The word Vairagya comes from the Sanskrit Varaguia, and means indifference. Indifference is called by the Sufis Fana, and is shown in the cross, the symbol of the Christian religion.

This indifference comes to every being, and it is the first step to its annihilation, because not one atom can have its evolution without annihilation. The lower beings, the mineral, vegetable and animal evolve towards the higher, and, because man is the highest creation, there is nothing for him to evolve to, but this indifference, when it comes, opens a way for him to God, from Whom he came.

It comes to the child when it realizes that its dolly is not so interesting as it thought, and that it would be more interesting to play with other children, who, at least, are alive. Then the dolly is thrown away. But, before that, the child takes the dolly, and loves it, and carries it about. And, if the dolly's hand is hurt, the child wants some remedy, and a bed is needed to put the dolly in, and a carriage is needed to take the dolly out. But when the nature of the dolly is understood, the dolly is thrown away, and the child realizes that to play with children of its age is better than those dollies who never speak.

Such is the case with us, the children in the world. Our likes and infatuations have a certain limit, when that is expired the period of indifference commences. When that water of indifference is drunk, then there is no more wish for anything in the world. The nature of the water that we drink in this world is that the thirst is quenched for so long, and then it comes again. When this water of divine knowledge is drunk, then the thirst never comes again. It comes when the nature of the world is understood. It is the higher knowledge. Then is understood that all these objects to which we attach so much importance, that we strive to attain, to achieve, are not important.

Before that a person attaches too much importance to his joys, to his sorrows. If he is sad, the whole world is full of sadness. If he is a little joyful, the whole world is full of joy. As if the sun rises and sets by his joy and sadness. But indifference must be reached after interest has taken its course. Before that it is a fault. A person becomes exclusive, he becomes disagreeable, without interest in life. It must come after all experience. Interest must end in indifference. He must not take the endless path of interest; the taste of everything in the world becomes flat. Then he realizes that all that we seek in all the objects we run after, all beauty and strength is in himself, and he is content to feel all in himself. This may be called the kiss of the cross. Then his only principle is love.

Vairagya means satisfaction, the feeling that there is no desire more to be satisfied, that there is nothing on earth that is desired. This is a great moment, and after that comes that which is the Kingdom of God. Why is God satisfied with the world when even man, when he reaches a certain grade of intelligence, is not satisfied? Or is God not satisfied?

There are two sorts of dissatisfaction.

The first is when a man has so given in to the external self that the world cannot give him satisfaction.
The other is when the desire for more experience, for more enjoyment ceases.

This is called in the Hindi language Vairagya. This is indifference. Such a person is not unhappy. He is happier than others. He has lost only that intense interest in the world.

There is a story told of a comedian who every day disguised himself and fooled the king, the Badishah, at whose court he was. But the king recognized him in all his disguises. Then the comedian thought that he should disguise himself as an ascetic. He went to a cave in the mountains, and there he lived with two disciples, also comedians. He fasted very much, thinking that he should disguise himself well.

After forty days, people seeing his disciples, began to speak of the sage living in the cave of the mountains. They brought him presents, a hundred, two hundred dirhams. But he refused all, saying, "Take it away. The sage does not want money or presents."

His fame spread more and more, and the king heard of him and became anxious to see him. He went to the cave, but for a long time, the disciples would not let him enter. At last he was allowed to come into the presence of the sage. He said, "I have been kept waiting very long, before I could see you." The sage said, "The dogs of the world are not allowed to enter the house." The king was very much insulted. He thought that this must be a very great person.

He gave him a piece of paper, saying, "This is a parvana for the support of your disciples." A parvana means a grant of land. The sage said, "If it is a parvana, its place is in the fire", and he put it into the fire, which was burning before him. Parvana has two meanings, it means also a moth.

The king went away, and the comedian got up, thinking, "Now I must tell the king how well I have fooled him." Then a Voice came, saying, "Your feigned indifference has brought the king before you, if it had been real indifference, We ourselves would have come before you. "