[Advaita-l] renunciation

[Jaldhar H. Vyas]

On Sat, 13 May 2006, Sylvain wrote:

> Regarding "renunciation", which sanskrit word means it best ?  tyAga ?, 
> nivRitti-mArga ?,  vairAgya ?
> Are these names synonyms ?

tyAga is relinquishing ownership.  Its origins are in sacrificial 
concepts.  When one makes an offering, it is followed up by a statement 
that the offering is for some God not for oneself.  From this it expanded 
to mean relingushing all material posessions.

nivRitti-mArga is the whole process of decreasing attachment that 
culminates in renunciation.

Vairagya is dispassion.  A lack of interest in worldly ambitions which is 
the key to renunciation.

I would agree that sannyasa most directly means renunciation.

-- 
Jaldhar H. Vyas <jaldhar at braincells.com>