Paradox of renunciation

Paradox of renunciation - An excerpt from the book "Happiness" by Mathew Ricard

For many people, the idea of renunciation and non attachment implies a descent into a dank dungeon of asceticism and discipline. The depressing privation of life's pleasures. A series of injunctions and bans that restrict one's freedom to enjoy life. A Tibetan proverb says: "Speaking to someone about renunciation is like hitting a pig on the nose with a stick. He doesn't like it at all." But true renunciation is more like a bird soaring into the sky when its cage is opened. Suddenly the endless concerns that had oppressed the mind are gone, allowing the free expression of inner potential. We are like weary marchers, carrying heavy bags filled with a combination of provisions and stones. Wouldn't the smart thing be to set our bag down for a moment to sort it out and lighten our load?

Renunciation is not about depriving ourselves of that which brings us joy and happiness - that would be absurd; it is about abandoning what causes us inexhaustible and relentless distress. It is about having the courage to rid ourselves of dependency on the root causes of suffering. To do this, we first have to identify and recognize these causes and then become mindful of them in our daily life. If we do not take the time to do this, we can easily fool ourselves by overlooking the relevant causes. Renunciation, then, does not come down to saying no to all that is pleasant, to giving up strawberry ice cream or a nice hot shower after a long walk in the hills. It comes down to asking ourselves, with respect to certain aspects of our lives: "Is this going to make me happier?" Genuine happiness - as opposed to contrived euphoria - endures through life's ups and downs. To renounce is to have the daring and intelligence to scrutinize what we usually consider to be pleasures in order to determine if they really enhance our well-being. The renunciant is not a masochist who considers everything that is good to be bad. Who could put up with this? The renunciant has taken the time to look within herself and has found that she does not need to cling to certain aspects of her life.