Guest guest Posted July 10, 2002 Report Share Posted July 10, 2002 font-family:Arial">In Bhagavad-giitaa As It Is, Srila Prabhupada explains in his purport to BG 3.3 that the Lord had previously explained two kinds of procedures, namely saankhya-yoga and karma-yoga. In this statement, he equates karma-yoga with buddhi-yoga, which is also known as bhakti-yoga, working for the pleasure of the Lord. font-family:Arial"> font-family:Arial">I was thus a little surprised when I read the following in Bhurijana dasa’s commentary (_Surrender Unto Me_, pg 56) on the same verse: font-family:Arial"> font-family:Arial">“Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura explains that the word nistha (“faith” or “platform”) is significant. Karma and jnana are two platforms or stages on the pth to transcendental consciousness. The karma stage is the platform on which work is recommended, and the jnana stage is the platform on which one is sufficiently purified and detached to renounce work. They are not separate processes, but two rungs, one above the other, on the yoga ladder. Depending on one’s nistha (his position, faith or purity of heart), one is recommended to act either on the platform of karma or jnana.” font-family:Arial"> font-family:Arial">Here, Bhurijana and Srila Vishvanaatha seem to take the “karma-yoga” of BG 3.3 to be ordinary karma-yoga. But Srila Prabhupada takes “karma-yoga” here to be synonymous with buddhi-yoga or bhakti-yoga. font-family:Arial"> font-family:Arial">Does this not seem inconsistent, or am I reading too much into Bhurijana’s writing? font-family:Arial"> font-family:Arial">Also of interest is Bhurijana’s notes on page 38, on BG 2.38: font-family:Arial"> font-family:Arial">“Previously (in verses 11-30), to remove Arjuna’s arguments against fighting, Krsna presented jnana, the difference between the body and the soul: Because Arjuna and the other warriors are eternal souls, no one would die; only the body, which unavoidably perishes, can be slain. After presenting those arguments, Krsna encouraged Arjuna to fight based on fruitive considerations (karma) to gain pleasure and to avoid suffering. Now Krsna instructs Arjuna to combine both – jnana (knowledge) and karma (activity) – and to fight without material attachment. Working in this detached consciousness is called niskama-karma-yoga or buddhi-yoga, detached work on the platform of knowledge. Srila Baladeva Vidyabhusana defines buddhi-yoga as “niskama-karma-yoga incorporating jnana within itself.” font-family:Arial"> font-family:Arial">Assuming that buddhi-yoga is synonymous with bhakti-yoga, then the above paragraph seems to indicate that karma-yoga is definitely not bhakti-yoga. In fact, we seem to have the following definitions: font-family:Arial"> font-family:Arial">Karma-yoga: working for fruitive considerations according to prescribed duties, i.e. the materialistic arguments font-family:Arial">Krishna gives to induce Arjuna to fight (to earn the kingdom or enter heavenly planets, etc) Jnaana-yoga: understanding the difference between the self and the body, i.e. Krishna’s arguments in beginning of chapter 2 explaining the properties of the jiivaatmaa Nishkaama-karma-yoga: doing prescribed work without desire for the reward (I seem to recall seeing this also equated with bhakti-yoga, although literally that would not seem to be the case) Buddhi-yoga: nishkaama-karma-yoga + jnaana, also the same as bhakti-yoga according to even Srila Prabhupada’s purports font-family:Arial"> font-family:Arial">My questions: font-family:Arial"> tab-stops:list .5in">1) Why the inconsistent treatment of karma/karma-yoga in Srila Prabhupada’s purports and Bhurijana’s notes (which supposedly have the authority of Srila Vishvanaatha Chakravartii)? What is karma yoga exactly? Is karma-yoga different from karma? tab-stops:list .5in">2) Why also the inconsistent definitions of nishkaama-karma-yoga? Bhurijana equates nishkaama-karma-yoga to buddhi-yoga, but then he goes on to say that nishkaama-karma-yoga + jnaana is buddhi yoga (quoting Baladeva Vidyaabhuushana). Am I missing something, or did he contradict himself? font-family:Arial"> tab-stops:list .5in">3) Why does Srila Prabhupada take the “karma-yoga” of BG 3.3 to be bhakti-yoga, when it is being compared to saankhya/jnaana? Doesn’t context suggest that karma yoga here really means karma yoga? font-family:Arial"> font-family:Arial">Comments and considerations welcome. font-family:Arial"> font-family:Arial;mso-no-proof:yes">H. Krishna Susarla font-family:Arial;mso-no-proof:yes">www.achintya.org 12.0pt;mso-no-proof:yes"> 12.0pt"> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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