A fresh topic indeed ! Thank you for bringing up this topic @musicalstorm !
To begin with, people generally joke about this topic. For instance, I've heard many of my friends say that they'll take 'sanyaas' if so and so happens. It is taken to be a very light issue. Amidst the political and economical scams and issues, we forget to address such meaningful issues. I'm sure you've been pissed off !
Nowadays, people don't really care about the depth of the ancient scriptures, the Vedas or the Puranas. Whatever little things they know, they try to execute them in their own way. This is the sole reason for the existence of 'blind faith.'
Some reasons why people decide to renounce the world and the worldly pleasures :
1. When people actually feel tired of struggling and are not willing to face anymore hardships in life, they do so. These are the people who believe that 'suicide' is not the right way to quit problems as they feel that suicide would be an insult of the Almighty who has created him/her. They just want to find inner peace and lead a soulful life rather than a stressful one.
2. Most of the time in this era, people just don't act as they say. They just fool around, so that they're given extra footage by people. Might be they would want to join the 'Fake Baba Sansthaan' and get listed in the top 'Millionaire Pheku Baba' list. Come on, these are all old and useful tactics to make money.
3. People think that renouncing the world is a great deed. They would want to create history in Kaliyuga.
4. They would wish to be worshipped as Gods and Goddesses are. (Generally, the 'Sanyasis' as they say, are poojniya for the normal people.)
5. They think that they would meet God if they do so. They would want to be granted a boon from the Almighty.
6. They think that they might be able to attain Moksha (Eternal Salvation from the World).
In Shrimad Bhagavat Geeta, Lord Krishna himself explains to Arjun that Karmayog is better than any other path of devotion. Lord Krishna teaches us that as far as possible, we should keep doing our 'karma' or 'action' regardless of what we would receive as the 'fruit' of the 'action.' A person should not be 'inactive' or 'action-less.' Each person has been sent to the earth with a purpose to be fulfilled. It is every person's responsibility to find out the purpose of their birth, and then work towards achieving it. According to Lord Krishna, work/deed/action is a form of 'tapasya' in itself. A person should think of renunciation only as an eternal peaceful sleep of the mind, which he could get only after fulfilling his responsibilities towards his/her family members, towards the society, towards the world and towards the God who has created him/her.
Lord Buddha, who lived his life as an ascetic, showed that there is a way to end desire and end pain by doing good things, not doing bad things, and training one's mind. This is done to end pain and gain enlightenment. He taught non-harm and balance. He suggested people to meditate to look for the answers to their questions. These teachings of Lord Buddha became the base for Buddhism.
I personally believe that in this 21st century, people generally take 'sanyaas' or renounce their materialistic possessions and all kinds of relations with others, just to run away from their responsibilities, from themselves. Many less people know that this is not the proper way for renunciation. Renouncing is something which means freeing yourself from the attatchments. Your mind is suppossed to be freed, not your outer body !!
Renouncing worldly things now, does no good to anyone, neither the society, nor the world. None benefit from it. I feel that people need to become conscious of their different roles. These roles are to be played not only within the family sphere, but also in the society. If people understand the importance of living for others, they would never think of renunciation.
And yes, it is not just the celebrities who are sent with a purpose to live on the earth. It's just that they're famous among a wider range of people, than you are. It is not necessary that only an actress has the right to participate in the 'save electricity campaign.' Neither is it mandatory that only a well known politician can initiate the 'river cleansing act.' The only thing is you need to find time for yourself, and hunt up the hidden desires in your mind. Yes, I suggest first give time to yourself, rather than wasting time on gadgets. Only if you read the newspaper, you get so many issues which are yet to be addressed ! Just imagine that is the situation right now. All these things will definitely stop people to simply waste their precious life in the name of renunciation.
I really hope I could write this to the Bal Brahmachari and give him a piece of mind.
Not meant to offend anyone's perception and opinion. This is just my opinion.
CID
