Gita in daily life: Ch. 2 - Karmasu-Kausalam Practice

[Guest guest]

Namaste all.

 

We will take some real world examples so as to tailor

karmasu-kausalam to them.

 

a) A builder/contractor of a bridge:-

b) A scientist in Micro-biology:-

c) A teacher:-

d) A waiter in a hotel:-

e) A student:-

f) An artist:-

g) A priest:-

 

Let us contemplate on how they can work with

karmasu-kausalam.

 

They all have specific goals to meet and

an expected set of result(s) in each case.

One has to reconcile for each case,

as to how to work without the motive for fruit and

with karmasu-kausalam.

 

There is a seeming contradiction for example, in

case-a, where,the contractor is expected to give

results as per specifications.Thus, the contractor

will be motivated by results, normally.

 

Our endeavour is to convert this to karmasu-kausalam.

The gItA says that, "let not fruit be your motive"

-2:47

The contractor's actions include the delivery of the

finished construction, but, removed from attachment as

to the personal benefits it may give.

 

Then, what motivates the contractor ?

 

gItA says, "perform action, dwelling in union with the

Divine, renouncing attachments" 2:48

 

Actions thus performed will be for sheer imitation of

the joy that is the Divine and thus will be joy for

all and the performer.

One concentrates on the tasks alone with joy, with joy

leading the work instead of expected outcome(s)

leading the work.

Actions thus performed, will have the most possibility

to succeed in the action-plane(bridge- construction,

for eg).

 

One will be inclined to ask, "without expected outcome

leading the work", "how can one guarantee the outcome

?"

 

The answer again goes back to, "perform action,

dwelling in union with the Divine, renouncing

attachments" 2:48

Here, one renounces only the attachment but the

correct bridge construction becomes part of the joyful

work, and one would take pains with great care to

deliver a quality bridge in the spirit of yagna.

 

Thus, doing the correct things with joy at all times

of the endeavour(yagna) gives the best possibility for

success in a consistent way.

 

Further thoughts are appreciated.

 

Love and regards,

Raghava

 

______________________

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[Guest guest]

advaitin, Raghavarao Kaluri

<raghavakaluri> wrote:

> Namaste all.

>

> We will take some real world examples so as to tailor

> karmasu-kausalam to them.

>

> a) A builder/contractor of a bridge:-

> b) A scientist in Micro-biology:-

> c) A teacher:-

> d) A waiter in a hotel:-

> e) A student:-

> f) An artist:-

> g) A priest:-

>

> Let us contemplate on how they can work with

> karmasu-kausalam.

>

> They all have specific goals to meet and

> an expected set of result(s) in each case.

> One has to reconcile for each case,

> as to how to work without the motive for fruit and

> with karmasu-kausalam.

>

Namaste Raghav-ji and all,

 

Whether it is the seven types of people whom you have listed or

whether it is anybody else, the strategy for 'karmasu kaushalaM' as

per the Gita comes in the third chapter. Without bringing that in

the discussion we will be only discussing in circles. The idea that

comes from the third chapter is 'Dedication'. Every action has to be

performed as a yajna. (III - 9). What is yajna?

 

Any action done in total dedication to a cause or to a person or a

deity is a yajna. The word `sacrifice' inbuilt into the meaning of

the word refers to the attitude of `not mine' which is a

prerequisite for all yajnas. Whatever is done, is done unselfishly

and is dedicated as not mine. This is right action. The finite

personality in us always craves for results, for proprietorship and

for enjoyment of the reward for the actions. This craving is the

Satan in us. Starve this Satanic desire in us. Then the Eve in the

form of the results and rewards of actions will not tempt us. Action

done for the sake of fruits is what is being tabooed. Like a

gramaphone needle which plays any kind of music with the same regard

for precision and perfection, irrespective of whether it is to `its'

liking or not, we should do our actions irrespective of whether we

like it or not. (II – 48). The methodology for this is dedication.

 

Dedication means: voluntary acceptance of suffering for the sake of

somebody else. The deity of the dedication – maybe a father, a

mother, a guru, a boss, a cause, or a God – is the only thing that

should matter. You do a certain thing because it is to the liking of

the deity of your dedication; not because, you will get something

out of it. You avoid doing a certain thing because it is not to the

taste or the orders or the wishes of the deity of your dedication.

Once we start doing actions with this attitude of dedication we are

sure to find an alchemy taking place in the interior core of our

minds. Thereafter without our knowing it our whole internal

psychology will start restructuring itself to this methodology of

doing actions.

 

Whether it is academic study or a competitive project or a financial

deal or a religious worship or a social service – whatever it be,

the work done with the attitude of dedication will not bind one in

terms of its consequences. That is what a judge does when he

sentences a criminal. That is what a surgeon does, at the operation

table. He is dedicated to the cause, he is not attached to the

person on the operation table. Thus Karma Yoga is self-less

desireless dedicated action – action, for all purposes, done exactly

as would be done by a person who is totally attached and involved.

(Shloka III -25). The difference is only in the mental attitude of

the doer. (Shloka XVIII-57). Desireless and unselfish action

performed and dedicated in this way leads to purification of the

mind. VAsanAs that are bound to be imprinted in the mind can be

avoided only by such actions. Such nishhkAma-karma is the summum

bonum of Karma Yoga.

 

PraNAms to all advaitins

profvk

[Guest guest]

Respected ProfVK,

 

Thank you for a most lucid exposition of Karmasu-Kausalam. It has great

practical value.

 

Dear sir, I was missing the point about *dedication* all these years. And so

'Nishkama Karma' seemed like harsh duty, punishment or drudgery. With

dedication the element of love comes in (because one can dedicate actions

only to someone one loves / adores ) and so 'Nishkama Karma' becomes a

pleasure.

 

Pranams to all advaitins

 

Ravi Shivde