Bhagavat Gita - 54

[Guest guest]

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/

---------------