[Sri Ramakrishna] Fw: Question

[Guest guest]

> when it says offer fruits of your actions to God. Can you explain how one can

actually implement this? thanks

 

Great question. I will also be interested in how others answer this. I can share

how I have tried to practice it--not based on any instructions given to me

personally, but just " played by ear. "

When I first recognized the truth of this advice, I began to frequently

contemplate it, naturally attracted by my own interest in the matter. I observed

myself over many years and frequently tried to notice that I am not the agent of

" my " actions.This has often been more an intellectual conviction than a living

experience, but I believe that after some time the understanding has sunk in to

some extent. I am increasingly aware that I am unable to have any control over

the consequences of my thoughts, words, and deeds. So out of sheer desperation I

*must* entrust it all to God. I am not surrendering to Him anything that is

mine--just acknowledging that it is all His from the beginningless beginning.

In life and in my work I try to do my best according to what seems

appropriate in the moment and leave the rest to Him--and always accept the

consequences as His Will. I do this mentally as often as I am able to remember

it--which is more and more as time goes by. It seems especially good to mentally

surrender the fruits just before undertaking an action. Naturally one tends to

remember this more easily when the action is something one considers important.

If ever I feel impelled to do a " good deed, " I remind myself that it is not my

deed, and the fruits are not mine either. If I do something " bad, " I similarly

remind myself not to claim it as something actually belonging to my Self.

Although I do accept " real-life " responsibility for consequences that may occur,

and I try to do better the next time, I am learning that I don't need to feel

guilty or ashamed about my mistakes.

Sometimes I have done the remembrance ritually. I may place my head at the

feet of my Master, Meher Baba (at home I have an actual plaster cast of his

feet; here in South Carolina at his center there are places where one can feel

as if actually in his presence; and when in India I mentally surrender while

bowing down at his Tomb Shrine). Sometimes we do a ritual that we call the

Dhuni, in which we embody the thing surrendered in a stick of sandalwood, which

is then cast into the fire.

To me it is all a process that God is in charge of--I need not worry about

it. I have no idea what surrender *really* is. Certainly it cannot be my

experience that " I " try to surrender, since in real surrender the separate " I "

would not exist.

 

 

 

_______

 

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[Guest guest]

Response to the question.

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I feel that Lord Krishna himself had systematised the doctrine of Karma-Yoga in

which he has also talked of the techniques to attain this state.First let us

understand what happens when one renounces the fruits of his actions and why

should he do so, what does one gain by doing so and finally how does it take him

near to spiritual realisation.In answering this I would first take you the basic

goal of human life as declared in Vedanta.It is gaining the universal

consciousness by transcending this petty ego-individual consciousness.As the

Advaita(monism) Vedanta rejects the idea of an extra-cosmic GOD and proclaims

that this infinitude which is the sum total of all existence and

non-existence,anything which we can conceive or non-conceive, of which we are a

part is Brahmo or GOD.We ourselves are but manifestations of this infinitude

called GOD.This is what is declare in the Upanishads " Soham..Soham " .I am He ,I

am He.

Now the question arises how to exalt oneself to reach this position.The answer

is to gain this infinite universal consciousness.Krishna in his Bhagwat Gita

proclaimed that to gain this consciousness is to give up our own individual

consciousness not for nothing but for a infinitely greater thing which is the

universal consciousness.

This in practical day to day life means that when one reaches the state when

" one sees himself in everything and everything in himself " ,he has realised this

unity or the Absolute.By empathising with others in our own lives to such a

degree,we also can transcend this limited individual consciousness.

During Krishna's days, a strange wave was

sweeping India.People were shunning actions altogether,taking refuge only in the

thought and meditative plane.Many were deluding themselves by pursuing their

ego-centric self-actualisation,thinking it to be their salvation.Krishna after

propounding this wonderful doctrine of 'Karma-Yoga' reconciled it with other

great paths to reach the Absolute.As he showed that reaching the Absolute

essentially means gaining this infinite consciousness and thus it is a necessary

and sufficient condition to attain 'Brahmo'.

Bhagwat Geeta holds three levels in the pursuit of the ideal

through the path of Karma-Yoga.Inaction,Action and Non-Action.These are related

to the three Gunas of Tamas,Rajas and Sattva.Tamas literally means darkness.A

man is full of stupour is at this level or his actions cause pains to others.The

second one is Action which is related to the Guna of Rajas meaning activity.A

person having Rajas does work for his selfish motives but nevertheless he does

work and generally doesn't harm anybody.But the third stage, which is the goal,

is to attain 'Sattva' or the state of 'Non-Action'. Here also one vigorously

does work but not for one's selfish motives.One has resigned one's desires and

has accepted that the results be as per the universal scheme. " Let Thy will be

executed,not my will " .

It can be understood that the feeling of ego comes when one sees oneself as

distinct from the universe and not as an inseparable part of the

universe.Therefore the root cause of an ego-identity is desire,desire that this

happen or that even though it might not be in the universal scheme.Thus by

resigning the desires of actions one totally gains the infinite universal

consciousness and as Vedanta says he himself reaches Brahmo, becomes one with It

as he has realised that he his He.This realisation is the essence of the

Vedantic thought.

