Sanyas is not Running Away from World but Running Towards Truth

Many times today, Sanyasa is being labeled as an “escapism” and “running away” from this world. Many an enlightened people also say this to their followers; asking them not to renounce this material world but to remain in it and at the same time remaining detached. As a friend said, “The way I take it is in the way of Sri Krishna - he lived in this world (no sanyas), was a king, married, fought, etc. But all the time he was detached from it. In other words, we seek power & success not for its own sake, but that the world follows only such people. So to lead people onto real happiness, one seeks all the fruits of this world, while at the same time is detached from it.” He also maintains that Sanyasa is an escapist’s attitude.

I am not in agreement with this assertion and I think this trend of labeling Sanysa as escapism is a corruption from our ideals.

Hinduism says our life should have four stages or ashramas. Grihastha's ideal is what my friend says above (of remaining unattached even amidst all world games)... But I think 3rd and 4th ashramas are also very important and the world today is forgetting these. We are so attached with everything material that we acquire during grihastha ashram, that we end up dying in grihastha ashram itself... To get rid of attachment during grihastha ashram is as difficult as separating oxygen and hydrogen from air or water for a common man - we end up having attachments. Though great people can attain moksha living in grishtha ashram also, but it is very very difficult for most souls.

I think taking sanyas is not "running away" as it is being tagged often; it is indeed "running towards" true realization. This is why Swami Vivekananda also spoke so highly of it.

For enjoying this world’s beauties, we can see sceneries until we have vision; we can enjoy food until we have digestion; and when we lose all senses we realize that all these were futile. But alas, at that stage this realization does not help us because we are sick and ready to die... So we take next birth and whole story repeats...

One can see this world as a war ground between good and evil. Rishis saw each individual having the same war between good and evil within his/her self. This is why they preached Sanyas. It is futile to wish good people winning over evil; Hinduism says everything is "cyclic". If we understand that this is not one to one fight but just a "cycle", one can be at peace.

Coming back on Sanyas, theoretically it is possible to remain unattached and get Moska being a Grihasthi. Just like theoretically we can walk over a rope. Theoretically we can live like Krishn lived His life. Earlier Rishis and Gurus inspired people to take Sanyas because they wanted them to get Mokshs. Now a days Gurus are running shops and businesses, which are all supported only by Grihasthas. What can a Sanyasi be of benefit to the Cult leaders? They don't have money to take part in their paid workshops. Sanyasis are of no "benefit" to all of us - people of the material world. So we label them as "escapists" while Hinduism says we are escapists who remain attached to this world and turn blind eye to the Truth on different pretexts. If 50% of India takes Sanyas, shall we not have enough men for army? No, in that case there won't be corruption and bigotry anywhere and Dharma will rule over our land. Ever since we started valuing materialism, which is dharma for a grihasth, we are losing ground. Swami Vivekananda spoke so highly of it... My objection is not in teaching good life to grihasthi; my objection is against the propaganda to label sanyas as "running away" kind of thing.

If we say that no one should take sanyasa, etc, then it is not truth. It has always been in our land, that renunciation and sanyasa are accepted as highest acts of courage. Hindus always remember and honor their lineage which could be traced to some Rishis in ancient India. And in ancient India, our land was the richest in this world even on material parameters. Because if we have our value system intact, it shows in other areas also. Ram Rajya was our ideal; even then Kings used to salute and revere Rishis and men of renunciation. I know that King Janak is the ideal for any grihasthi, but still Sanyasa was never seen with even an iota of negative shade.