Yes, indeed, we should not be attached to things!

When we say we should not be attached to things, it implies we should not be connected with material things such as the worldly things that our five senses enjoy; also material possessions, jobs, finances, etc. That gives us a sense of security; and the relationships too that provide meaning to our life. Then, why should we not be attached to things? What is wrong with that?? Let’s understand the spiritual basis of this and also the science behind our attachments.

Attachment always leads to suffering and pain.

We develop attachment towards any particular thing, the prime reason being, these things contribute to our sense of well-being, and give us joy and personal happiness, right?! But when we experience this feeling of joy, the inner urge to have more and more of it begins. The craving develops, isn’t it?... which is natural, but, in this craving itself is hidden enormous suffering!

Next, as and until we manage to get what we crave, the attachment towards it continues to grow. As attachment grows, we want that thing all the more. So this phenomenon keeps us hooked onto that thing - how do I get it, from where do I get it, how do I cross the hurdles that exist on the path towards getting this thing, what do I do to have it with me early, how do I ensure that I never fall short of this thing. Seeing how restless and disturbed this attachment, and the resultant craving for things, keeps us all day long?

Now when I get things that I am attached to, what happens?? A desire that this thing should always remain like this and it should never go away from me begins. So, a new chain of worries begins - how do I maintain this thing so that it remains as beautiful as it is right now, how do I protect it so that no one causes any harm to it, how do I keep it safe and secure so that no one takes it away from me. Would these worries allow us peace? No, it would torment us all day long.

And now suppose we are unable to procure that what we crave for, what would happen to our suffering? It would keep multiplying. When we were not attached to this thing, we were living our life, normally and happily without it. But now, after attachment to that thing, we cannot even imagine happiness without having it.

Last but not least, suppose that we had everything that we are attached to in ample quantity, in the best condition and a secured state, and our life comes and says, it’s time for me to terminate. Imagine, we are on our deathbed and everything we are attached to is lying right before our eyes. What would our condition be?? We would be the unhappiest person in the world, isn’t it?!

So attachment invokes in our emotions, which we think would make us happy. But no, if we analyze our experiences in life, the fact of the matter is completely contrary - we were happy in life when we were not attached to things, and today, due to attachment towards that thing, we are experiencing misery in life.

This is what spirituality is all about! It makes us see things as is, in its true nature, in its true form! Never can attachment towards anything make us happy in the real sense. We do experience happiness, but it is temporary. And we are trying to search for permanent happiness in our attachment to things. This happiness could be permanent in two cases:

If that thing we are attached to would be permanent. But unfortunately, the truth is that everything is temporary, it is bound to wear and tear with time, it is bound to perish with time, and it is bound to remain with us only for as much time as it is pre-destined to. We have no control over it!
If the one having attachment would be permanent. When the body dies, everything that lies in our name, things that we believed ‘we’ possess, we have to leave them behind and move ahead. We have no control over that as well! Even when alive, have we not experienced the things we were attached to at one point in time, we detest them now? So, the one having an attachment too is temporary. We have no control over that as well!
Param Pujya Dada Bhagwan explains to us the atomic science of attachment, be it to things or people (thus supporting the above with scientific evidence),

What can this be compared to? It is like the attraction between a magnet and a pin. If you move a magnet around a pin, the pin will move along with it. When we bring the magnet closer to the pin, the pin will stick to it. How do the attachment and attraction in the pin arise? Similarly, in this body too, because of the presence of the electrical body within, there is a property like that of a magnet. The electricity within gives rise to the body’s magnetic property, so when the body encounters atoms compatible to its own, attraction occurs, whilst with others, there is no such attraction. This attraction is known as attachment and abhorrence. People will say, ‘I am attracted’. If you do not wish it, then why is your body being pulled against your wishes? So who are ‘you’ in all this?

If you tell your body ‘Do not go there’, it will still get up and go. That is because the atoms within are being attracted. The body gets pulled away wherever there are compatible atoms. Otherwise, why would our body be pulled when we do not wish for it to be? When people’s bodies are pulled towards each other, they say they have too much attachment. But if you ask them whether they wish it, they will say that they do not, but even then they are pulled by their attraction. This then, is not attachment (raag), but the property of attraction. But until one has Gnan (Self-Realization), one cannot call it an attraction, because one believes that he is the one who is being attracted. If one has this Gnan (Self-Realization), when one is the Self, one would know that it is because of the attraction that the body gets pulled and He does nothing. He is simply the Knower. So when this body gets attracted, it is this body, which is involved in activity; it is all an attraction of the atoms. It has nothing to do with the Self (our real Self).

Thus, the real purpose of our life is to know ‘who am I?’ It is to know the Self. This Self-Realization becomes possible with the grace of Gnani (the Enlightened One). And in today’s times, we are extremely fortunate that we have amidst us such Gnani, who can grace us (for no cost whatsoever) with Self-Realization within just an hour.

For details, we may check https://www.dadabhagwan.org/self-realization/

Author's Bio: 

Ambalal M. Patel was a civil contractor by profession. In June 1958, spontaneous Self-Realization occurred within Ambalal M. Patel. From this point on, Ambalal became a Gnani Purush, and the Lord that manifested within him became known as Dada Bhagwan. A Gnani Purush is One who has realized the Self and is able to help others do the same. Param Pujya Dada Bhagwan used to go from town to town and country-to-country to give satsang (spiritual discourse) and impart the knowledge of the Self, as well as knowledge of harmonious worldly interactions to everyone who came to meet him. This spiritual science, known as Akram Vignan, is the step-less path to Self-realization.