Bhagavat Gita - 22

August 20, 2002

Bhagavat Gita - 22

Detached work leads to Enlightenment (Chapter 6 verses 1-9)

Shri Krishna said: The real sannyasin and yogi is the man who works with

detachment in mind, not one who puts on the symbols of renunciation and

avoids work. Real sannyasa and real karma yoga are not so different as

people think. Both have the common point that the mind should have the

capacity to abandon all the hankerings and attachments, hopes and

expectations. The only difference is that, to one who is in the early

stages of the discipline, struggling to gain this non-attached condition,

work in a literal sense is essential, because he would otherwise lapse into

idleness and hypocrisy. Along with work he should practice introspection

and meditation also; for without that he cannot keep up the sense of

detachment, dedication and desirelessness while working. Work or Karma

becomes yoga, only under this condition of supplementing work with

meditation. But, for one who has become established in this detachment,

introspection becomes the main means for further progress. The test of

having reached this state is that there is no expectation of the fruits

and no sense of agency. One with such attainment can abandon actions

without any fear of degeneration, but need not necessarily do so.

While practicing the introspective discipline intensively, he can

engage himself also in actions that are contributive to the welfare of

the world. Whereas action is a 'must' for the former, it is only a 'may'

for the latter. But the cultivation of a detached mind free from hopes

and expectations, is common and essential to both.

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Based on " Srimad Bhagavat Gita - The Scripture of Mankind "

a translation by Rev Swami Tapasyanandaji, published by

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