Although renunciation is a central aspect of the Buddha's teachings, many of us in the West have a difficult time with this idea. Renunciation is not a particularly appreciated cultural value. And even if we are somewhat aware of its value, it may not be all that inspiring. . . . Unless one chooses the monastic path, I don't think it is essential to give up a comfortable lifestyle in order to practice renunciation. The inner work is in letting go, in the renunciation of the wandering mind, of afflictive emotions, of the idea of self. The Buddha taught people in a wide range of lifestyles, from kings to paupers. In one teaching he said that it is better to live in a palace and be free of desire than to be in a cave consumed by the wanting mind. Often the issue was excess, not the consuming itself. At one point the Buddha counseled a king who was a glutton. The Buddha spoke with him about the importance of letting go of that addiction for his own health and well-being. When addiction results in excess, renunciation offers a route to freedom.
— Joseph Goldstein, Hooked! by Stephanie Kaza, editor