vairagya

Vairagya, from Sanskrit vi- meaning apart and raga meaning attachment, is the quality of dispassion or renunciation of attachment to sensory pleasures, wealth, status, or personal outcomes. In Hindu philosophy and spirituality, vairagya denotes a cultivated detachment that enables discernment and spiritual progress. It is often described as an antidote to craving and as a prerequisite for knowledge leading to liberation (moksha), though it does not necessarily require external asceticism.

In Advaita Vedanta, vairagya is closely linked with viveka (discernment) and is regarded as essential for realizing the true self. It involves recognizing the impermanent nature of the world and understanding the distinction between the self (atman) and the not-self (anatman). In the Yoga tradition, vairagya is one of the two companions to abhyasa (practice): steady practice and dispassion help quiet the mind’s fluctuations (citta vritti) and support progress toward kaivalya (liberation).

Vairagya also appears in devotional and Smriti-based traditions, where it is thought to coexist with devotee-centered paths. It is not necessarily withdrawal from society; rather, it is a stable inner attitude of freedom from attachment that can accompany household life while preserving duties and love.

Practically, vairagya signifies more than abstention from pleasures; it is an inner stance of non-attachment to outcomes, possessions, or sensory stimuli. It is cultivated through discernment, ethical self-control, contemplation, and meditation, and is viewed as a sign of maturity on the spiritual path.

In modern usage, vairagya is often described as inner equanimity and ethical restraint, applicable to both renunciates and householders pursuing spiritual growth.