vairagya: (Sanskrit) "Dispassion; aversion." Freedom from passion. Distaste or disgust for worldliness because of spiritual awakening. Also, the constant renunciation of obstacles on the path to liberation. Ascetic or monastic life.

(See also: Vairagya, Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

vairagya: (Sanskrit) "Dispassion; aversion." Freedom

from passion. Distaste or disgust for worldliness because

of spiritual awakening. Also, the constant renunciation of obstacles on the path to liberation. Ascetic or monastic

life.

(See also: Vairagya, Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

paramahamsa: (Sanskrit) "Supreme swan."

From hamsa, meaning swan or, more precisely, the high-flying Indian goose, Anser Indicus. A class of liberated renunciates.

See: hamsa.

(See also: Paramahamsa, Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

Upeksha (Sanskrit). Lit., Renunciation. In Yoga a state of absolute indifference attained by self-control, the complete mastery over one’s mental and physical feelings and sensations.

(See also: Upeksha, Theosophy, Spirituality, Body mind and Soul, Spiritual Dictionary, )

A Theosophical definition of Sannyasin :

Sannyasin

(Sanskrit) One who renounces (a renouncer); from sannyasa, "renunciation," abandonment of worldly bonds and attractions. Resignation to the service of the spiritual nature.

See also: Sannyasin, Mysticism, Body Mind and Soul)

sannyasa diksha: (Sanskrit) "Renunciate initiation."

This diksha is a formal rite, or less often an informal blessing, entering the devotee into renunciate monasticism, binding him for life to certain vows which include chastity, poverty and obedience, and directing him on the path to Self Realization.

Strictest tradition requires that lifetime renunciates be single men and that they enter training in their order before age 25. However, there are certain orders which accept men into sannyasa after age 25, provided they have been in college and not in the world after that time. Others will accept widowers; and a few initiate women. Such rules and qualifications apply primarily to cenobites, that is, to those who will live and serve together in an ashrama or monastery. The rules pertaining to homeless anchorites are, for obvious reasons, more lenient.

See: sannyasa dharma, videhamukti, diksha, deeksha.

(See also: Sannyasa diksha, Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

sannyasa: (Sanskrit) "Renunciation." "Throwing down or abandoning."

Sannyasa is the repudiation of the dharma, including the obligations and duties, of the householder and the acceptance of the even more demanding dharma of the renunciate.

The ancient shastras recognize four justifiable motivations for entering into sannyasa: vidvat, vividisha, markata and atura.

• Vidvat ("knowing; wise") sannyasa is the spontaneous withdrawal from the world in search for Self Realization which results from karma and tendencies developed in a previous life.
• Vividisha ("discriminating") sannyasa is renunciation to satisfy a yearning for the Self developed through scriptural study and practice.
• Markata sannyasa is taking refuge in sannyasa as a result of great sorrow, disappointment or misfortune in worldly pursuits. (Markata means "monkeylike," perhaps implying the analogy of a monkey clinging to its mother.)
• Atura ("suffering or sick") sannyasa is entering into sannyasa upon one's deathbed, realizing that there is no longer hope in life.

See: sannyasa dharma, sannyasa diksha, videhamukti.

(See also: Sannyasa, Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

Phalgu-vairagya - futile renunciation; renunciation which is unfavorable to bhakti. This is defined in Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu (1.2.256): "When people who desire liberation give up objects which are related to Krsna, considering them to be material, their renunciation is known as phalgu-vairagya.”

Srila Jiva Gosvami has explained in his commentary that this especially refers to giving up prasada, or remnants of food and other articles offered to Him. This giving up of prasada is of two types: never requesting Krsna’s prasada, and refusing it when it comes unsolicited. The second one in particular is considered to be an offense and therefore unfavorable to bhakti.

(See also: Phalgu-vairagya, Bhakti, Bhakti Yoga, Bhakti Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

Karmasannyasa Yoga (Sanskrit) The attaining of at-one-ment with the highest by means of renunciation of action for personal benefit, treated in the fifth chapter of the Bhagavad-Gita. An ascetic who seeks nothing for self and rejects nothing for self, who is free from the influence of the pairs of opposites, is thereby released from the bonds forged by action or karma; but renunciation of action and devotion through action are both means of final emancipation, and of the two, devotion through action or karma yoga is superior to renunciation. Thus it is better for the personal man to act, and if necessary to act strongly, for spiritual things and causes, than to renounce personal action of any kind and thereby sink into fruitless quietism.

(See also: Karmasannyasa Yoga, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Occultism, Occultism Dictionary)

Sannyasin:

One who, having had his fill of the material world, having fulfilled his family duties, turns to the spiritual path, and dedicates his life to the spiritual growth of himself and those he teaches. There is a Holy Order of Sannyasa whose members don the saffron robes and take vows of renunciation, and allegiance to God.

(See also: Sannyasin, Body Mind and Soul)

Bhagavan

The Personality of Godhead, who possesses in full the six opulences (bhagas) of perfection—strength, fame, beauty, knowledge, renunciation, and power to control.

(See also: Bhagavan, Bhakti, Bhakti Yoga, Bhakti Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

ashrama: the four orders or stages of a Hindu's life—brahmacharya (student), grhastha (householder), vanaprastha (forest-dweller), sannyasa (renunciate).

(See also: ashrama, Hinduism, Yoga, Body Mind and Soul)

swami (m), swamini (f): the title used by a sannyasi who has taken the vows of renunciation; literally one who is with oneself.

(See also: swami, Hinduism, Yoga, Body Mind and Soul)

sannyasa ashrama: the fourth ashrama in the four stages of the Hindu's life. At this time, the life in the world is renounced for the purpose of attaining enlightenment. Vows are administered by a sannyasi renunciate.

(See also: sannyasa ashrama, Hinduism, Yoga, Body Mind and Soul)

Druva:

Druva (Dhruva). Grandson of Brahma and son of Uttanapadha; as a child, he performed severe penance and attained self-renunciation.

(See also: Druva, Hinduism, Hinduism Dictionary, Sanskrit Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)