Stages to Perfection - GOMU

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There are several stages in the path of action prescribed in the

Gita.

 

Stage 1:

A person who is lazy and does not have any motivation to work, has

to work with a motive. He should have aims in life like to become

rich, secure, famous and enjoy luxuries of life. While doing so, he

should take care to stick to righteousness.

 

Stage 2:

When a person keeps working with a motive, there will come a time

when he finds that the ends for which he is toiling is actually not

worth much. It is at this stage that the philosophy of " work without

motive " comes. He has to work, but without eyeing at the fruits.

 

Stage 3:

When a person keeps working without motive, there will come a time

when he finds that it is not he that really does that work. It is as

if an invisible power makes him do what he does. This is when the

philosophy of " giving up the doership of action " comes.

 

In the first two stages, the doctrine of Karma, the concept of free-

will, etc are all applicable. In the third stage, the philosophy

that " everything is predestined " applies. It is a gradual process of

discovery of the Ultimate

Truth.

 

Now how do I know which stage I am in and what philosophy should I

apply to my life?

 

If this question arises, I am not in stage 3. For a person in stage

3, this question will not arise at all. This stage comes out of

experience and not effort.

 

If I work enthusiastically, if I have strong likes and dislikes, if

I am anxious about success and failure, if I can give a list of

achievements in life, I am in stage 2.

 

If I am not motivated to work, if I keep complaining about work, if

I do not have any remarkable achievements in life, I am in stage 1.

Gokulmuthu Narayanaswamy <gokulmuthu