, become a
parivrAT." It does not mean, "Only if you have vairAgya can you become a
parivrAT."

The advaita vedAnta tradition knows of two kinds of sannyAsa - vidvat
sannyAsa and vividisha sannyAsa. In the latter kind, a disciple may be
taken into the sannyAsa ASrama by a guru, even without complete signs of
vairAgya or jnAna, but on the basis of potential for developing vairAgya
and acquiring jnAna in the future. Such a decision is a personal matter
between the guru and disciple.

Regards,

Vidyasankar