Why are you so unhappy? Because ninety-nine percent of what you think,
and everything you do, is for your self, and there isn’t one. – Wei Wu Wei
Introduction
We’re going together to read and discuss translations of 64 lines from the
Bhagavad Gita and to talk about how “working without any motive” and
“abandoning the fruits of one’s actions” brings true detachment that does not
bind one to the actions performed. Behaving in this way, one acts without
any sense of Doership. All other actions result in bound actions (karma).
The Bhagavad Gita is an archetypal story of the struggle that each one of us
experiences within ourselves as we progress towards liberation. It’s teachings
are universal and provides a roadmap to liberation (enlightenment) while
emphasizing detachment and right action.
The Bhagavad-Gita is the most systematic statement of spiritual evolution of
endowing value to mankind. It is one of the most clear and comprehensive
summaries of perennial philosophy ever revealed; hence its enduring value is
subject not only to India but to all of humanity -- Aldous Huxley
I.
Background
The Bhagavad Gita is one of the sacred books of Hinduism. It consists of 18
chapters (700 verses) that are part of a much larger epic called the
Mahabharata. Veda Vyasa authored the Mahabharata (and Bhagavatam), the
Vedanta Sutra, the108 Puranas, composed and divided the Vedas into the Rik,
Yajur, Artharva, and Sama Vedas.
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The dialog in the Gita takes place between prince Arjuna and Krishna (his
counselor and charioteer) on the battlefield of Kuruksetra. Arjuna worries that
he will have to kill his kin and mentors; and as a result, he contemplates
withdrawing from the battle. It is in this context, that Krishna advises Arjuna.
Arjuna is the voice of the seeker and Krishna is the voice of the Absolute.
The battle is between the diabolical Kauravas and the virtuous Pandavas.
Using an astronomical analysis and the text of the Mahabharata, some put the
battle of Kuruksetra somewhere between 3067 BCE and 3137 BCE.
The
Bhagavad Gita occurs as the prelude to the battle. It was probably written
down sometime between the fifty century BCE and the first century BCE.
II.
Selected Verses
The selected verses are taken from Winthrop Sargeant’s translation of the Bhagavad
Gita which has become something of a standard for a literal translation. There are
hundreds, if not thousands, of translations of the Bhagavad Gita.
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II 47
Your right is to action alone;
Never to its fruits at any time.
Never should the fruits of action be your motive;
Never let there be attachment to inaction in you.
• Acting without regard or desire for the fruits of action is one of the most
constant teachings of the Bhagavad Gita. It refers to "disinterested action,"
which is not to be confused with irresponsible or careless action. According to
the law of karma an individual is responsible for his actions throughout
eternity, or until he achieves nirvana. The" fruits" (usually translated in the
plural, though the singular phalam is used in the Sanskrit) mean the results of
action, and they are of three kinds: those of obligatory action, those of action
prompted by desire, and those that arise from delusion (see XVIII 23, 24, 25).
The first of these is really action without desire for the fruits, i.e. action which
is a duty. The second and third are related to desire, and the elimination of
desire for the fruits of action is basic to the Gita's teaching. The last line,
about "inaction" is an injunction against sloth - one of the evils associated
with the guna of tamas, or darkness. Action prompted by delusion (see
above) is also associated with tamas. Thus, action prompted by greed, desire
for wealth, desire for power, or desire for fame is not advised.
II 48
Fixed in yoga, perform actions,
Having abandoned attachment,
Arjuna,
And having become indifferent to success or failure,
It is said that evenness of mind is yoga.
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II 49
Action is inferior by far
To the yoga of wisdom, Arjuna.
Seek refuge in wisdom!
Despicable are those whose motives are based on the fruit of action.
II 51
Those who are established in wisdom,
The wise ones, who have abandoned the fruit born of action,
And are freed from the bondage of rebirth,
Go to the place that is free from pain.
II 71
The man who abandons all desires
Acts free from longing.
Indifferent to possessions, free from egotism,
He attains peace.
III 8
Perform your duty,
For action is indeed better than non-action,
And even the mere maintenance of your body
Could not be accomplished without action.
IV 14
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Actions do not taint Me;
I have no desire for the fruit of action;
Thus he who comprehends Me
Is not bound by actions.
IV 16
"What is action? What is inaction?"
Thus, even the wise are confused in this matter.
This action I shall explain to you,
Having known which, you shall be released from evil.
IV 17
One must know the nature of action,
The nature of wrong action,
And also the nature of inaction.
The way of action is profound.
IV 18
He who perceives inaction in action,
And action in inaction,
Is wise among men;
He is a yogi and performs all actions.
