18 Feb 2008 Wiesbaden, Germany
Category: Indian culture
Today we were preparing for our journey tomorrow. We will fly back to India! We are all looking forward very much! Everything is packed now and suitcases and bags are ready.
Yesterday I gave the example of a Sadhu for showing what detachment is. I would like to describe the life of a Sadhu a bit more in detail on the one hand to give an idea how indian culture is and on the other hand to show with how little one can live. There are still millions of people in India who are living this life. Like I said yesterday, they do not have any attachment. Neither with people, places or things. If you ask any Sadhu what his birth place is or who are his parents, he will be annoyed and even offended. Everybody knows that he doesn't want to talk about it because he has detached himself from all of this.
There is a saying: They live under a tree and eat in the hand. Especially in Vrindavan it is a holy tradition and very beautiful thing to feed Sadhus when they come to your door. In my childhood one Sadhu was coming more often to us. A Sadhu comes and knocks on the door, but he will not come in. The owner will feel honoured as though god came personally. They will happily give him as much as he can take in his hands because he will not take a plate. My Mum always gave him roti, the Indian bread, on top of that Rice, on top of that vegetables and on top of that dal, which is lentil soup. She gave him as much as he could hold and he ate it out of his hands. And please be aware that this is not considered as begging. Everybody will be happy to feed him. He lives a life in which he doesn't even have attachment with food. He chose only to devote himself and to be with his God, to do spiritual practice. He doesn't have any luggage; he is just living like this, bathing in river. Sadhus try to reduce their necessities as much as possible and wander from town to town so that they do not get attached to places, either. And everybody can choose this life. I even know someone who was a very successful lawyer, a very rich man who had everything that money can buy, and he became Sadhu. He was very happy with this choice to leave his home and to devote himself fully to this spiritual practice.
I have also lived for long time this wandering Sadhu life and I still am living it in the sense that I devote everything that I do to my God, the love. We just had a Pooja ceremony with which we finished our journey through Europe on this last day.
Tags:: Indian culture, God, Tradition, Detachment, Life, Sadhus, Satisfaction
6 Comments
Posted By Swami Balendu
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Wow, this is quite an extreme and intense way to live. But it's respectable that they devote their whole lives to their relationship with god. And it's nice that the Indian communities support these sadhus generously with food. I don't think it would be similar in the U.S.... sadhus wouldn't be given food by random strangers; they would be considered beggars, dirty, mentally ill, etc. I would also find it sad to be without family and friends... they create so much joy in life! But a sadhu would find peace in no attachments, I guess.
Reply By Emily on October 18, 2011 05:59
Too give up everything is such an odd idea in the west. We have grown up in a world where your happiness and success is measured in money , materials, and certificates. No wonder our minds race and we have trouble clearing our minds.
Reply By Rachel on April 24, 2011 05:55
Wow. What a powerful way to live. i wonder if they are happy and the things they think about everyday. Is it common to choose to be sadhu? are there any children who are raised to be like this or is it more from a particular region in India?
Reply By Hermione on December 26, 2010 05:29
I knew there had to be people who chose a lifestyle like this. Incredible.
Reply By Harry on November 06, 2010 11:38
In my country (the USA) there is no name for the people that choose this life. They go unnamed. It is interesting to consider the discrepancies this creates. I cannot really know them...but its interesting...To be called many things or nothing, to not be understood an many instances, may help some people with detachment, and make it more difficult for others. I think maybe, a Sadhu in India is better fed, haha.
Reply By Goergia Baker on October 23, 2010 08:11
Today was the last day of the school year 11/12. The children got their report cards, the olde...
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