Commentary on the Srimad Bhagavad Gita- Discourse 5.7. - Swami Krishnananda

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Saturday, October 17, 2020. 10:28.AM.

Discourse 5: The Second Chapter Concludes – The Establishment of the Soul in Universality - 7.

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1.

The reason why the fruit of an action should not be expected by us is that it is not in the hands of any one person. It is in the hands of a big cabinet of forces, as it were, as I mentioned earlier, and, finally, the will of the Supreme. Inasmuch as the fruit comes from all sides though the action proceeds from one side, we should not concentrate our minds on the fruit of the action.

2.

Because our desired fruit is not going to accrue from our particular action, and we are disappointed because somebody is controlling the destiny of our actions, what is the good of doing anything at all? We will keep quiet. We should not be attached to action with the desire for fruit, nor should we be attached to non-action: 

"Ma karmaphalahetur bhur ma te samgostv akarmani." (Gita - 2.47).

Attachment can be positive or negative. Even if we look at a thing, it is attachment. If we do not look at a thing, it is also attachment. Either way, it is a question of the mind working. Hence, action is a must, and we cannot keep quiet just because our cherished desire is not going to be fulfilled and it is in the hands of somebody else.

3.

Thus, we are placed in a very difficult situation. But the Sankhya knowledge, when applied to the yoga of action, becomes a discipline whereby we free ourselves from this chaotic way of thinking and the fear that our actions may go wrong or our inaction may not be permitted. 

The discipline that is yoga follows from the knowledge of the Sankhya : 

"Esha te’bhihita samkhye buddhir yoge tvimam sruu." (Gita - 2.39). 

In the Bhagavadgita, yoga means action and sankhya means knowledge. All action should be based on knowledge. But, our actions are not based on the knowledge of the Sankhya. The knowledge of the Sankhya is the knowledge of our organic involvement in the whole of prakriti, in the entire creation. We should not forget this point. 

But what do we do, actually? When we start doing anything, we have some ulterior motive and an object in front of us. 

Whenever we think of an object, we have a desire to go near it and possess it : 

"Dhyayato vishayan pumsah samgasteshu  pajayate." (Gita - 2.62).

To be continued ...

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