Dis-attachment in Hinduism

The concept of detachment is one that is often misunderstood and confused with indifference. This complex topic is one that leaves people with little understanding of what Hinduism is asking of them. To begin to unravel this, we must first discuss what the texts say. The Bhagavad Gita is the most notable text that deals with detachment.

....from  attachment springs desire, and from (unfulfilled) desire ensues anger. From anger arises delusion; from delusion arises confusion of memory; from confusion of memory arises loss of discrimination (buddhi); from the loss of discrimination the individual perishes....
- Chapter 2 Bhagvad Gita

Here it seen that detachment leads to the eventual ruination of a person. But what is detachment? Is it cutting ties with the world? Is it attaching yourself to moksha? No. Instead we must realize that detachment is often confused with indifference, a dangerous counterpart.

"Though engaged in all kinds of activities, My pure devotee, under My protection, reaches the eternal and imperishable abode by My grace."

Bhagavad-gita 18.56

maatru devo bhava pitru devo bhava

aachaarya devo bhava atithi devo bhava

- Taittiriya Upanishad

"Perfection is characterised by one's ability to see the self by the pure mind and to relish and rejoice in the self. In that joyous state, one is situated in boundless spiritual happiness, realised through transcendental senses. Established thus, one never departs from the truth, and upon gaining this he thinks there is no greater gain. Being so situated, one is never shaken even in the midst of greatest difficulty. This indeed is actual freedom from all mis­eries arising from material contact."

- Bhagavad-gita 6.20–23

We see here that detachment is not indifference. Indifference is a shallow, misleading form od detachment. Indifference is to separate yourself from your actions and the world, detachment is to invest in the world as your own and separate yourself from your karma. The most profound understanding of detachment comes when you can see yourself in everything, and everything in yourself. Where you no longer show discrimination in who you love, but show that you love everyone as the Eternal.