Word Of The Day: bairaagee

ਬੈਰਾਗੀ (bairaagee)
Meaning: noun: one who abandons the world for love of God; renunciate, detached.

Quote:
ਸੋ ਸਾਧੂ ਬੈਰਾਗੀ ਸੋਈ   ਹਿਰਦੈ ਨਾਮੁ ਵਸਾਏ॥
so saadhoo bairaagee soee   hirdai naam vasaae.
One who enshrines the Divine Name within one’s heart is a true sage and detached.
– Guru Amar Das Sahib, Guru Granth Sahib, Page 29

Message: Some believe that to attain spiritual enlightenment one needs to abandon the life of a householder and become an ascetic. It is believed that this would help in detaching oneself from worldly temptations, thus paving the way for enlightenment. However, unless the inner being is first attuned to spiritual qualities, physical detachment is of no use.

The Guru states that this physical detachment will not free the mind from worldly attachment and pride. One should therefore learn how to remain detached while leading a successful household life. This is balanced detachment. By attuning ourselves to divine thought, subduing our egotism and engaging in devotional worship – while being a householder – we nurture love for the Divine. We have to learn how to be untouched by anger, greed, selfishness and conceit while experiencing the life of a householder. In the company of the good and through good deeds, excessive attachment is shed and self-centeredness subdued, and hence the treasure of divinity is revealed.

ਸੋ ਬੈਰਾਗੀ ਜਿ ਉਲਟੇ ਬ੍ਰਹਮੁ॥ ਗਗਨ ਮੰਡਲ ਮਹਿ ਰੋਪੈ ਥੰਮੁ॥
One who recalls the Divine and erects the pillar of divine wisdom in one’s mind is a true Bairaagi.
– Guru Nanak Sahib, Guru Granth Sahib, Page 953

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Etymology: From Sanskrit vairaagin, which comes from vairaag (renunciation of the world; love and devotion for the Divine).