Sannyasa (renunciation) sannyasin (renunciant) Gita

Giving up attachments to action, not to action (Sannyasa) Bhagavad Gita

Training: Bhagavad Gita Course - Karma Yoga Course - Master in Bhagavad Gita

In chapter 5- The Yoga of Renunciation of Action (Sannyasa) of the Bhagavad Gita, Sri Krishna said to Arjuna:

Bhagavad Gita 5.2. Karmayoga (Action) is better than Sannyasa (renunciation)

And Sri Krishna also relates Sannyasa with the liberation of dualities:

Bhagavad Gita 5.3. You must know the one who always gives up, whom he has neither likes nor dislikes

For Gandhi:

“Not renouncing action but attachment to pairs of opposites determines true renunciation. A man who is always in action may be a good Sannyasa (renunciant) and another who may not be working may be a hypocrite.” Gandhi.

For Swami Sivananda:

“A man does not become a Sannyasin simply by abandoning actions due to laziness, ignorance, family disputes, calamities or not having a job. A true Sannyasin is one who has no attachment or aversion to anything. Physical renunciation of objects is not renunciation at all. What is required is the renunciation of selfishness and desires.” Swami Sivananda.

In verse 2 of Chapter 6, the Yoga of Meditation (Dhyana Yoga) of the Bhagavad Gita, we find another definition of Yoga: renunciation:

Bhagavad Gita 6-2. That which is called Sannyasa (renunciation), know it as yoga

When Sri Ramakrishna was asked what the meaning of the Bhagavad Gita was, he said:

Sri Ramakrishna What is the meaning of the Bhagavad Gita? tagi Renunciation

It is important to note that the last chapter of the Bhagavad Gita, which contains a summary of the teachings of the previous 17 chapters, is called precisely: The Yoga of Liberation through Renunciation (Moksha Sannyasa Yoga). Sannyasa: giving up attachments to action, not action, is clearly stated in this chapter.

This chapter begins with a question from Arjuna to Sri Krishna:

Bhagavad Gita (Philosophy of Yoga) 18-1. Learn the secret of sannyasa and tyaga