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Renunciation

BunksBunks Australia Veteran
in Buddhism Basics
Extract below from Trading Candy for Gold http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/thanissaro/candy.html

Even the Buddha admitted to his disciples that, when he set out on the path of practice, his heart didn't leap at the idea of renouncing sensual passion, didn't see it as offering peace.

Does anyone's heart leap at the idea of renunciation?

I feel like deep down I know it is the path to true happiness and contentment but fear is holding me back. I am so conditioned into thinking sensual passion is the path to happiness I may not change my ways in this life time.

Comments

  • BhikkhuJayasaraBhikkhuJayasara Bhikkhu Veteran
    we all are... of course his heart didn't leap at it, he was probably pretty fearful... a prince who had everything he ever wanted cutting off his hair and going into the woods alone. The determination to find a way out was stronger then the fears and attachment to sensual pleasure.

    I'm moving towards the process of renunciation where the plan is to start the process of becoming a monk in a year or so. This has been a natural progression as everything I use to think WAS life has become part of the unsatisfactory(dukkha) nature of life.. and I'm looking for something better.

    do you think my mind is leaping.. " ooh good I'll never have sex again or eat all kinds of tasty fattening foods and watch history channel and play video games" ( all sensual passion).. of course I've always liked all of that stuff.. but I want.. and know.. there is something more. At this point in my practice I have confidence(faith) in what the Buddha did and I'm getting ready to follow the same path.
    Jeffrey
  • lobsterlobster Crusty Veteran
    Does anyone's heart leap at the idea of renunciation?
    My heart leaps at the realisation that the Middle Way is not barren. We are seduced by our past, future, mind and the present experience.
    I renounce renunciation. What does that entail? Finding the value or deeper component in every day experience? Being aware of our attachments without repression, so they sublimate and dissolve?
    robotStraight_Man
  • ThailandTomThailandTom Veteran
    Jayantha said:

    we all are... of course his heart didn't leap at it, he was probably pretty fearful... a prince who had everything he ever wanted cutting off his hair and going into the woods alone. The determination to find a way out was stronger then the fears and attachment to sensual pleasure.

    I'm moving towards the process of renunciation where the plan is to start the process of becoming a monk in a year or so. This has been a natural progression as everything I use to think WAS life has become part of the unsatisfactory(dukkha) nature of life.. and I'm looking for something better.

    do you think my mind is leaping.. " ooh good I'll never have sex again or eat all kinds of tasty fattening foods and watch history channel and play video games" ( all sensual passion).. of course I've always liked all of that stuff.. but I want.. and know.. there is something more. At this point in my practice I have confidence(faith) in what the Buddha did and I'm getting ready to follow the same path.

    I have had this notion for quite some time now, for some who are practicing Buddhists this way of life at some point will seem like the obvious way to walk, for others the lay life will be the right way to walk. I have noticed how life would be easier in a general sense and also with regards to my practice if I was single. Also I have a job working within the field that I have trained and wanted to work in, I find it draining physically and mentally and also at times very stressful. I have wondered from time to time if this is what life is about, the way society has set up things, is this what life is? If it is the case then I am going to end up in robed sooner or later because it just doesn't seem natural or 'right' if that makes any sense.
  • BunksBunks Australia Veteran
    ThailandTom said:

    Jayantha said:

    we all are... of course his heart didn't leap at it, he was probably pretty fearful... a prince who had everything he ever wanted cutting off his hair and going into the woods alone. The determination to find a way out was stronger then the fears and attachment to sensual pleasure.

    I'm moving towards the process of renunciation where the plan is to start the process of becoming a monk in a year or so. This has been a natural progression as everything I use to think WAS life has become part of the unsatisfactory(dukkha) nature of life.. and I'm looking for something better.

    do you think my mind is leaping.. " ooh good I'll never have sex again or eat all kinds of tasty fattening foods and watch history channel and play video games" ( all sensual passion).. of course I've always liked all of that stuff.. but I want.. and know.. there is something more. At this point in my practice I have confidence(faith) in what the Buddha did and I'm getting ready to follow the same path.

    I have had this notion for quite some time now, for some who are practicing Buddhists this way of life at some point will seem like the obvious way to walk, for others the lay life will be the right way to walk. I have noticed how life would be easier in a general sense and also with regards to my practice if I was single. Also I have a job working within the field that I have trained and wanted to work in, I find it draining physically and mentally and also at times very stressful. I have wondered from time to time if this is what life is about, the way society has set up things, is this what life is? If it is the case then I am going to end up in robed sooner or later because it just doesn't seem natural or 'right' if that makes any sense.
    I get the same feeling re: taking to the robes at times too TT but I made the decision to get married and have children. Having made that commitment, I have no intention of breaking it.

    I do wonder of I'd feel differently if I had discovered the buddha's teachings before wife and kids though? Who knows......



    :scratch:
  • BhikkhuJayasaraBhikkhuJayasara Bhikkhu Veteran
    Bunks said:

    ThailandTom said:

    Jayantha said:

    we all are... of course his heart didn't leap at it, he was probably pretty fearful... a prince who had everything he ever wanted cutting off his hair and going into the woods alone. The determination to find a way out was stronger then the fears and attachment to sensual pleasure.

