exploring Vairagya & Viveka - non attachment & discernment

It’s that time again - I’m reflecting on the year that’s been…

I’m reminded of how I am able to choose my own story. I could tell you in two completely different ways, and they would both be true…the power to choose the narrative - the words we tell ourselves and the words we bring into the world - ultimately become the world we live in. Understanding & taking responsibility for the power of these words - as well as deepening the discernment & consciousness around the choices that we make - is living your Yoga practice, off the mat.

Discernment is such an important concept in Yoga that there are (at least!) 3 words for it: Viveka, Tarka & Vichara. These ideas differ greatly through the lens of Tantra & Advaita Vedanta (of course!) as does the concept of Vairagya. Here’s a brief exploration of some of the key ideas… 

Vairagya and Viveka are important ideas in Yoga - and the understanding of these differ greatly between Tantrik and Advaita Vedanta schools of thought. In Tantra, Viveka, also referred to as Tarka, is translated as discernment, and Advaita Vedanta understands it to be discrimination. The path of Tantra is encouraging Viveka, through commitment to presence, focus and an increasing ownership of personal power, to be the ability to discern between that which is serving the realisation of one-ness, and that which is taking you away from that path. Tantrikas allow this strength to grow naturally, as well as allowing for the choices that take you away from the path to be welcomed as part of the journey, part of life. Advaita Vedanta, however, teaches a much more rigid approach - learning rules of right and wrong, and practicing will over that which is taking one off the path, deeming diversion as mistakes to be “discriminated” against. A great example of Advaita Vedanta philosophy is found in the writings of Swami Sivananda Saraswati, who writes:

“Once you are fully aware of the magnitude of human suffering in this relative world, you will naturally begin to discriminate between what is real and what is unreal. Brahman, the Absolute, is real and jagat, the world, is unreal. This is viveka, right understanding or discrimination.”

From the Tantrik perspective, Vairagya is non-attachment. This is altogether different from the Advaita Vedanta translation of detachment.

Swami Sivananda Saraswati writes;

“If the mind is constantly thinking of tea and if there is pain when you do not obtain it, you have asakti, attachment, for tea. This asakti leads to bondage. The practice of vairagya demands that you renounce the asakti for tea. Merely giving up tea does not constitute the essence of vairagya.”

Tantrikas differ completely on the understanding of Vairagya, and the language of “demands” and “renouncing” is the key to discerning the difference. From a Tantrik perspective, using the Swami’s example, one would notice and observe the desire for tea, enquire deeply into it, and (eventually) uncover the part of the energy body that required light/love/practice/consciousness. The desire for tea is not seen as bad, or something to overcome. On the contrary, it is seen as a gift. Tantrikas practice non-attachment to outcome, rather than detachment to desire. Therefore, if the desire for tea can guide us deeper into the self, it is a gift, and if the desire for tea persists without giving any insight, both outcomes are welcome. The ultimate goal is to be able to both enjoy “tea” to its fullest capacity, or to leave it completely, without either outcome having any effect beyond the present moment.

Vichara is a very important and foundational tool in self enquiry and progression on the Yogin’s path. Sometimes translated as discernment, I think it is more useful to divide it from Viveka and Tarka (also discernment) and call it “critical thinking”.

With Vichara we are taking authority within our own life, our own individual set of circumstances, our own particular time / culture / privilege / discrimination / challenges and applying consciousness to enquiry to find answers, rather than following a set of rules that may not really be appropriate or applicable within your personal situation. Embracing Vichara gives personal power and autonomy to the Yogin, as well as the acceptance of responsibility.

In this way we are empowered as Yogin’s on the Tantrik path, to meet challenge without attachment to outcome, and tell our story with ever expanding awareness & responsibility to the power of the words we choose…weaving our own experiences into being.