How to Attain Peace Through Action

In the last chapter, Lord Krishna gave advice about the value of the ‘yoga of wisdom’, saying: ‘Developing inner joy is better than working for outer pleasures.’

Arjuna now asks why Krishna is asking him to act, moreover to kill. He asks an intelligent question:

‘It seems as if you are making contradictory statements. If you say Lord Krishna reminds Arjuna that freedom from the bondage of actions doesn’t come from stopping action, neither does perfection (Self-Realization) develop through non-action. This is because life is ever inactive owing to the three gunas (sattwa, purity or creation; rajas, activity or maintaining; tamas, stopping of action or destruction). The three gunas are always active.

Even when the body is seemingly inactive, the heart keeps pumping, and the blood circulating. Thus, the inner body remains continually active. Stopping action does not really stop all action. Moreover, the mind is always active. If a person does not eat a candy bar, but secretly desires one, they are still enslaved to their senses even though appearing to have broken the hold on the taste buds.

When a person feels balanced, and then eats unhealthy food, it causes them to become imbalanced. Only then will they feel repulsed by unhealthy food. Mastery of the senses occurs when you are no longer ensnared by foods and other sensory impressions. Alones Ayurvedic food plan (one that balances), feeling greater health from within one’s eternal Soul, begins to take precedence over a temporary and possibly harmful sensory pleasure. This is why Lord Krishna says action is superior to inaction.

So only when a person can engage in the world and not be enslaved by it, or as Lord Krishna says, to perform action without attachment, can one say they have attained the yoga of wisdom.

It is not a question of ‘whether or not to act. It is more a question of acting without attachment or enslavement by the senses. [Verse 1–9]

O Krishna, if the spiritual-mental awareness is considered better than action, why are you are you asking me to engage in this horrific action? [1]

These seem to be conflicting words that have caused me mental confusion. Please clarify which will allow me to attain the highest benefits. [2]

O sinless one, this world has both paths previously described by Me. The path of wisdom is for those with an affinity to more intellectual thinking, and the path of work is for those with more natural affection for activity. [3]

A person can neither become free from actions nor attain perfection simply by not performing action. [4]

No one can exist without some action always taking place. All of nature is ever compelled to be active by its design (due to the action of the gunas). [5]

Anyone who has controlled the five sense organs, yet is thinking about sensory objects, is fooling themselves and being hypocritical. [6]

Yet, O Arjuna, anyone who has mental control over their senses, follows the path of action without attachment; they can control their sense organs (organs of action). [7]

Therefore, perform your allotted responsibilities because this is better than forsaking obligations. If all activity stopped, the body could not function. [8]

O Arjuna, the entire world is bound by actions, except for actions that are offered to God (yajna). Therefore, do your duty while being free from attachment. [9]

Abundance Consciousness

Lord Krishna also examines (in a very abstract way) the notion of how it is better to give than to receive. Giving has various levels; in the world, it might relate to giving time, material possessions, or love. On an intimate level, it would mean saying a prayer over your food (giving thanks to God for the food) and offering all things you own to God, before using them to help humanity. It can mean giving all your ownership of all things, feelings, and thoughts to God it is God who gives all things to people.

In this context, Krishna says he has given certain responsibilities to his angels (devas) for them to manage (give) to others. Offering or giving requires relinquishing the ego’s notion of ownership of things. When a person has no particular desire to own something (or someone), their desires become spiritual desires, for example, the desire to help humanity. So without holding on to the objects or feelings, they are given freely in a positive, helpful spirit.

Food that has been prayed over becomes prashad or holy food ― the remnants of food tasted by God ― and so upon eating, the food purifies the individual’s body, mind, and spirit. However, those who horde food, who are not grateful for the bounty, the ego energy grows, and the food becomes the energy of greed.

Conversely, one who does not covet is never lacking; one who accepts all things as a part of the eternal energy of God cannot be without, because how can eternity lack? We see examples of abundance wouldn’t God provide the same system of abundance for humans?

