Renunciation, a Buddhist 4 Letter Word
What could possibly motivate someone to renounce everything for the dharma? Before we think about that, let us define what renunciation means since spiritual teachers rarely use that word anymore. All Buddhist texts refer to renunciation as a high quality to work toward developing. Inept renunciation means rejecting what we need and want, and now we have to reluctantly give it up. Some will think that there is something that they really want to own that has to be given up even before they get it. Both of these meanings are untrue. Years ago a student sent me a frantic letter, “Rinpoche, I’m just so confused because I feel like I want to achieve enlightenment, however, what about Susie?” (Well, I don’t know Susie!! What about Susie?”) “I promised her that I would marry her, but if I should go for this enlightenment, then I have to renounce everything and what about Susie? She’s expecting this, and not only that, I was sort of expecting to have children! You telling us about all this ...