Gita for the Beginners

Chapter 4 continued...

According to the aptitude and qualifications people are divided into various categories and any one of them if follows his/her path of duty rightly reaches to the knowledge of God. The Lord emphasizes that as He has no craving for the fruit of actions don't contaminate Him.

Those who perform actions with this firm belief and expertise also reach nearer Self. Hence, O Arjuna, so do you also perform your duty as demanded of you.

To know that the life and teachings of an avatara is divine is to become free. The attraction between the seeker and the sought is like a magnet and the iron needle. As sadhaka approaches God, so does God get attracted to the aspirant!

But it may be difficult to understand which is right action, which action is inaction, and which action is prohibited action? Hence the Lord explains the series of actions, which lead to right knowledge.

The wise men do not indulge in worldly actions, which the ignorant think to be correct. Thus, hankering after wealth and fame, engaging in the pleasures of senses and mind should in fact be seen as inaction, and hence shunned. While yoga, meditation, and actions enjoined by scriptures, although appear as inaction, in fact are right actions that lead to supreme knowledge.

Secondly when a person is totally satisfied with minimum and necessary actions alone and is not attached to the outcome also does not incur sin. While engaged in work, he who does not crave, who is free from all pairs of opposites like love and hate, pleasure and pain etc., such a man is true Karma Yogi.

One who sees the same Brahman in the performer of action, the instrument of action, and the object of action, such a Yogi has gained true wisdom. The actions may be sacrifices (yajna), meditation, yoga, swadhyaya (self study) involving austerities, tapas, and concentration of mind, or the action may be fighting a war. The same rule and results would ensue.

End of chapter IV

Beginning of Chapter 5

The fifth chapter again opens up with Arjuna putting the same question to Krishna:

"O Lord, You extol Samkhya Yoga (Yoga of Knowledge) and then the Yoga of Action. Pray tell me which of the two is decidedly better."

To this the Lord replies, "Arjuna, Both the Yoga lead to Supreme Bliss. Of the two, however, the Yoga of Action, being easier to practice, is superior to the Yoga of Knowledge."

Moreover, a karma Yogi can also be equated with a sannyasin, because in the process of selfless action the aspirant overcomes the pairs of opposites like love and hate, pleasure and pain, and also becomes free from jealousy and desires. Thus he also becomes the 'renouncer', a sannyasin. While living in the world he is not of the world.

Therefore, a person of true knowledge does not differentiate between the two yogas; for a firmly established yogi of any path gets the same result of God Realization. Additionally, even the sannyasin following the path of knowledge initially has to cross the barrier of actions, and thus yoga of action is a prerequisite for every spiritual aspirant.

Karma Yoga is indeed very effective in purification of mind and controlling the senses. In the process the karmas -actions - of the Yogi gradually fall off. This attitude of non-attachment and offering the fruits of actions to the Lord saves the Karma Yogi from the cycle of repeated birth and death. He becomes a wise man and there comes a stage when his vision becomes equanimous, seeing same Lord in a high caste Brahmin, a low caste chandala, or in an elephant and a cow!

Therefore, O Arjuna, get merged in the right actions with right attitude. In due course, even though you are engaged in actions, these actions would not bind you. There would be no difference between you and a sannyasin!
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Continued Next Part 8 ...

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C S Shah