It is only when human’s ego (greed) gets in the way that it blocks the abundance from being seen and received; or when humans want what they don’t have — when they value what is rare over what is given in abundance — the opposite of supply and demand economy.

Being grateful for what God supplies in abundance is a way to realize life in fullness. Undue effort is then not required.

In the book, Yoga Vani: Instructions for the Attainment of Siddhayoga, by Swami Shankar Purushottam Tirtha, the author says that God guarantees to those who think of God and serve God’s children will to doubt or come out of the mindset of serving and giving to othleaves behind hundreds of seeds. So by planting one seed, Mother Nature gives back millions of seeds. From this we can see a parallel. By doing one healthy/natural thing for yourself or for others, Mother Nature gives back a million-fold. This is how creation is set up. Those who give and live in natural harmony grow in health and peace and God-love. The process goes on by itself, set up by God.

Those who try to make the impermanent material world their own (that is, who greedily hoard), cannot experience the everlasting. The Bible says Eve lost her faith in God and chose to taste the fruit of intellectual knowledge, as if she could know something as worthy as knowing God. So in her doubt, she stopped giving and took, and thus cut herself off from her Divine life. But those who are aware of their inner eternal Soul and are not swayed by outer material life they must.

These days some people define abundance theory as ‘you can get whatever you want in life’. But Lord Krishna offers a deeper insight into the true meaning of abundance; you are everything, because at its essence everything is Soul. So there is no need to ‘need’ or want — Soul is ever-present, everywhere. Even viewing this from a material viewpoint, God knows what you need, is ever supplying what you need in abundance, so there is no need to desire for yourself. The result of this insight is freeing. Then one naturally begins to think of helping others from what runneth over in their life.

You might think abundance theory describes the land of milk and honey. Reading accounts of indigenous peoples such as native American Indians during the time of Columbus, we see this is how they lived. Families were always together, living, loving, connected with the earth. Gathering food was a family event. Children could sit on parent’s shoulders and pick fruit off the trees. Although it was work, interactions with family lessened the effort required.

There is a natural life-spirit cycle; offer all you do, say, and think be sustained. If you do not seek to sustain others in this way, your remain elusive because you have cut yourself off from your inner eternal abundance.

There is an interconnectedness between humans, animals and nanectedness among all living things. In this verse, Krishna unveils the very essence of all cycles — offering action to God, or living for birds. Humans can feed, or feed off other humans. We have the ability to choose to be selfless and offer our love and lives for the betterment of humanity, and this in turn betters us.

Verse 17 reveals the unlimited abundance of bliss or contentment that is within each person. When this reservoir is discovered, our external-based desires for happiness vanish because the eternal and most blissful inner joy supersedes any temporary and limited joy self, is content with their inner self (without longing for anything external); for that person, there is nothing to do [Verse 10–17]

In the beginning of creation, Brahma created all beings as an offering to God, saying, ‘by this offering shall you prosper; through offerings, all that is desirable shall be bestowed upon you. [10]

By this sacrificial offering (yajna), the heavenly hosts (devas) are pleased, and in turn shall bless you to obtain the highest blessings. [11]

The offering (yajna) to the Almighty satisfies the heavenly hosts (devas) and blesses you with all the desired necessities of life. People who enjoy life’s blessings without first offering them to God, are called thieves. [12]

Spiritual or righteous people who eat the remnants of the offering are freed from all sins;

but people who prepare food for themselves, eat sin. [13]

Creatures come into being from food; food is produced from rain, rain comes as a result of the offering (yajna) to God, and the offering occurs due to karma (action). [14]

Understand that actions originate from the Vedas, and the Vedas arise from the eternal, Almighty. Thus, the all-pervading Brahman is ever established in the performing of offerings unto God. [15]

O Arjuna, people who do not partake in this cycle live in sin, wasting their lives enslaved by their need for sense gratification. [16]

Those who remain ecstatic and self-content within themselves; activity doesn’t exist for them. [17]

While writing this section, the topic of nirvana (the land of milk and honey) arose during a conversation with a student. She said she did not want to live in nirvana since she defined it as ‘not having to do anything’ — she wanted a life of challenges and helping others.

