The Bhagavad Gita by Eknath Easwaran

chapter five
╭ Renounce & Rejoice
At the beginning of this chapter,
the traditional approach to the spiritual life – that is, “leaving
the world,” retiring from the ordinary affairs of job and family
– is contrasted with working in the world with detachment.
The general term for retiring from the world is san nyasa,
“renunciation.” Traditionally, sannyasa meant renouncing
all worldly ties and attachments. The person undertaking the
vow of sannyasa would leave home, family, and occupation to
pursue a strict contemplative life.
This was a path chosen by very few, even in ancient India.
Yet we shouldn’t forget that surprising numbers of people in
traditional societies, both in the East and the West, have chosen
a monastic life removed from the turmoil of the world. In
India, the Compassionate Buddha provides the classic example
of one who leaves the comforts and fulfillments of family
and worldly life to seek the lonely way to Self-realization. The
story is well known throughout Asia. Siddhartha Gautama
was a prince with every worldly satisfaction within his reach,
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