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by Jayaram V
The Bhagavadgita does not preach renunciation of action, but
renunciation of
attachment to action and desire for its fruit. It advocates both
performance of action through knowledge and "sanyas" as
means for attainment of freedom from the consequences of ones actions.
"Sanyas" means renunciation of action prompted by desire,
while "tyaga" means abandonment of the fruit of action. Both
these are characteristic of a true karma yogi. The true sanyasi is one
who does his work without seeking the fruit of his actions, not the
one who gives up activity or the sacred fire.(6.1)
If actions are performed with desires and attachment, and with
egoistic assumption of doership, then one has to assume responsibility
for all his actions and also face the consequences of all his actions
here and hereafter.
He must enjoy or suffer from the fruits of his good actions as well
as bad actions, accepting either sorrow and suffering or pleasure and
happiness emanating from his actions. In both cases he has no real
freedom from the laws and jaws of mortal life. He has to subjugate
himself to the conditions of mortal life and remain confined to the
world of illusion and ignorance.
It is impossible for one to remain inactive even for a moment or
escape from action altogether. The gunas born of nature drive every
one coercively to ceaseless activity. Freedom from action cannot be
achieved by avoiding action or by mere renunciation of action. He who
engages himself in mere meditative practices, restraining his organs
of actions is but deluded soul and a hypocrite. By desisting from
action, it is not possible to maintain even ones body.
Even the Imperishable Supreme Brahman does His work dutifully
although He has no desire either to perform the actions or for the
fruit of His actions. There is nothing in the three world for Him to
do, not is there anything that He is yet to attain. Still He engages
Himself in action, for if He does not do so men would take Him as an
example and would avoid actions.
So the true aspirant who wants to attain union with Him should also
follow the same path while performing his actions . He must do his
enjoined duty without attachment, without any interest whatsoever
either in what is done or what is not done, knowing that his right is
to work only, but not to the fruit thereof, even minded in success and
failure, surrendering to God and offering the fruit of his actions to
God and partaking of only that which has been offered to Him.
Actions that are performed with egoism, thinking that one is the
doer, with a desire to enjoy the fruit of his actions, bind man to
bondage and illusion. He who thinks that he is the doer of his
actions, is but a deluded soul who does not know the truth about the
spheres of gunas and how they are responsible for all binding actions.
Performing actions out of desire and attachment, with an intention
to enjoy the fruit of his actions, such a deluded soul has but to face
the consequences of his own actions, both good and the bad. Depending
upon the nature of his activities he may gain either sorrow or
happiness in this world or heavenly worlds or hellish realms
hereafter.
The enlightened Karmayogi on the other hand knows what is action in
inaction and inaction in action (4.17). He knows who is the real doer
and how the gunas drive men to perform actions and how such actions
bind men to sorrow and suffering. When he perform his actions he is
aware that it is only the senses which are occupied with the object of
his senses and thereby remains unconcerned. Thus he actually becomes
inactive even while performing actions and remains untouched by the
fruits of his actions like the lotus leaf by water.
Further Suggested Reading
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