Yoga Sutra 1.15

दृष्टानुश्रविकविषयवितृष्णस्य वशीकारसंज्ञा वैराग्यम् ॥१५॥

dṛṣṭa-anuśravika-viṣaya-vitṛṣṇasya vaśīkāra-saṁjṇā vairāgyam ॥15॥

1. dṛṣṭa: seen, perceived
2. anuśravika: heard in tradition (scriptural)
3. viṣaya: object
4. vitṛṣṇasya: of the one who is free from desire or craving
5. vaśīkāra: total control
6. saṁjṇā: awareness, consciousness
7. vairāgyam: non-attachment, desirelessness, dispassion

When an individual becomes free of craving for the sense objects which he has experienced as well as those of which he has heard, that state of consciousness is vairagya.

Lower form of vairagya - In vairagya, a person will not crave for any objects meant for sensual pleasure, the object may be of seen or experienced by him or heard from somewhere. In vairagya, one does not have to leave his material life, or change his life; while doing household chores, carrying out all the responsibilities of family and society, one can attain vairagya. No need to give up one´s duties.

He needs to give up only the raga and dwesha, which causes agony, disruptions in the mind, specifically to the subconscious mind. In Bhagavad Gita, it is said that ¨an individual can be free in this life itself even while performing the various necessary and mundane acts in life, if only he could detach himself from the good and bad effects of his actions.¨

The practice of vairagya starts from within, the inner life, the thinking process, emotions and feelings you carry, the attitude towards life and philosophy, balanced positive attitude, love and compassion for all, yet a sort of detachment in every works that one does. It should happen spontaneously and selflessly. Vairagya is thus a manifestation of the purity and peace of one´s mind. It bestows upon the sadhaka an undisturbed happiness and silence which remains unchanged, whether the events of action are pleasant or not.

References

• Four Chapters on Freedom by Swami Satyananda Saraswati, published in 1976.