She held a common myth or mistaken (myth-taken) definition of nirvana.

Lord Krishna says the message in this chapter is to act with wisdom (inner refection) and be involved with devotional work and helping others. This in itself will help a person feel closer to the Divine — the true definition of nirvana. But the Western notion of success involves endings such as winning a game. When you win, the games ends, and there is nothing to do. In this context, then, achieving nirvana would be akin to having reached the end of the game, at which point you are put out to pasture. Nothing can be further from the truth.

Nirvana is a life that is full, not empty, for it is at that point that one experiences living and acting in full harmony with the Divine.

Another misconception about nirvana or Self-Realization is that one becomes a zombie, emotionless, without thought, feeling, or life.

Again, it is quite the opposite. One is fully awake, fully alive, and fully sensitive. It is ironic that the state of natural balance and awakened consciousness would be thought of as something artificial or unnatural.

Lord Krishna says that by accepting that Almighty God as the owner and provider for all humans and creatures, there is nothing to gain by doing, and nothing to lose by not doing; one need not depend on any person Dependence on God alone allows a person to be enthralled in this nirvana or garden of Eden.

Lord Krishna tells Arjuna that this is the reason why it is best to be detached from selfish desires; just try to help people from love (bhakti yoga):

Help for no reason other than it feels good to help.

Don’t help to get, God alone is the giver.

Don’t help out of fear, pride, or fame, you won’t be freed.

Fear and pride serve the dish of doubt and cause you to disbelieve in abundance; fear evokes the acrid taste of emptiness (not receiving), and pride reveals a sweet gluttony that something additional is needed to feel good about yourself, thus resulting in low self-esteem and scarcity instead of self-worth and abundance. Low self-esteem cooks more dishes for fear and pride to serve, causing a cycle of overeating doubt.

Helping is the highest calling. The fullest expression of helping is to teach through example. So when a person is full of the eternal abundance of their inner Soul, they are at peace. They are able to accept life and act appropriately, come what may. When they help, it is in response to their cup running over; they are moved by compassionate joy. When they are not acting, they still are feeling the abundance and enjoyment just the same. Either way, awakening to the experience of inner abundance finds one in Divine rapture (sat chit ananda); beyond feeling fullness, one feels Divine glory. The person who shines with such joy is infectious, and others around them spontaneously beam with the same radiant bliss.

The interesting point is that two people can be helping (for example, feeding the poor), one may be thinking, ‘this will look good on my resume’; the other is overflowing with the abundance of inner self, God-love. It is the second person who is truly helping the people.

Their love-abundance runneth over and everyone around them bathes in a warm loving smile; their Souls are touched and freed by the freed Soul of the truly giving person.

Divine Prayer

‘Lord, give all your Divine ecstasy, give all your love; let it flow through me unimpeded — washing flooding out into the world over and through the people, saturating, inciting Divine delight of God in all.’

Krishna says, Help out others out of a sense of loving service. The great Souls of this earth attained salvation by this method. The people follow the actions of leaders — useful or non-useful actions; so it is important to set a good example for the masses.

It may be easier to understand the notion of what is ‘action without care for results’ through examples of action with and without a desired reward.

Lord Krishna then says that even He ― who has no need of anything since He is everything and created everything ― even He acts unceasingly trying to do good out of His love for His children. He says, if he does not act, the people also would also not act and the world would perish. Therefore, the wise must act to help humanity without attachment to desires. [Verse 18–26]

Such a person has nothing to gain from action and nothing to lose from inaction, and is entirely self-reliant and self-sufficient. [18]

Therefore, remaining unattached, continually perform you dutiful actions. It is through these acts you achieve the highest good. [19]

Through such actions, King Janaka and other (great souls) realized complete perfection. For the sake of helping the world, you also should discharge your responsibilities. [20]

