Guest guest Posted January 13, 2003 Report Share Posted January 13, 2003 Bhagavat Gita - 54 The Abandonment (Chapter 18 verses 1-12) As in the previous chapter, the early sections of this last chapter also emphasise the part played by the three gunas of Prakruthi in all human affairs. It opens with a question by Arjuna about the distinction between Sanyasa and Tyaga. The Lord replies: Abandonment of ritualistic works with promises of specific rewards is called by the sages as Sanyasa, while performance of all action without an eye on their fruits is called Tyaga. Some say that all actions are to be abandoned because there is some element of evil in every action, but others are of the opinion that actions like yagna, charity austerity etc., are never to be abandoned. My view is that actions like yagna, charity and austerity are never to be abandoned, because they purify man when performed without attachment and desire for fruits. To abandon a duty because of fear of difficulties involved, is positively bad. It is impossible for any embodied being to abandon all work. So true abandonment had to be taken to mean work without attachment to fruits and without the sense of ego. Actions done in that spirit never bind. How the bondages of Actions is overcome (Chapter 18 verses 13-18) In all actions there are five factors involved - the body, the I-sense of the performer, senses, expression of energy through them, and as the fifth, the unknown and the incalculable factor.All these factors belong to prakrithi. Behind it is the pure light consciousness, the Atman, who is unaffected witness. In ignorance, this pure witness identifies himself with these factors external to him and their performances, and creates bondage for himself. So if the actor has no feeling like 'I am doing', and no attachment to the fruits accruing, it can be said that he does not act, even if all the world sees him acting in the physical plane. ============================================================================ Based on " Srimad Bhagavat Gita - The Scripture of Mankind " a translation by Rev Swami Tapasyanandaji, published by Sri Ramakrishna Math - Chennai. http://www.sriramakrishnamath.org/ -- --------------- Email: gokulmuthu Webpage: http://www.geocities.com/gokulmuthu/ --------------- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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