Dexterity in Action

March 17, 2002

Jaya Guru Datta,

Swamiji Says apologizes. Somehow yesterday's saying got lost in the ethers of

the internet, despite our best efforts and intention. Lycos is giving us

trouble, so we are trying Excite again, at least for today.

Here is today's saying:

“. . . there cannot be any distinction such as bad action and good action.

Actions by themselves are neither good nor bad. Whatever actions have been

decided for us by our samskaaraas or vaasaanaas are to be accepted without

grumbling and discharged diligently. Grumbling will not be of any avail. On the

other hand, it may spoil our action. Actions prompted or ordained by samskaaraas

are therefore to be performed willingly. To perform such actions and yet remain

unaffected, requires special skill. Such dexterity in action is called 'Yogah

Karmasukausalam' in our saastras.

Dexterity or skill in performing action does not require any physical effort;

nor does it involve any mental strain. It is not an intellectual exercise

either. It does not need any outside aid. All that one has to do is to think of

God every day while waking from sleep in the morning, and again when going to

sleep in the night; and during the day to perform all actions remembering God,

without thinking of consequences. By performing our allotted duties with this

fresh outlook, mind will be freed from agitations and attain a state of

equanimity. This is real prasaad; It is the only reliable panacea for all the

evils of samsaara besetting us now."

Sri Swamiji

Reprinted from Bhakti Mala, November 1985

Datta Swarupa, pp. 143 - 144

Sri Guru Datta,

Swamiji Says

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