Gita Concept of Niskama Karma (Nivrtta Karma)

[Guest guest]

Gita Concept of Niskama Karma (Nivrtta Karma)

 

Gita focuses more on the right approach to the performance of karma

rather than running away from karma. The right approach consists of

two key aspects:

 

1. Sankalpa sannyasa or abdication of motives.

 

2. Tyaga or offering of the results at the feet of God.

 

This way of performing karma is known as niskamakarma or nivrttakarma.

Gita suggests that we should be only concerned on the nature of the

duties to be performed and not with the results that may accrue. The

message of Gita is : "Do not permit the result of the activity to

determine the efforts for the activity.' We play many roles from

childhood to adulthood and we are left with no choice but to complete

our obligations. Whether at home or in the office or on the road we

have roles to play. Eligibility should not be determined by the

person undertaking the responsibility. A teacher has to teach, a

student has to learn, a warrior has to fight and there are no options

given to the person undertaking the responsibility. If we look at the

nature, we can see that the duty of the apple tree to yield the apples

and the apple tree is left with no choice! This approach is expressed

in Gita by the expressions like `sangam tyaktva', `asaktah',

`kamasankalpavarjita' etc. Activity undertaken with such a frame of

mind is known as riskamakarma or nivrttakarma.

 

Such an attitude is possible only, if we understand our role in the

activity correctly, Agent alone does not execute an activity: Most of

us are under the wrong impression that it is only the karta or the

agent who is solely responsible for the activity undertaken. But there

are five factors underlying each activity. These are:

 

1. Adhisthana - Exact point of reference of the undertaken activity

2. Karta - the agent or the person designated for the activity.

3. Karana - the instruments i.e. Indriyas etc.

4. Vividha - associated actions and actors necessary to complete the

action.

5. Daiva - the supreme God who supervises as the director and

regulator.

 

Those who have clear understanding of these factors know that their

action alone doesn't determine the result and they have a limited role

and consequently will prepare to accept the results with equanimity.

They will treat all activities that they undertake as niskamakarma.

 

Suppose our activity is taking a flight from USA to India by Air

India. The passenger is the Karta. Adhisthana is Air India Flight #

2377 from New York to New Delhi. The Jumbo Jet, the pilots, travel

agents, mechanics, ground and in-flight crew, fuel, food etc. are the

Karana. So many persons with different roles are responsible for the

passenger to complete the journey. Most important, the divine presence

is inevitable because flight is impossible without the cooperation of

the Nature which includes favorable weather conditions during the

entire journey. It is very easy for us to see that our role as a

passenger undertaking the journey is quite limited and the journey is

impossible without the cooperation and service from so many visible

and invisible actions and actors.

[Guest guest]

> Gita suggests that we should be only concerned on the nature of the

> duties to be performed and not with the results that may accrue.

> The message of Gita is : "Do not permit the result of the activity

> to determine the efforts for the activity.

 

Excellent points, Sri Ramji,

 

Even in a 'worldly sense', performing an act with a full mind without

worrying about results enables us to do the very best. In the

spiritual sense, our scriptures tell us that every act good or bad

always produces results and therefore binds us to the body since a

body is required to enjoy the results.

 

However, When an act is performed in a spirit of dedication to God

and one is not attached to the fruit of the act, the very act that

normally binds serves to liberate, by producing mental purity, which

is needed for liberation-conferring knowledge to dwan. Therefore, let

us not long for the results of our actions. The Lord has given us the

ability to be detatched. "our duty is to perform action but not to be

attached to the fruit thereof" - if we engage in activity with this

attitude, what we do will constitute Dharma (righteousness).

 

Lord Krishna speaks about the results of this kind of worship:

 

shubhaashubhaphalairevaM mokshyase karmabandhanaiH .

sa.nnyaasayogayuk{}taatmaa vimuk{}to maamupaishhyasi ..9.28..

 

Thus you will become free from actions which are by nature bondages

(and) are productive of good and bad results. Having your mind

purified by the yoga of sannyasa (and) becoming free, you will attain

Me.

 

(extracted from the chapter "The Correct Way to Perform Actions"

from the book "Divine Discourses" http://www.jagadgurus.org/home.asp?

acharyalcode=AVT)

 

Sundar Rajan