The Renounced Me – The Householder Me – The Serene Me

A journey from worldly responsibilities to inner stillness

*Why are we so unsettled?*

Many people today are unsettled — not because life is falling apart, but because everything seems fine on the surface, yet something feels missing inside.

Why is that?

Because we believe that our true existence lies only in our roles, duties, and responsibilities.

From morning to night, we are always “doing something” — constantly acting, responding, executing.

And yet, after all that doing… there’s an invisible vacuum in the heart — a strange silence, an unnamed fatigue.

The reason is simple:

We never learned how to just be.

We are “human beings,” but we forgot how to be.

We’ve become so busy “doing” that we’ve lost the essence of “being.”

We do everything unconsciously — without pausing to ask “Why? For whom?”

And deep within, a question keeps whispering — “Is this what life really is?”

*Why are we so confused?*

Because our mind is cluttered — with thoughts, emotions, desires, and reactions all buzzing at once.

This storm inside is what ancient yogis called “chitta vritti” — mental fluctuations.

As Patanjali says in the Yoga Sutras:

“Yogah chitta-vritti nirodhah”

(Yoga is the stilling of the mind’s fluctuations.)

That stillness — that freedom — is the real liberation.

And the path to that liberation does not require us to escape into the Himalayas.

It begins right here.

When…

• The body stops dramatic performance,

• The mind stops pretending,

• And the heart speaks with honesty…

Then arises what we call the renounced mindset — सन्न्यस्त वृत्ती.

*Renunciation is not escape — it’s inner stability*

This mindset doesn’t mean withdrawal from life.

It means being present in every moment — without clinging, without ego.

It’s playing your role — fully — while knowing that you’re more than the role.

It’s not about avoiding action, but acting without attachment.

And when this mindset seeps into your behavior, nature, and decisions —

That’s when your character starts to form — quietly, deeply.

*Character is not a mask – it’s your mirror*

Character isn’t about reputation.

It’s about alignment — when your thoughts, words, emotions, and actions speak the same truth.

Then people don’t say, “He’s a good man.”

They feel, “He’s a transparent soul.”

And that’s what we call Jeevan-Yoga — the yoga of conscious living.

Such living gives rise to inner calm, clarity, and courage —

All of which slowly melt into what we call serenity.

*True serenity is mindful presence*

It’s not apathy.

It’s not boredom.

Serenity is not the absence of life — it is the presence of awareness.

The serene person isn’t cold — they’re intensely alive… from within.

Their words carry strength, not noise.

Their smile brings peace, not pretense.

As Sadguru Wamanrao Pai beautifully says:

*Wisdom is accepting reality — and gently steering it in the right direction.*

This wisdom becomes a paramount stability — a still center in the chaos.

Wherever such a person goes, they carry stillness, rootedness, and presence with them.

Their breath, their gaze, their silence — all flow from authenticity, not performance.

*True stability can’t be taught – only lived*

Today, there are workshops everywhere for personality development — but not for character formation.

Because personality can be trained —

But character blossoms only in the shade of a Sadguru’s presence.

This is the work of Jeevanvidya Mission —

Teaching the yoga of life (Jeevan-Yoga) that empowers the seeker to be active, thoughtful, and deeply rooted in values.

*And what lies at the root of serenity?*

One word: Sahajata — Effortless Simplicity

Artificiality drains us.

Simplicity energizes us.

When your thoughts, actions, and reactions start becoming natural,

when you don’t force your smile or your silence,

when what you do feels just right…

then serenity begins to grow like a sprout within you.

Sahajata is not about doing nothing —

It’s doing the right thing, in the right way, with the right presence.

Sahajata is a gentle breeze flowing through your behavior, speech, thoughts, and choices.

Like the fragrance of a flower — it doesn’t need to announce itself.

It simply is.

*The biological truth of Sahajata*

Sahajata brings not just peace — but health:

• Stress hormones like cortisol decrease

• Happy chemicals like dopamine and serotonin increase naturally

• Heart rhythms calm down

• The nervous system rebalances

• And the body enters a state of healing harmony

In short — Sahajata is a silent symphony within.

And when life becomes Sahaj…

• The body stops exaggerating

• The language sheds arrogance

• The mind lets go of “I already know everything”

That’s when a person becomes Down to Earth —

Not in appearance, but in rootedness.

*True Down to Earth is invisible grace*

A truly grounded person may not be famous —

But in their presence, people feel safe… calm… closer to themselves.

Their steadiness, their silence, their laughter, their glance —

Everything becomes a gentle blessing without words.

*Let’s not change the outside — let’s soften the inside*

Let’s not rush to change the world just yet.

Let’s first find inner stillness.

As Ganeshotsav ends… and Pitru Paksha (the fortnight of ancestral reflection) begins —

Let’s offer not just a farewell to Ganesha,

But also to our inner chaos.

Let’s accept, quietly and mindfully:

• The renounced mindset

• The serene awareness

• The effortless simplicity as the path forward.

Let’s say…

“I want to live fully — but remain inwardly detached.”

“I want to participate — yet be peaceful within.”

“I want to act — but stay effortless while doing so.”

This is what it means to be:

Renounced in family life.

Serene in the face of challenges.

Rooted in oneself — even amid the crowd.

Let’s become… peacefully present.

*Jai Sadguru*

*Jai Jeevanvidya*

*This is the true art of living.*

✍🏼 A reflection on the Renounced Mindset

*Jayant Joshi*