Swami Atmananda Saraswati

[Guest guest]

Prasad Buddhi by Swami Atmananda

 

Freedom in Action:

 

Freedom is not from action, but in action. When we face the ups and

downs of life, then we tend to arrogate the anxieties, grief or even

happiness etc with the associated actions, situations and people

rather than discover some subjective dimension to all these things.

Such people as though give the reins of the life in the hand of the

things outside and then keep on getting buffeted by them. Their minds

keep vacillating in the momentary flashes of joys or sorrow, and

anxieties become as natural to them as heat is to fire. These people

obviously decide to give up those so called painful actions, or try to

run away from those uncordial situations or start disliking some

people. These people are ignorant ones, and they are not aware of the

secrets and also the dynamics of action and experiences.

 

What Binds Us?

 

No one binds us except our own mind. Our ego, expectations, likes and

dislikes etc, however justified they may appear to be, alone bring all

the anxieties and stresses. Even a little deliberation on this matter

brings this realization to us that yes, it is indeed our expectations

which brings all the anxieties etc, but we also see that all work and

relationships involve expectations. A mother has to have expectations

about the well-being of her child, so also the boss, or even a

teacher. All have some expectations, and this is what them drives them

into those actions. So this is like a Catch 22 situation, that

expectation in actions will bring anxieties, and yet these

expectations are inevitable in our actions, so in the final analysis

there is no way except to face the resultant anxieties and grief. Is

there a way out of this tricky situations and discover a way to live

in a more positive and healthy way. Is there a way to live and act in

this world wherein we continue to have normal expectations and

motivations yet be free from the anxieties part? Can these very

unavoidable expectations be made instrumental to help bring about a

u-turn in our experience graph. This is what is aimed at by the unique

art of action prescribed Lord Krishna in Bhagwad Gita. He affirms that

freedom is indeed not from action but in action.

 

Action Dissipaters:

 

No one acts without any objective or goal in mind. In fact clearer and

dearer the goal, more inspired and dynamic is the action. Let us not

doubt this fact even for a moment that we all want some fruits of

action, and we also know that this predominantly depends on our

action. Now the question is that what are the factors which mar the

efficiency of our actions. These are:

 

1. Not giving proper justice to action, by being too anxiety ridden

about the fruits of action.

 

2. Being driven by a motivation which is very short term, and thus

which makes us goal-less soon.

 

3. Dissipations brought about by arrogating the success and failure on

ourself.

 

To handle all the above problems, Gita gives us a very interesting

model for our actions. This package on one hand lets us have a clear

goal, makes us very dynamic and inspired, assures a motivation which

is lasting, assures that we become free of the negative effects of

success and failure, and thus assures that the resultant fruits of our

actions are at their best.

 

Be Factual:

 

Lord says that lets be factual. He says that see this fact that there

are various things which are not being done by us and there are some

things which have to be done by us. The creation, the running of the

world with all the infinite powers of nature, our birth and that also

in this human form, the place of our birth, capacities, inclinations,

the various situations which we get, the duration of life, even the

success and failures, none of these is fully in our hands. One fine

day when our minds are sufficiently developed we find ourselves in the

midst of this extremely beautiful yet astounding world, trying to

figure out the what's & why's of things here. While for the majority

of things we are just blessed recipients, yet there are some things

which are definitely in our hands. Most importantly the responses to

the situations is our exclusive domain and freedom. Moreover what kind

of motivation we entertain, what priorities we have, how healthy our

body and integrated our mind is, how inspired we act, how we react to

the ups and downs - all fall under our personal freedom and domain.

The truth is that while we see that the majority of things are being

run by powers that be, yet all that which is on our hands is also very

significant and consequential. Thus there are two powers at work. The

first the one which creates and runs the world, which includes our

creation and specific inclinations etc, and two, our role in

responding to the situations we get.

 

Live a Life of Partnership with God:

 

A person who normally gets negatively effected and burdened by living

his or her life is the one who is not factual, such a fellow takes all

the burden on himself and at the end of the day gets crushed by this

self-imposed yet baseless burden. So Gita says that the most obvious

and logical thing is to live a life in partnership with God, the

unseen X power, who is the master of all that which runs here. We need

to cultivate a relationship with such a master. A relationship of boss

and his instrument, a one of beloved and the lover, or as the

scriptures say, one of a devotee and his god. This relationship is of

great importance. Every relationship inspires and motivates us. Today

also most of the people work for their family etc. We need to see this

fact that our beloved is taking initiative and showering us with all

the love, life and its goodies. Now it is our turn, we need to see

life in such a way, that whatever situation we have got is his wish,

it has an important place in his script, whatever it may be. So lets

give out our best - for our beloved sake. In such a way, there will be

an never ending, loving, inspiring motivation to do our best in every

situation and then remain free of our doership too. However, if we

cannot do and give everything for our beloved God, then Lord Krishna

tells another simple thing.

 

Prasad Buddhi:

 

He says you just live as per your drive and motivation, but just see

that all 'Fruits of Actions' come from me. May you see every situation

as my gift to you, my 'prasad' for you all. So partake of this prasad

with devotion, enjoy it, make the best of it, but just remember,

sincerely and deeply, that it is my gift to you. He says that 'What

you get is my gift to you, and what you do and give is your offering

to me'. So lets have this partnership, and then see its revolutionary

effect. You will be free of all the negative aspects of karma, there

will be no draining of your precious resources and energy, no

stress-borne diseases, assurance of good worldly life and the best

part of it is that your mind too will remain peaceful, inspired and

creative.

 

Start a New Chapter:

 

So just incorporate one small principle in your life. See all

situations as HIS prasad, learn to be gratified in receiving every

situation. Let every day be seen as a blessing, and a new opportunity

to live, love & serve. Prasad-Buddhi is an integral part of the divine

Art of Karma as revealed in Bhagwad Gita. Make a humble beginning, you

have nothing to lose but everything to gain. Thereafter you will never

aspire to be free from any action whatsoever, but will remain free in

and through every action. See that you are being showered with love

every moment, let this vision overwhelm and envelop you. This

knowledge will bring about its own action. This will indeed start a

new chapter in your life.