    I'm moving towards the process of renunciation where the plan is to start the process of becoming a monk in a year or so. This has been a natural progression as everything I use to think WAS life has become part of the unsatisfactory(dukkha) nature of life.. and I'm looking for something better.

    do you think my mind is leaping.. " ooh good I'll never have sex again or eat all kinds of tasty fattening foods and watch history channel and play video games" ( all sensual passion).. of course I've always liked all of that stuff.. but I want.. and know.. there is something more. At this point in my practice I have confidence(faith) in what the Buddha did and I'm getting ready to follow the same path.

    I have had this notion for quite some time now, for some who are practicing Buddhists this way of life at some point will seem like the obvious way to walk, for others the lay life will be the right way to walk. I have noticed how life would be easier in a general sense and also with regards to my practice if I was single. Also I have a job working within the field that I have trained and wanted to work in, I find it draining physically and mentally and also at times very stressful. I have wondered from time to time if this is what life is about, the way society has set up things, is this what life is? If it is the case then I am going to end up in robed sooner or later because it just doesn't seem natural or 'right' if that makes any sense.
    I get the same feeling re: taking to the robes at times too TT but I made the decision to get married and have children. Having made that commitment, I have no intention of breaking it.

    I do wonder of I'd feel differently if I had discovered the buddha's teachings before wife and kids though? Who knows......



    :scratch:

    I was married young and she died of cancer 7 years ago, thankfully no kids. I view this as my chance to go for it. I was given another chance as it were, to live the unconventional life I always knew I was destined for. Of course growing up I had all kinds of fantasies( I was going to be a jet setting archaeologist AND raise a family at the same time.. lol) as to what my "not normal" life would be, now I feel I was born to be a monk and probably was one in a former life.... everything in my life seems to be leading me down this path.

    that being said.. I can never say how my life will turn out, maybe I try the monk thing and in a year or two I realize it's not for me or it was a "phase" then I go on with my lay life, get married again, etc.. who knows. There was this great tv mini series called Merlin from 1998 with Sam Niel in which the character arthur says a very buddhist thing. " I don't know what I'll do or what I'll become.. only what I am".

    Thats pretty much how I see things currently.

    I wouldn't feel any regret or second thoughts on having a family. Those of us who have lost family know how precious it is. Your family is what is most important and i'm sure you've come to realize by now that you also don't have to choose your family or your practice, you can have both :).
    Bunkslobster
  • ThailandTomThailandTom Veteran
    Bunks said:

    ThailandTom said:

    Jayantha said:

    we all are... of course his heart didn't leap at it, he was probably pretty fearful... a prince who had everything he ever wanted cutting off his hair and going into the woods alone. The determination to find a way out was stronger then the fears and attachment to sensual pleasure.

    I'm moving towards the process of renunciation where the plan is to start the process of becoming a monk in a year or so. This has been a natural progression as everything I use to think WAS life has become part of the unsatisfactory(dukkha) nature of life.. and I'm looking for something better.

    do you think my mind is leaping.. " ooh good I'll never have sex again or eat all kinds of tasty fattening foods and watch history channel and play video games" ( all sensual passion).. of course I've always liked all of that stuff.. but I want.. and know.. there is something more. At this point in my practice I have confidence(faith) in what the Buddha did and I'm getting ready to follow the same path.

    I have had this notion for quite some time now, for some who are practicing Buddhists this way of life at some point will seem like the obvious way to walk, for others the lay life will be the right way to walk. I have noticed how life would be easier in a general sense and also with regards to my practice if I was single. Also I have a job working within the field that I have trained and wanted to work in, I find it draining physically and mentally and also at times very stressful. I have wondered from time to time if this is what life is about, the way society has set up things, is this what life is? If it is the case then I am going to end up in robed sooner or later because it just doesn't seem natural or 'right' if that makes any sense.
    I get the same feeling re: taking to the robes at times too TT but I made the decision to get married and have children. Having made that commitment, I have no intention of breaking it.

    I do wonder of I'd feel differently if I had discovered the buddha's teachings before wife and kids though? Who knows......



    :scratch:
    You can still practice and reap the rewards of doing so at home as you most likely know. I myself have said all along I never intend to get married or have children and I have been in relationships pretty much non-stop from the age of 16 up until now, most of which were longish and not a couple of months here and a couple of months there. I just see marriage and children as a great responsibility and a burden to my life in general. To each their own of course and I am sure you have a great love for your children and it is a totally unique life changing experience, however it is not for me. I would like to be able to go and do what I would like when I would like without having that worry or responsibility, in this instance for example I would like to have the opportunity to leave everything in my life and become a monk when I feel the time is right. I would have to leave my job yes, if I am still with my current girlfriend her too, but I don't have any plans as of yet to do so. I have made a mental point though that if and when I finish with my partner for whatever reason, I have no want to be in a relationship after her.
    Bunks
  • BunksBunks Australia Veteran
    I would be a liar if I said there wasn't a small part of me that is envious of the freedom of not having the responsibility of a family (so sorry for your loss @Jayantha).

    Having said that, they give me the discipline required to practice and my two year old daughter is as good a teacher of patience as there is! ;)
    lobster
  • ThailandTomThailandTom Veteran
    Bunks said:

    I would be a liar if I said there wasn't a small part of me that is envious of the freedom of not having the responsibility of a family (so sorry for your loss @Jayantha).

    Having said that, they give me the discipline required to practice and my two year old daughter is as good a teacher of patience as there is! ;)

    Yea I think there is a lot of Dhammas to be found within relationships, the family and workplace. The point of becoming a monk or nun should not be to run away from such things as that is not embracing life for what it is, but there is a reason why monks and nuns subject themselves to such renunciation.
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