Tyag!

On guru poornima this year I was lucky to experience revelation! I cannot thank Uday Acharyaji enough for explaining the meaning of something as complicated as the concept of ‘Tyaga’ with such simplicity.

The discussion started off with acharyaji asking all of us present to talk about some topic that we liked or rather some topic that affected us the most!...When the pointer came to me I was clear about what I wanted to talk about the motive behind my choosing a topic like “tyaga” was to get an opportunity to learn more about it..

I started off saying that “Tyaga” is one of the most fascinating traits that a person can possess, to be able to do Tyaga one must be able to let go of things they love the most for a higher cause, and then I went on saying that at some point we all have to sacrifice something at some level, But to do it and not regret it, that is where all the difference comes, and because it is one of the most difficult things to do the person who is able to do tyaga in its true sense is considered great.

I ended my little speech with that, everyone seemed impressed with my perception of tyaga. But I was waiting for acharyaji’s approval, He was smiling and then asked a simple question “why does one do tyaga?” I said for a higher cause and to be happy. Then he went on to tell us what the concept of tyaga really meant, He explained with the example of the sacrifices a mother does for her child, “Why does a mother willingly sacrifice for her child?” he asked to that someone answered “because of love”, the next thing he asked was “what is love?”…now we had all heard and felt that word but no one could explain it!....Acharyaji with simplicity said that “Love was a feeling of oneness”, He continued “now if I do tyaga for someone I love then the thing that I sacrifice has not gone anywhere!, it is just like shifting that thing from one pocket to other “…..this was the point where everyone burst into involuntary applause!.....i was smiling more than I ever have….

The experience of learning about “tyaga” that I thought was so complicated with such simplicity was truly amazing!