The seed has to renounce its identity and become one with the soil so that the tree might emerge. So too, the ego has to sacrifice itself so that man’s divine nature can manifest itself. Mama iti mrityu, ‘Mine’ is death; ‘not mine’ is immortality: tyagat shantir anantaram (Bhagavat Gita 12:12) - Renunciation results in peace. The golden key of non-attachment opens the lock, which keeps the door to heaven shut. ‘Give up; I shall fill the gap’ says Jesus.
To day, renunciation has become a means for success and fame! It has become a bargaining point. Renouncing animal and even human failings and earning the awareness of the Divine which is the core is the most valuable Sadhana. (SSS Vol.11, p. 272)
Nurture the will to give, to renounce the little for the big the momentary for the sake of the momentous? (SSS Vol.9)
Many people interpret tyaga (renunciation) to mean either giving away as charity, money and land or performing Yajna or Yaga or other ceremonies, named sacrifices or giving up hearth and home, wife and children and proceeding to the forest. But tyaga does not mean such gestures of weak-mindedness. These are not as difficult as they are supposed to be. If so minded, one can go through these acts easily and give up what the acts prescribe. The real renunciation is the giving up of desire.
This is the real goal of a person’s existence, the purpose of all his efforts. The giving up of desire involves the giving up of lust, anger, greed, hatred, etc. The fundamental renunciation should be that of desire. The other feelings and emotions are its attendant reactions. (V Vahini, p. 22)
What is it that is to be renounced? Are external objects like houses and vehicles which should be given up? Or is one to give up kith and kin or one’s possessions? No. These things can be renounced easily. With some determination all these can be given up. But, this is not real sacrifice. It can be a form of enjoyment (bhoga) or a kind of disease (roga). The real renunciation which one has to make is giving up of the evil qualities of Kama (desire) Krodha (anger) and Lobha (greed). (SSS Vol.21)
The universe is permeated with love. It is the embodiment of Vishnu. There is nothing in the cosmos, no place in it where He is not present. To regard the Universe as a manifestation of God and to experience it as such is real devotion. Sage Narada was the supreme exponent of this doctrine. He observed: Yat gyatva matto bhavati, Sthabhdho bhavati, atmaramo bhavati (Narada Bhakti Sutra:6)
Tyago bhavati, thrupto bhavati, Atmaramo bhavati. (The lover of God renounces everything; he is supremely content. He is immersed in the bliss of the Self. Endow me with such love, Oh Lord) (SSS Vol.19, pp. 5-6)