DETACHMENT FROM FRUITS OF ACTION
“Detachment from the fruits of actions’ is a popular phrase used by many spiritual teachers. What does that statement really signify?
Let's dissect this concept thoroughly.
When we are performing an action, naturally we will be focusing to achieve a specific outcome.Paradoxically, the more we decide intentionally not to focus on the result, the more we will be obsessed over a specific outcome. Detachment from the fruits of an action should happen effortlessly. We can’t practice detachment as detachment is a byproduct.. Therefore, how can it happen effortlessly?
Setting an intention to get a successful outcome is totally fine. However,the issue here is the focus is only on the result which leads to lack of involvement in the action or process of the activity.Therefore, the question here is “How can I be totally involved in my action ?“How can I set the intention to have a successful result but at the same time open to any other possibilities without being obsessed over a specific outcome every moment ?”Total attention and focus on the process and action will not only give a high quality result but will also give immense joy and satisfaction by simply doing the activity itself .Obsession with outcomes is usually due tolack of involvement in the action and that will always lead to misery and entanglement in life.When one is not engaged in their action,they are also not engaged with LIFE.
Why obsession over the results will always lead to misery?
Every thing is connected to everything else. When we act separately from The Divine, we suffer. The divine is expressing itself through us to experience itself in the grandest version you can ever imagine. When we are guided to act on something, we might not get the benefits that we expected out of it. However, that particular action might have benefited us and everyone who are involved there for a higher purpose. We might not get what we want but we will definitely get what we needed.The divine will use us as a tool or a messenger to achieve ITS agenda, not our own personal agenda. Therefore, apart from having a strong intention that we are here to only serve The Supreme Energy every moment, Absolute involvement and engagement in LIFE will also assist us to completely detach from the outcome of life.
Only Total Involvement and engagement in the process of life can effortlessly detach us from the results of an action . Giving total attention to the doing than to the future result will not only makes your doing more effective but also brings fulfillment.When we are completely immersed and engaged in an activity, we will naturally radiate joy and that will effortlessly release us from any attachment with the result.When I enjoy immensely writing an article, I instinctively express myself and radiate joy.I feel very fulfilled to the extent that pleasing others is not my cup of tea anymore.I will anticipate for people to like my article but will not expect everyone to like it. Anticipation is very different from Expectation.
Anticipation means we hope for a specific outcome but not attached to it. Meanwhile, expectation means we feel entitled to a specific outcome and completely attached to it. Suppose something does not work out in our favor .If we Anticipated, we will be surprised. However if we EXPECTED the same thing, it leads to disappointment and anguish.This means anticipation allows us to be open to all kind of possibilities and outcomes.Meanwhile expectation limits our perspective and prevent us from allowing LIFE to open ourselves to a dimension beyond our perspective.
The majority of people are not interested to involve or participate in the process of life but are rather completely obsessed with the results. Most working adults are not interested to do their work with involvement and dedication but get obsessed to be promoted;Many students are not interested to study but are expecting to pass the subject;Couples are not interested to invest or be totally involved in their relationship but are expecting to have a perfectly happy relationship.
We are only obsessed with the byproducts and refused to get completely involved with the process. When we are always focusing on the outcome, we are not only entangled with everything around us but also walking as a living corpse. We can never truly live our life.
So what will happen when we are completely involved and engaged in life and its process?
When we are completely immersed at the moment, our whole being becomes present and will be connected to the higher consciousness. Joy will overflow and optimal mental focus will be on the activity that we are doing at the moment. The divine energy will flow effortlessly through us without being filtered by our mind and belief system. Basically more being and less doing. We will be in a BEING state.
When we are in a being state, we will be super focused, totally involved and will be highly energetic. It will lead to a high level of productivity.Life becomes effortless.We will radiate so much of joy and love. Least importance will be given to the outcome of the action as there is so much of joy while doing it. We will be one with the Universe, ONE with the activity we do and ONE with THE LIFE. When we become one with LIFE, no rewards are needed.LIFE doesn’t need a reward to be itself. Only when you act as someone who is separated from LIFE, you will be obsessed with the rewards and recognition.
In a being state,spontaneously we will be detached from the outcome of life as we are in so much of joy and love with THE LIFE .We become THE LIFE. The outcome of the activity will turn out to be effortlessly beautiful and even if it does not satisfy others, we will not get disappointed or frustrated.
Total involvement in the process will be timeless. Have you done something you really love that you lost track of time ? Well, that is called as BEING state. You have become aligned with The Life, The Higher Intelligence at that specific moment.
When we are so focused on the outcome, we will be waiting when the activity or phase will be over. We will wait to obtain the reward and feel the joy once the activity is completed. The focus will be only on the result. Therefore, the quality of the activity will be very low, poor performance, anxious, frustrated, feeling lethargic and lose interest in life. Frustration and dissatisfaction will be the common state when all our focus is only on the future and the outcome every moment.
The only moment which exist is NOW. When we wait for the outcome ,it means we are waiting to be joyful in the future. Do we really know what will happen in the future?Have we ever controlled all the outcomes in our life completely? The outcome might turn out to be the way desired. However, we will start yearning for something else then OR something else might happen at that moment which will prevent us from enjoying the outcome . It is a never-ending story. Human beings can never be feel fulfilled with something which is perishable as they think their happiness and joy depends on those extrinsic rewards.
How can THE REWARD look for a reward? How can THE JOY look for a joy?How can THE LIFE look for a life?How can THE LOVE look for a love? You are the Life,Reward,Joy and Love that you are seeking externally.
You can only BE IT not SEEK for it!
Since human beings are so attached to actions, we can use It as a gateway to be liberated. Use action as a gateway to be released from the entanglement of Life. Start doing something you love with complete awareness. It can be a dancing, singing, painting, writing or cleaning. Later, start doing mundane activities such as washing dishes, sweeping, drinking, eating or walking with complete awareness. Use all your 5 senses such as hearing, touch, vision, taste, and smell while doing those activities. When one does something with complete awareness, he will naturally radiate joy and it will be timeless. He will become more energetic, passionate, enthusiastic and effortlessly connected to the Source energy and will not realize that the time is passing by as he becomes one with that activity he is doing. The doer and the activity becomes ONE. The painter and paint become ONE. The dancer and dance become ONE. There will be no separation between the TWO. Therefore he becomes ONE with LIFE, with the Pure Consciousness!
When you are committed to yourself in such way, The divine has no other options other than expressing itself through you magnificently every moment and gives you the freedom from all the entanglement in life!
Next, have a strong intention to give the best to everything you do.No matter how insignificant you think that act is, give your best and care about it. If you are cooking, give your best! Have the intention to give your full attention and care towards it in order to serve your loved ones a healthy and nourishing food. If you are teaching, truly care for your students and try your best to come up with creative teaching techniques which can make your students understand the subject easily .
With practice and persistence, we become ONE with everything. We become ONE with the Divine, the Supreme Energy! How many of you are living your life consciously and doing everything with complete awareness? How many of you are allocating time to do something you really love? Are you committed to yourself and Life? Are you aligned to your truth? Have you made the decision to be free from the entanglement and miseries in life? Freedom from miseries is not an option but an obligation!