Talking about the techniques of implementing

Karma-Yoga, the Gita herself gives clues about it.First one should wake up from

stupour and involve himself in vigourous activity.Even though when one is doing

selfish deeds he is slowly evolving.Then gradually one should reach the state of

'sattva'.But 'resigning fruits of actions' sound theoretical as one might

question how is action possible without thought of fruit.Krishna gives the

answer to it that it can be gained by working for others,serving others.When one

works for others,serves others,he is broadening his consciousness as he is

thinking beyond his own consciousness.Also by working for others he does not

attribute any fruits for himself and even he fails, he gladly accepts it as the

divine will.He himself is unmoved and Gita beautifully describes it , " One who

experiences incessant activity amidst deep silence and deep silence amidst

incessant activity has attained the goal " .This is so because he himself is

unmoved by the results of his actions and thus is in a state of eternal

tranquility.That is why this state of 'Sattva' has been described as the state

of 'Non-Action', as internally one is unaffected,unmoved, as if one did not do

any action at all.But Krishna has also warned that one who does not do any

action and also does not care for results is not a Yogi.He says " One who does

work uncaring for fruits of actions is the real Yogi and real Sanyasi and not

the one who does not do work at all thinking himself to be resigned " .

Thus the Gita also gives practical techniques of resigning fruits of action by

doing actions for others and leaving the fruits of actions unto Him.

 

I also take this opportunity to introduce myself.I am Vinayak,23, Calcutta.I

have joined this group a day back and this is my first contribution to the

group.I offer my Pranam to one and all in this group.

Regards,

Vinayak

Vivekananda Centre <vivekananda wrote: Following interesting

question came to us:

Members welcome to reply directly or via the list......jay / Vivekananda Centre

 

 

-

Shashikiran Prabhakar

ps_kiran

hindu

Wednesday, December 12, 2001 04:46

Question

 

 

" " Renunciation: The central theme of the Gita is renunciation. " Work away; but

offer the fruits of your actions to God. Do not run after the objects of the

senses. Lead a detached life. " "

 

when it says offer fruits of your actions to God. Can you explain how one can

actually implement this? thanks

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

>

> " " Renunciation: The central theme of the Gita is renunciation. " Work away;

>but offer the fruits of your actions to God. Do not run after the objects

>of the senses. Lead a detached life. " "

>

>when it says offer fruits of your actions to God. Can you explain how one

>can actually implement this? thanks

 

 

i have found that the best way for me personally ( and this all personal) is

that when i love what i do, whether it is for a living or for recreation, i

do not really pay much attention to the results or the fruits of action.

Finding one's calling therefore, one that you can call your 'passion' is the

surest way for renouncing the fruits of desire. Loving what one does is also

the most sensible way as the process of doing something far outlasts the

actual end result in a linear time scale. So the process is the end, for

me... If that is achieved the " fruits " can turn out however...! This

detachment usually does always bring out the best results as well.

 

Finding one's calling though is the tough part!...

But a hint is that when you feel an energy and a drive and strength in doing

an activity and you can make a living out of it...even if it just makes

do..that is your calling...just my personal thoughts that have been relevant

for me ...

 

 

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[Guest guest]

hi JR

When it says offer your fruits to God, It means serve

Krishna back from the health and wealth you enjoy

which is given by Him to you.

 

Do not be proud of your qualifications etc and go

around talking I am the best kind of childish things.

 

Learn, Work hard, earn ,help but do not be possesive

about them and just surrender all to the lotus feet of

Krishna.

 

Bless you

Robin

 

 

--- J_ R <j1958r wrote: >

> >

> > " " Renunciation: The central theme of the Gita is

> renunciation. " Work away;

> >but offer the fruits of your actions to God. Do not

> run after the objects

> >of the senses. Lead a detached life. " "

> >

> >when it says offer fruits of your actions to God.

> Can you explain how one

> >can actually implement this? thanks

>

>

> i have found that the best way for me personally (

> and this all personal) is

> that when i love what i do, whether it is for a

> living or for recreation, i

> do not really pay much attention to the results or

> the fruits of action.

> Finding one's calling therefore, one that you can

> call your 'passion' is the

> surest way for renouncing the fruits of desire.

> Loving what one does is also

> the most sensible way as the process of doing

> something far outlasts the

> actual end result in a linear time scale. So the

> process is the end, for

> me... If that is achieved the " fruits " can turn out

> however...! This

> detachment usually does always bring out the best

> results as well.

>

> Finding one's calling though is the tough part!...

> But a hint is that when you feel an energy and a

> drive and strength in doing

> an activity and you can make a living out of

> it...even if it just makes

> do..that is your calling...just my personal thoughts

> that have been relevant

> for me ...

>

>

>

_______________

> Send and receive Hotmail on your mobile device:

> http://mobile.msn.com

>

>

>

>