Detachment is neither impractical nor impossible!

To stay detached is neither impractical nor impossible. 

You have heard of detachment before. You have been advised to stay detached too. Chances are you may have tried it and failed. Even the Bhagavad Gita’s profound teaching __ “Do your Duty while staying Detached from the Outcome”__ often times, while sounding beautiful, seems so, so difficult to internalize and implement. 

Well, it really is not so. 

 

Here’s a ‘Detachment for Dummies’ perspective. You may want to consider it.

First, just give up trying to evaluate every opportunity in Life on the basis of money. Making money is not a bad idea. But recognize that money can only buy things. It can make Life comfortable. But it can't ever make Life meaningful. 

Second, simplify Life. Give away anything that you have not used in six months except your passport and important documentation! 

Third, every day, forgive three people who come into your life who will not matter three weeks from now. 

Fourth, every now and then, forgive yourself for the poor decisions you took, the sad choices you made and for any of your irreverent and irresponsible actions. 

Finally, understand the impermanency of Life and money. Our biggest tragedy is we love things and use people. We love (and stay attached to) things that money can buy and use people (to make that money)! Flip that paradigm: love people and use things. And when you love people know that they too will be gone, someday, because Life is such __ impermanent! 

Detachment for Dummies

 Really, intelligent living is about doing what you can do best and staying calm, accepting whatever comes your way. Because try as hard as you may, you really can't stop the course that Life takes. All of our frustration comes because we want to control Life. Nothing can be more absurd. More stupid. It is like trying to squeeze water in your palm! When we can’t control our own lives, how can we control the lives of others in our circle of influence? Yet, we expect people to behave in a manner that we desire, we expect Life to give us what we want and at those times, when neither happens, we bury ourselves in self-vested, ruinous emotions.

Countering this tendency is what detachment is all about. Detachment is not a difficult word nor is it impossible to practice. It simply means:

1. Exercise your right to righteous action and don't crave for or worry about the outcomes.

2. Own the outcome of whatever you think and do, but don't get burdened by it.

3. Love people. Forgive people. Let them go when they must!

This way, you may win some, lose some, but you will always be blissful, ever be detached and never be miserable!