How a great person conducts themselves, the average people follow. Whatever example they set, the people follow. [21]

O Arjuna, in these spiritual, heavenly, and material worlds, there is no prescribed responsibilities for Me, and nothing to gain. Still I continue my assigned duties. [22]

O Arjuna, if I do not unceasingly carry out my duties, people would follow my example in all areas of their life. [23]

O Arjuna, if I do not execute my responsibilities, the worlds would crumble. The castes would become confused, and all beings would be destroyed. [24]

O Arjuna, as the ignorant are attached to the rewards of work, so the wise act without personal motive, but to help the world. [25]

The foolish, attached to results of action, are not to be confused; the wise are thus advised to engage in their dutiful or righteous action. [26]

But Krishna notes it is not for the person who comprehends this to confuse those who are not ready to understand this insight. Thus, this information should not be forced on others. The wise, however, are to focus on their Soul, acknowledging that all action is in the hands of God, and try to help out of love (not out of hope for some attainment, honorable recognition, or grief to gain something).

Whatever gifts you have been given, you must use them in the world.

For Arjuna, who is a warrior and one who upholds righteousness, his path is to help those who are being threatened with genocide by his devotedly, with unflinching heart become free from the bondage of the senses and ego and can thus attain Self-Realization.

However, He cautions that those who find fault with his teaching and do not follow this path of wise action and devotional helping will be deluded and ruined.

For the wise, this will be their natural path. Lord Krishna says it is better to follow one’s own life-purpose path though flawed, than to follow another’s path. It is only by living your own life that you will become free.

I shall be telling this with a sigh Somewhere ages and ages hence:

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I, I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference The American poet, Robert Frost called this ‘the road less traveled.’

When we look and see everyone walking one way, but we are called to another separate path, called to create yet a new path, it may seem unfair, or lonely. On that isolated path, one might face lack of external recognition and validation. In addition, others not called to that path might attempt to talk you out of walking your path. Often it is our loving family, who, with the best intentions, advise us to follow a path that has already been tread because they can only see paths already trodden.

Another American poet, Henry David Thoreau, said:

If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because they hear a different drummer.

Let them step to the music they hear, however measured or far away.

Lord Krishna warns that following another’s path is fraught with danger. [Verse 27–35]

The ego deludes the mind into believing ‘I am the doer’. The gunas, born of prakriti (nature) perform all actions. [27]

But, O mighty-armed, the knower of truth, who understands the functioning of the gunas and the results of action of the senses, witnesses the senses engaged in sense objects, and so doesn’t become attached to them. [28]

Those with perfected insight are not to confuse the people who are deluded and therefore attached to the gunas (senses). [29]

Without ego or desire for gains, surrender all action to Me; set your mind firmly focused on the Self; thus becoming free from the fever of grief, and fight. [30]

People who continually follow these teachings of Mine with full faith and devotion, become freed from the bondage of being affected by the results of actions. [31]

But, those who find fault with my teachings and do not follow the advice, they are deluded and devoid of any true inner knowledge or spiritual awareness. [32]

Even the wise act according to their nature; all beings follow their own nature. What can repression accomplish? [33]

The sense objects cause attraction and aversion of the senses. People should try to not be controlled by their sense desires as they divert one from finding their true path (inner eternal bliss). [34]

It is better to perform one’s own life-purpose though flawed, than to live that of another’s. It is better to die on one’s own path than to live according to another person’s life purpose; the purpose of another is full of danger [35]

Arjuna then asks Krishna, ‘What power is it that causes a person to act in ways that even they don’t wish to act? ’

Unfulfilled or obstructed desire causes anger. It is created from rajas guna (excess action). This craving is never satisfied, and causes and afflicts wisdom. This is why Lord Krishna advises to subdue the senses. The way to become free from these bonds of desire are through meditation, prayer, following one’s life purpose, following one’s Ayurvedic foods and lifestyle, and trying to not harm anyone or anything (in action, words, and thoughts). The senses are stronger than the body, the mind is stronger than the senses, the intellect is stronger than the mind, and the Soul is strongest of all. So freeing oneself from desires can be achieved with willpower, perseverance, and with the help of gentle, natural habits of meditation, lifestyle, and monitoring one’s thoughts, words, and deeds. [Verse 36–43]

