(Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura’s Lesson on Real Detachment)
A Class on Detachment
One day, Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura gave a powerful class on vairāgya—true detachment from material life. His words were sharp and transformative, cutting through the illusion of false renunciation. He spoke of how the soul must rise above attachment to possessions, pride, and sense pleasure, fixing the mind solely upon service to Śrī Kṛṣṇa.
The devotees were moved, deeply inspired by his gravity and his conviction. To hear from such a realized soul was itself a lesson in what genuine detachment means.
The Monkey’s Mischief
Later that day, while Śrīla Sarasvatī Ṭhākura was writing in his study, he noticed a monkey sneaking into the godown—a storeroom adjacent to his room. The monkey had found some ripe bananas that were meant to be offered to the Deities. It grabbed them greedily and began to run away.
Seeing this, Śrīla Sarasvatī Ṭhākura immediately sprang from his seat, taking a stick in hand. In his haste, his writing desk overturned, his ink spilled across his papers, and his manuscript was smudged. The sight was dramatic—his deep concentration in writing suddenly replaced by quick, determined movement to chase the thieving monkey.
The Cook’s Question
The temple cook, who had witnessed the scene, was puzzled. After the commotion ended, he respectfully approached the ācārya and said, “Mahārāja, this morning you spoke so beautifully about detachment from material possessions. Yet now, for the sake of two bananas, you interrupted your writing and even spoiled your work! How should we understand this?”
The question was sincere. To ordinary eyes, the incident looked like a contradiction between words and actions.
The Master’s Answer
Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura smiled gently and replied,
“These bananas are not mine. They belong to Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī, for they are meant for Kṛṣṇa’s service. To protect what belongs to Her is not attachment—it is devotion. To neglect the Lord’s property is irreverence.”
He continued, “Detachment does not mean indifference. A devotee must be indifferent to his own comfort but alert in all matters of service. To allow the Lord’s property to be misused is negligence, not renunciation.”
With these few words, the cook’s heart was illuminated. He realized that what looked like worldly concern was, in truth, pure devotion—protection of the sacred.
Reflection
This short yet profound incident reveals the essence of real detachment. True renunciation is not about rejecting the world but about seeing everything as belonging to Kṛṣṇa.
Lessons to learn:
- Detachment is not carelessness. A devotee guards every object meant for the Lord as a sacred trust.
- Renunciation means service-centered life. We give up personal attachment, not divine responsibility.
- The saint’s anger and haste were love in disguise. What appeared to be agitation was pure zeal to protect what was sacred.
In Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura’s actions, we see the perfection of yukta-vairāgya—using everything for the pleasure of Śrī Kṛṣṇa and His beloved Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī. His every movement, even chasing a monkey, was worship.
