Fwd: Gita Chapter 3

[Guest guest]

Seminar #5

Copyright, 1997, Andy Fraenkel

(Sankirtana das) story108

This material is part of a Seminar

entltled Rejuvenating The Soul

based on the teachings of

Bhagavad Gita and Mahabharata

 

 

Work is an important part of everyone's live. The third chapter of the

Gita delves into karma yoga. In this sense karma is taken to be work or

activity. When we think of yoga, we envision someone meditating in

solitude, a peaceful atmosphere, perhaps someone doing hatha yoga

positions. We don't envision someone in the thick of activity, someone

rushing to meet a deadline or dealing with a dilemma, let alone being in

the midst of a battle. Sometimes our lives assume the preportions of a

battle. We struggle with different concerns - ecomonic, relationships,

health. One writer explains that we have four major concerns - we want

to learn, to love, to live, and to leave a legacy.

 

When we encounter problems we often tighten up - our breath our muscles

- our body becomes tense. We think that the problem is an impediment to

our lives. We are afraid of problems because they're in the way to what

we want - and that we have to deal with the problem and get that out of

the way before we can continue to something meaningful. Problems are

part of the nature of existance. What we fail to perceive is that the

problems are not ordinary, but are put before us to come to grips with

leaning, loving and living.

 

Third Chapter of Gita:

Karma Yoga - Yoga in Action

 

Every one must act. We cannot cease activity.

 

We cannot stop the senses. One who externally ceases from activity, but

whose mind lingers on sensual thoughts, is a pretender.

 

It will be of no use to restrain the senses. Better to perform works in

devotion without being attached to the results.

 

One cannot maintain oneself without work. Thus perform your duty in life.

 

Perform your work for the satisfaction of the Supreme Lord, and thus

your work will free you from the entanglements of this material world.

Work done as an offering to the Supreme Lord is the sure path of

liberation.

 

The above advice is given by Lord Krishna in the beginning of the third

chapter. It is a paradox. Activity in this world is both the source of

our happiness and distress. We create an unending cycle of pain &

pleasure. This is the way the pure soul remains entangled in this

material world. One might assume that to break this cycle and to attain

mukti, or freedom, we would have to refrain from work. Krishna explains

that it is not the nature of the soul to remain inactive. The same work

which binds us, if performed in a different paradigm or consciousness,

can be the source of our freedom. Activity is compared to a sharp object

like a thorn or splinter. The example is given that a splinter stuck in

your finger is the source of pain. But another sharp, narrow object can

remove the splinter and be the source of your relief.

 

So there is no need to give up activity. It would be artifical. By

nature the soul is active. So activity, or work, is not the problem. But

the consciousness behind the work. Krishna advises us not to become

overwhelmed by our situations in life. We can transform any situation by

transforming our consciousness. The soul is joyful. The soul is wise. The

soul is eternal. Do not become bewildered by the workings of the

material nature.

 

Seminar #7

 

Copyright, 1997, Andy Fraenkel (Sankirtana das) story108

This material is part of a Seminar entltled Rejuvenating The Soul based on

the teachings of Bhagavad Gita and Mahabharata.

 

Continuing 3rd chap of Gita:

 

"Work without attachment, with the mind fixed upon the Supreme Lord.

 

Perform work which arises from within your nature.

 

It is better to perform your work according to your own nature, even if

it is done imperfectly, rather than taking up some one else's work.

 

But if you allow the senses to overwhelm you, surely you will lose your

balance and you will stumble on the path.

 

Lust is a great enemy which blinds us and destroys our knowledge. The

pure soul is now covered by lust as a mirror is covered by dust.

 

By regulating the senses, and by engaging the senses, mind and

intelligence in works of devotion one can awaken to the higher self."

 

Transformation is not a quick fix. Usually it does not happen overnight

or at a weekend retreat. Usually it is imperceptibly gradual like the

dawn. It's dark and the sky slowly gets lighter. And before you know it,

the sun bursts from the horizon. This is the way of spiritual awakening.

After many years of practice, one day we suddenly realize that our lives

have been rich for some time. So it involves diligent work in detachment

on our part. And it will take patient work. Still, it's all a gift from

God.

 

The happiness does not come as a result of the work, but as a result of

the consciousness behind the work. Don't let your happiness be dependent

on getting a result you want out of your endeavor. There is no garrentee

that you will get a particular result from your work. Many recent books

provide hundreds of examples of people who persevered and got what they

wanted. But there are hundreds and thousands of more cases of those who

attempted but did not attain their desired goal. Why does happiness evade

us? We are looking in the wrong places. Our work is not a means to

happiness, but the work is the very wellspring of happiness. This is

called bhakti - work in devotion to God. This is truly the path of

dharma. There are several types of dharma. One is our responsibility to

society , another is our occupation or profession, but dharma means the

very nature of our existence. Everything has its dharma or nature: a

furnace, a pen, or sugar. If a furnace is not providing heat then it is

not situated in its dharma. We must understand what it is to be situated

in our dharma. Otherwise, no matter how much we make, or how much we

have, we can never be happy.

--

email: shree

website: http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Acropolis/8891/