The fourfold of Sadhana - viveka, vairagya, mumukshutva, shat-sampad

In the great teaching of both yoga and Buddhism, dispassion or non-attachment or detachment is the very important practice for us to advance in yoga and meditation to know the truth of selflessness and impermanence in all kinds of names and forms, or to attain self-realization towards what is 'I'.

The fourfold of Sadhana - The qualities of a Sadhaka (people who are in search for the truth and self-realization)

1.) Viveka (right discrimination) - to know what is real and unreal.

Anything that is selfless and impermanent, constantly changing selflessly under the influence of cause and effect, that doesn't have a permanent self existence to be in control of the changes, are not real. Unreal doesn't mean non-existence. The ignorant minds might misinterpret and misuse "everything is unreal" to be performing any actions irresponsibly regardless of whether it hurts all and everything, thinking that there are no consequences of actions at all, just like in dreams.

2.) Vairagya (dispassion or non-attachment) - letting go what is unreal of what is impermanent and selfless (not 'I'), great contentment being free from dissatisfaction and greed, no egoistic desire, no craving, no aversion.

3.) Mumukshutva (intense yearning for liberation) - the one and only desire that will lead towards true freedom, being free from ignorance and egoism and the suffering deriving from ignorance and egoism.

4.) Shat-sampad (the six virtues) -

a.) Sama - tranquility of the mind
b.) Dama - self-restraint or control of the senses
c.) Uparati - cessation from worldly activities
d.) Titiksha - forbearance or power of endurance
e.) Sraddha - faith in God*, Scripture** and Self***
f.) Samadhana - concentration or one-pointedness of mind

*The truth of selflessness and impermanence is beyond the belief or disbelief in God existence. Upon self-realization towards selflessness, upon the annihilation of ignorance and egoism, upon transcending the selfless modification of the mind, there's no difference between the belief or disbelief in God existence. The truth of selflessness and impermanence or the nature law of cause and effect doesn't change into something else regardless of whether the mind believes or disbelieves in God existence. It makes no difference. Just as suffering is present under the presence of ignorance and egoism, and suffering is absent upon the absence of ignorance and egoism. 'Faith in God' is for those who believe in God existence as they need that to deal with impermanent changes that are not necessarily the way that they desire, as well as to be grateful and thankful for all kind of supports for living and the presence of goodness in life. Meanwhile, for those who disbelieve in God existence is about respecting the law of nature, of selfless impermanent changes governed by cause and effect.

 

**Faith in the Scripture doesn't mean that one should be blind-believing, blind-following, blind-practicing, blind-agreeing or blind-propagating all the teachings from the Scripture. None should be blind-believing, blind-following, blind-practicing, blind-agreeing/disagreeing or blind-propagating towards anything, but under an opened mind, without blind-believing, blind-following, blind-practicing, blind-agreeing/disagreeing or blind-propagating, one should perform all kinds of discipline to purify and quiet the modification of the restless impure mind which will enable the mind to perform self-investigation or self-inquiry towards the truth of everything, including the teachings from the Scripture, or any kind of teachings from anywhere and anyone, to attain direct realization towards the truth of all kind of teachings.

***The Self is not about a super extraordinary powerful individual being/soul/mystical existence of highest purity or quality. It's referring to the nature of selflessness, namelessness, formlessness, attributelessness, and hence, it's beyond purity and impurity, beyond high or low quality, beyond existence and non-existence. It's the selfless, nameless, formless, attributeless nature in all and everything that is unaffected by the selfless impermanent modification of the mind perceiving all kind of selfless impermanent changes of forming, decaying and disintegrating in all kind of selfless names and forms, of ceaseless selfless thoughts/sensations/feelings (births and deaths of countless states of the mind) arising, changing and passing away under the law of cause and effect.

For those who are in search for liberation or emancipation or self-realization, and is disgusted with the fleeting names and forms that are subject to impermanence and is tired of the bondage of ignorance and impurities, cause and effect, birth and death, then the practice of dispassion or non-attachment is a must.

Without dispassion or non-attachment, liberation is impossible.

A "Buddhist" without the practice of dispassion or non-attachment is not really a Buddhist even though he or she is going to the temple everyday and performs a lot of rituals and offerings.

A "yogi" without the practice of dispassion or non-attachment is not really a yogi even though he or she is doing a lot of asana, pranayama, and meditation practice. It's because he or she will be attaching onto the actions and the fruit of actions of the asana, pranayama and meditation practice, attaching onto and craving for the effects/benefits that come from the different yoga practices, being influenced by the egoistic likes and dislikes, desire of craving and aversion, want and don't want, having expectation, judgment, comparison and competition, being determined/affected by the impermanent states of the mind and conditions of the physical body...

For anyone who is not interested in self-realization, and is satisfied and happy with the life condition now of having a limited and conditioned body and mind, then the practice of dispassion or non-attachment or detachment is not an important practice for them. Just live life, eat, drink, sleep, work, play, laugh and cry, indulging in the desire of craving and aversion until this life ends... There's nothing wrong with that... It is everyone's freedom to do what they want to do with their own lives. Enjoy and be happy.

Om shanti.