Attachment denotes a tendency to possess whether it be in relationships or things or habits. Ultimately it is your habits, possessions, relationships that lend you an identity, define you. Attachment in Yogic terminology is “Raga”.
If you observe, you will find that the opposite of what you are attached to is something that you fear or detest and generally avoid. This is “Dvesha” in Yogic terminology.
What we are attached to is the concept that something would bring us pleasure and what we avoid is that which we feel would bring us pain. We spend lifetimes upholding or repeating “Raga” and avoiding “Devsha” and thereby they become “vasanas” – tendencies that not only influence the choices/actions of this life but also are carried forward to next lives…
The solution to this is “vai-raga (Vairagya)” – detachment(Not renouncement), which in spiritual terms means being non-possessive. It means that you are involved but not entangled.
Remember what brings us pleasure also brings us pain, if denied to us. Especially in COVID times when we cant roam around freely, meet friends, go to public places we are denied the pleasures that we once experienced and hence it brings us pain.
What is required is acceptance of the times and situation and to do what is necessary as per our capability and most importantly to be happy with the choice regardless of the external situation. That is vairagya…
Vairagya during COVID times is gladly maintaining social distance/wearing a mask / getting vaccinated/ taking necessary precautions for your own protection / helping out others in need, etc willingly and happily. Else you are trapped in the raga/dvesha (pleasure/pain) cycle which is never ending. Only you can free yourself(by vairagya)…
Bodhisattva 