Renunciation and Worldliness

Where it surfaces

• The Lord Buddha Revisits the City of the Five Hills

  The Buddha's farewell to Rajagriha and his choice to avoid the noisy monastery, seeking solitude over worldly bustle.

• II: The Meeting

  The Buddha deliberately avoids houses associated with violence, quarrels, and sensual pleasures, choosing instead the quiet abode of the potter, highlighting the contrast between worldly pursuits and renunciation.

• X: Esoteric Doctrine

  The text subverts traditional renunciation by arguing that violent action, not gentleness, aligns one with the highest reality, turning worldly violence into a spiritual path.

• At the Grave of the Holy Vajaçravas

  Kamanita's desire to become a robber contrasts with his eventual path, illustrating the tension between worldly ambitions and the call to renunciation.

• XIII: The Boon Companion

  Kamanita initially indulges in worldly pleasures but later reforms, though he remains attached to wealth and display.

• XV: The Bald-Pated Monk

  Kamanita's wealth and domestic comforts contrast with Angulimala's ascetic renunciation. The wives' hostility toward the monk reflects worldly attachment to family and procreation.

• XVI: Ready for Action

  Kamanita's worldly concerns for his property and family drive his actions, while the Minister's moralizing reflects a detached, renunciant perspective.

• XVII: To Homelessness

  Kamanita's decision to abandon his wealth, family, and status for the pilgrim's life exemplifies the tension between worldly attachment and spiritual liberation.

• The Chain with the Tiger-Eye

  Vasitthi's refusal to marry Satagira despite family pressure demonstrates renunciation of worldly expectations for love.

• Satagira

  Vasitthi's struggle between her worldly desires (freedom to marry Kamanita) and her moral revulsion at treachery reflects the tension between renunciation of worldly ties and the pull of passion.

• A Pure Offering

  Vasitthi struggles between clinging to her past love and the call to seek spiritual peace.

• The Blossoms of Paradise Wither

  They renounce attachment to the fading paradise and aspire to a higher, more permanent existence, embodying a step on the path of renunciation.

• In the Grove of Krishna

  Vasitthi's choice to leave her married life and enter the monastic order highlights the tension between worldly attachments and spiritual renunciation.

• XLIV: Vasitthi’s Bequest

  Vasitthi renounces her own self and even the doctrine itself, illustrating the ultimate detachment required for liberation.