Vachanamrut Essence

Gadhadā I-2

1. Characteristics of one with the highest level of vairāgya:

1. He is not affected by engaging in worldly activities like King Janak.
2. He indulges in the most alluring of the panchvishays dejectedly and with total indifference towards them.
3. His renunciation remains undiminished.
4. He invariably views the vishays as flawed and treats them like enemies.
5. He constantly remains in contact with sādhus and the sacred scriptures, and remains in the service of God.
6. Even if he were to encounter adverse circumstances (eight factors of influence: places, times, company, etc.), his understanding would not diminish.

2. Characteristics of one with an intermediate level of vairāgya:

1. He indulges in the best of the panchvishays and remains unattracted to them.
2. But if he encounters adverse circumstances:

1. He would become attached to those vishays.
2. His level of vairāgya would diminish.

3. Characteristics of one with the lowest level of vairāgya: if he were to encounter ordinary or inferior vishays, he may indulge in them, but he would not become bound by them. However, if he were to encounter and indulge in appealing vishays, he would become bound by them.