O Krishna, what impels a person to commit sin against their own will, as if compelled by force? [36]

It is unfulfilled desire, turning into anger, born of Rajas Guna (passion); know this craving to be insatiable and the greatest sin; it is the most formidable enemy of the world. [37]

Just as fire is hidden by smoke, dust hides a mirror, the womb hides the embryo, so the Self is hidden by desire. [38]

O Arjuna, wisdom (inner joy) is hidden by the unappeasable fire of desire; it is the constant enemy of the wise. [39]

The senses, mind, and intellect are the seats of desire; through these organs desire deludes the embodied Soul and covers its wisdom. [40]

Therefore O Arjuna, first control your senses; destroy this sinful desire, for it is the destroyer of wisdom and Self-Realization. [41]

The senses are superior (to the body), mind is superior to the senses, and the Soul (atman) is superior to the mind. [42]

O mighty-armed, by knowing Soul is superior to intelligence, steady the mind by Soul awareness and conquer the unappeasable enemy in the form of desire. [43]

Summary:

• Self-Realization (realizing inner peace) does not come from inaction, but from lovingly sharing, helping others, and giving of yourself

• God’s abundance is there for all creatures. So there is no need to think selfishly of how to get and do things for yourself. Rather, live a life in balance, devotedly, serving others (bhakti) and your basic needs will be met benefit of others. It is based in abundance consciousness — action is based in selfish desires. It is due to, and causes feelings of lacking abundance.

Exercises: Abundance.

• Look at the animals in nature; do you see how they are generally provided for or find food without undue effort? [yes, there food for the birds, fish, etc., and how there is an interwoven layering of life so all animals have food?

• Now review your life patterns. Can you find times when some you to finish your report just before the deadline. Do you find that when you are involved with events that are more to help others rather than for your own personal desires, abundance appears more often if not every time?

• If you do see this pattern of abundance in your life when you are selfless, then develop a strategy to gradually become even more selfless. Obviously you need to support yourself and family, but you can choose a career that is more beneficial to people and nature. If you are realistically able to transform even an extra hour or so a day to more selflessness, do you see the increased abundance growing in your life even more than before? Does your inner contentment and life energy feel yet fuller? If so, Abundance: from one seed comes thousands

 

Chapter 4

The Eternal Path to God

Lord Krishna begins the chapter documenting that He has taught this yoga wisdom to various royal sages throughout history. He calls it imperishable yoga because God is eternal; thus, it provides the wisdom to realize that God is also eternal. From time to time and over time, the wisdom can become lost. It must then be taught anew to other generations. At this time, Krishna is teaching this same wisdom to Arjuna.

Avatars

To explain the gain and loss of wisdom, Krishna says, Whenever there is a decline in virtue and a rise of vice, Almighty God comes to earth, taking a form to protect good people and destroy the evil ones. In this way, dharma (virtue, goodness, love of spirit/God) is restored.

In Vedic culture (the Hindu religion), the form God assumes is called an avatar. Past avatars included Ramakrishna, Rama, Krishna, Shankara, and a variety of animals. Thus it is that Hindus also accept Jesus and Buddha as avatars. These avatars come to earth and live exemplary lives--usually bearing the greatest of hardships--yet always remaining true to dharma, ethics, and virtue. These avatars are spiritual role models or mentors who teach us how to live virtuously even amid the harshest challenges.

Now another aspect of an avatar is also discussed. Since God or spirit is in all people and all things, then all people and things are avatars.

Then if a person can see the Holy Spirit in rocks, trees, people, and so on, it can be said that they see God or spirit in all things. Once the great saint Ramakrishna was asked if indeed he was the avatar of Rama and Krishna. He answered that for those who believe in diversity, he is the avatar of both past avatars. For those who see all people and things as God, then all people and things are avatars.

