Wednesday, November 25, 2009

The "Process" of Karma Yoga - Part 2

The "Phase 1" of karma yoga may take few moments to few lifespans to perfect it depending on the amount of "desire stock" one has accumulated.

During the first phase of Karma Yoga, the seeker has to carefully give up "attachment" to the "fruit of action". Seeker has to continue to performing action without intending any harm to any being. So, a natural question arises:

अर्जुन उवाच
संन्यासं कर्मणां कृष्ण पुनर्योगं च शंससि।
यच्छ्रेय तयोरेकं तन्मे ब्रूहि सुनिश्चितम्।।5.1।।
arjuna uvāca
saṅnyāsaṅ karmaṇāṅ kṛṣṇa punaryōgaṅ ca śaṅsasi.
yacchrēya tayōrēkaṅ tanmē brūhi suniścitam..5.1..

Arjuna (the student) is asking this question to the teacher (Lord Sri Krishna)

What is better?
a. sannyasam (renouncing action or effort itself) or
b. karma yogam (renouncing the attachment to the fruit of action and continue the effort in performing one's own duties driven by the own true nature)
????

Lord says, both will lead to the same result when performed properly. And he gives his opinion that karma yoga is surely better.

संन्यासस्तु महाबाहो दुःखमाप्तुमयोगतः।
योगयुक्तो मुनिर्ब्रह्म नचिरेणाधिगच्छति।।5.6।।
saṅnyāsastu mahābāhō duḥkhamāptumayōgataḥ.
yōgayuktō munirbrahma nacirēṇādhigacchati..5.6..

Renouncing action (or effort) leads to "duhkam" to the one who has not mastered the karma yoga. But, one who has perfected the karma yoga (yogayukta) will quickly attain the eternal.

So, only after skillfully doing the action as sacrifice to the LORD one should attempt to samnyasa (giving up of effort) not before that.

WHY?
Even a small amount of desire for external sense enjoyments (vishayas - of tamasic nature) can push a person into action by its own inherent nature. (we know this as the manas comes under the control of indriyas that are predominantly rajasic nature)

tamas and rajas attract each other being opposite polarities. (inertia and passion)

The body (predominantly tamasic) has limited capability of consuming vishayas (predominantly tamasic) this causes repulsion. (Even the best loved food, one can't eat 10kgs of it at a stretch)

The regulation between these activities (attraction and repulsion) should be done by the manas. (predominantly sattwik nature)

But, under the control of indriyas, manas pushes the body beyond its limits to cause harm to itself.

During the phase 1 of karma yoga, one gives up attachment to the fruit of action and submits all the fruits to LORD and only consumes it after offering it to LORD.

So, will lord accept the rest of the fruits of action?
Lord says "NO"

नादत्ते कस्यचित्पापं न चैव सुकृतं विभुः।
अज्ञानेनावृतं ज्ञानं तेन मुह्यन्ति जन्तवः।।5.15।।
nādattē kasyacitpāpaṅ na caiva sukṛtaṅ vibhuḥ.
ajñānēnāvṛtaṅ jñānaṅ tēna muhyanti jantavaḥ..5.15..

From beginning less time, each individual involved in several enjoyments and actions.
Let me explain this with an example.

There are two ways to acquire an object from the market.
1. Pay upfront and buy the thing.
2. Get the thing on a LOAN basis.

LORD just manages all the accounts of all the individual beings and the market. He neither produces anything nor consumes anything. All the things here (in this world) are produced by the individuals. The things are also consumed by individuals.

When an individual gets a desire to consume something
1. He has to put in the "effort" in performing his own duty and convert it as "money" (karma dhanam) then he can use the karma dhanam is procuring the desired object.

or

2. He should take a LOAN from the bank (LORD) and consume the thing first, and pay back the loan later.

NO ONE CAN EVER ESCAPE FROM THIS PAYMENT (either upfront or later as a loan with necessary interest)


LORD merely manages this "UNIVERSAL LAW" of the market and bank (the UNIVERSE).

When a person starts performing the "Karma Yoga" as sacrifice, LORD starts managing different accounts belonging to the individual and consolidates the debts and deposits into more manageable accounts. By the way of consolidation, the INDIVIDUAL can focus on less number of accounts (desires) of past and future.

This account consolidation continue to happen until all the accounts are finally consolidated into ONE single account.

A "BHOGI" will be managing his own accounts (one for each of his desires); a sub account for buying a new car; a sub account for buying a new house; another sub account (loan) paying back his current loan for the mortgage; another sub account for his auto loan. MOST OF HIS EFFORT LOST in managing all these sub accounts!

INSTRUCTION 9:
It is wise to leave the consolidation to the BANKER (LORD - This banker is highly trust worthy. He runs the bank and market with absolutely "NO PROFIT" for himself - purely for the benefit of the individuals here!)

om tat sat

3 comments:

Santosh Bhalke said...

Excellent prasad sir!
That is too good.
God bless!

Thimmappa’s said...

Lucid and touching account, fresh insights too(God manages only the Universal Law, He neither takes or gives). Congratulations.

Unknown said...

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