Datta maata 18: Relentless practice and detachment are both required to obtain success

Abhyasena tu Kaunteya, Vairagyane cha Grihyate||

Sri Krishna has mentioned in Srimad Bhagavad Gita (6:35) that mind can be controlled by doing abhyasa (focused practice) and practicing vairagya (detachment). Our mind is the root cause of all our problems and miseries. Conquering the mind is an extremely hard task. To control (nigraha) the mind two things are needed: constant practice (nirantara abhyasa) and detachment (vairagya).

A shilpaachary (teacher) had two disciples. One of the disciples did constant practice and performed his duties as a shilpi (mason). The other disciple used to be playful. One day the teacher called his two disciples and mentioned that in the forest there is a mountain upon which is a special stone. He asked them both to go get this special stone. The first disciple brought back with him not only a stone but also some flowers and fruits. However, the stone he brought back was of mediocre quality. The teacher asked him why he brought back the additional items. The first disciple replied that the flowers were for his sister and the fruits were for his father. The teacher then asked the second disciple if he too got any extra items since he had an ailing mother. The second disciple replied that he had initially thought to get something for his mother, but he became so engrossed in searching for the special stone that he failed to remember anything else. He searched diligently for the stone until nightfall and finally had to rush back.

The first disciple had awareness of household issues while searching for the special stone and so was not able to obtain the special stone. After all, when difficulties are encountered during sadhana, it gets disturbed, does it not? However, while searching for the special stone, the second disciple felt all his other worries were insignificant. Therefore he did not remember any of his worries. So just working hard is not enough, one has to work with single-mindedness. To get this single-mindedness one has to dislike (virakti) other things. At least during the time of sadhana, one has to develop the dislike or detachment which consists of two steps. The first is a strong belief that all difficulties are only solved by God. If one develops this thinking then that person will not think about the difficulties. The second is that one should have natural (sahaja) love for the work one is doing and not expect anything in return. One should be in a natural joyous state. Only when these two steps come together, one will succeed in sadhana and get siddhi. Along with practice one’s single-mindedness should also increase. People who become rigid like a stone or have wandering minds during pujas should pay close attention to this story. Just by doing practice every day single-mindedness does not come. One has to add detachment (vairagya) to the practice. For this to happen, one should feel that all other things and issues are of lesser value. With Datta’s grace, I pray that each of you gets both practice and detachment.

Jai Guru Datta. Sri Guru Datta.