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IV 20
He who has abandoned all attachment to the fruits of action,
Always content, not dependent,
Even when performing action,
Does, in effect, nothing at all.
V 12
He who is disciplined in yoga, having abandoned the fruit of action,
Attains steady peace;
The undisciplined one, attached to fruit,
Is bound by actions prompted by desire.
VI 1
The Blessed Lord spoke:
He who performs that action which is his duty,
While renouncing the fruit of action,
Is a renunciant and a yogin;
Not he who is without a consecrated fire, and who fails to perform sacred
rites.
VII 23
But temporary is the fruit
For those of small understanding.
To the gods the godworshipers go;
My worshippers come surely to Me.
XII 12
6
Knowledge is indeed better than practice;
Meditation is superior to knowledge;
Renunciation of the fruit of action is better than meditation;
Peace immediately follows renunciation.
XVIII 6
These actions, however, are to be performed
Abandoning attachment to the fruits.
This is My definite
And highest belief, Arjuna.
XVIII 9
When action is done because it is a duty,
Arjuna,
And abandoning attachment to the fruit,
Such renunciation is thought to be sattvic.
XVIII 18
Knowledge, the process of knowing, and the knower
Are the threefold impulse to action;
The instrument, the action, and the doer
Are the threefold basis of action.
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III.
According to the Gita, what actions lead to detachment?
a. Work without any motive. Nishkam Karma is defined an action
performed without any expectation of fruits or results. Nishkam
karma has also been described as “mindfulness in the present
moment”.
[If you don’t believe in “karma” as it is traditionally defined, think of
it simply as “sticky” actions that have additional consequences.]
Swami Brahmananda said to his disciples: "If you truly wish to act
correctly, you must never forget two main principles: in the first
place a profound respect full of attention for the action to be done
and in the second place a total indifference or detachment for its
fruits. This is what we call the biggest secret in Karma Yoga"
(Spiritual disciplines).
b. Arjuna is asked to perform his work without being affected by the
results of his actions, whether they are successful or not: "Hold
pleasure and pain, gain and loss, victory and defeat to be the
same" (2.38).
“Your problem is that you like one part of the dream and not
another. When you have seen the dream as a dream, you have
done all that needs be done.” – Nisargadatta Maharaj
“The secret is to allow the world to show you what it will, and for
you not to react to anything. Have no opinion for or against. Just by
doing this alone, you come to the state where you can see and feel
that the whole world, the whole universe, is simply an emanation of
your own mind. “ -- Robert Adams
c. Perform duty for duty sake.
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“Better one's own duty though deficient
than the duty of another well performed.
Better is death in one's own duty;
The duty of another invites danger.” BG 3.35
d. All actions should be done as a religions sacrifice BG 3.9
“There is
another way in which this idea of mercy and selfless charity can be
put into practice; that is, by looking upon work as "worship" in case
we believe in a Personal God. Here we give up all the fruits of our
work unto the Lord, and worshipping Him thus, we have no right to
expect anything from mankind for the work we do. The Lord Himself
works incessantly and is ever without attachment.” – Swami
Vivekananda
e. “For those who believe in God there is another way, which is much
less difficult. They give up the fruits of work unto the Lord; they
work and are never attached to the results. Whatever they see, feel,
hear, or do, is for Him. For whatever good work we may do, let us
not claim any praise or benefit. It is the Lord's; give up the fruits
unto Him. Let us stand aside and think that we are only servants
obeying the Lord, our Master, and that every impulse for action
comes from Him every moment. Whatever thou worshippest,
whatever thou perceivest, whatever thou doest, give up all unto Him
and be at rest.” – from the Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda.
f. “So a person who wants liberation and moksha, should be free from
‘doership’ of action and should not seek fruits of action outside but
should offer “fruits of action” to God. Slowly his mind will become
pure and thus he will be liberated.” – from Vivekananda’s Karma
Yoga
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g. “Leave the results to God.” BG 18.6
h. All actions should be surrendered to God. BG 3.30
i.
Act only for God BG 11.55: “He who does all work for Me,
considers Me as the Supreme, Is devoted to Me, abandons all
attachment, And is free from enmity toward any being, Comes to
Me, Arjuna.”
j.
From Ramana Maharishi’s Gospel:
Q: Can we not perform actions without attachment even in the
absence of such renunciation?
M: An atma jnani [one who knows the Self] alone can be a good
karma yogi.
D: So then, one may be engaged in work and, free from desire,
keep up one’s solitude? But life’s duties allow little time to sit in
meditation or even to pray.
M: Yes. Work performed with attachment is a shackle, whereas
work performed with detachment does not affect the doer. He is,
even while working, in solitude.
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