And we are God as much as Ramakrishna is.

Krishna says people who understand the nature of these Divine births and His virtuous actions as an avatar, see themselves as that same eternal spirit. Thus, they attain the goal of their life — Self-Realization; they do not need to be reborn. Reincarnation would not be necessary. Such people become free from fear, anger, and all forms of attachment. They are absorbed in the love of God. Taking refuge into eternal life.

Other religions have the same or similar view of reincarnation. Juas a departed relative, that relative’s Soul is reborn. Some forms of Buddhism (eg, Tibetan Buddhists) believe in the reincarnation of the Soul. Other sects do not use the term Soul, but call it ‘life’ (beyond time and space, beyond inside and outside, no life or death).

So Buddhists say there is no reincarnation, but rebirth of ‘life.’ Semantically, it is the same idea; it is just using different names. Other mystical religions also believe in reincarnation. [Verse 1–10]

Lord Krishna said:

I taught this science of imperishable yoga to Surya who taught it to his son Vaisvastu Manu, who taught it to his son, King Ikshvaku. [1]

Thus, the lineage of sage-kings learned this science. O Arjuna, through a long duration of time, this science of Self-Realization became lost in this world. [2]

Today, that same ultimate yogic science has been again taught by Me to you, because you are my devotee and friend. [3]

Arjuna said:

I don’t understand; you were born after Surya, how could you be his teacher? [4]

Lord Krishna said:

O Arjuna, you and I have had many births. I remember them all, but you do not. [5]

Though I am timeless, unborn and imperishable, and the Lord of all creation, I birth myself into a living being by my own internal mysterious power. [6]

O Arjuna, whenever righteousness diminishes and unrighteousness starts to prevail, at those times I manifest in living form. [7]

I birth myself from age to age to protect the good, destroy the evil-doers, and to re-establish dharma (virtue and spirituality). [8]

Just One God

Verse 11 is a wonderfully profound statement by Lord Krishna. He says that however a person worships God, God answers them in kind. There are many paths people follow to reach God.

However people worship Me, I fulfill those desires. O Arjuna, all mankind follows My path. [11]

Every major religion says there is only one God. Here, Krishna clearly says that He accepts all paths to the one God. So if one reads Jesus saying, ‘I am the Way’, one might also conclude, in an open-hearted interpretation, that Jesus might be speaking figuratively. The same with other religions, each says, ‘God is the Way’. But there is no actual statement that God must be in this sole form for people to worship. That would be a literal interpretation. If God is truly all-loving, wouldn’t He be accepting of all paths He created in the first place? Each path has its own rules and rituals; heavens and hells, falling and redemption, but all speak of the one eternal God or spirit. This verse then demonstrates full acceptance of all paths to God. If religions could celebrate their similar goal, we could avoid religious wars.

In verse 12, Krishna says that those who long for worldly success worship the gods, but that worldly success is more quickly attained by actions. There is a difference between God giving a devotee the basic necessities for their family to survive without undue stress, and a person praying for untold wealth. Here, Krishna is speaking of the person desirous of excess worldly wealth. So in these two verses, He distinguishes between reaching God and attaining worldly success.

Krishna further clarifies who God is in relation to actions and gods.

He says that God created all things and actions (qualities/gunas and karma), He is not the doer; He is unmoving, unchanging. Any action cannot pollute or move His eternal nature. Those who experience this reality are not bound by their actions, that is, they do not act out of personal desires such as fame, fortune, or power.

So we see that God has given options to all people; they can worship and attain Him, or they can aim for untold wealth. But to truly know God, you must go beyond all action and doing to realize Oneness with the eternal, unbounded Soul. [Verse 12]

Those who long for worldly success worship the demigods; success comes quickly through actions. [12]

⇐ Предыдущая3456789101112Следующая ⇒

Поделиться: