Shree Krishna explains that while both karm sanyās yog (renunciation) and karm yog (devotional work) lead to the same goal, karm yog is generally more accessible, as it involves performing duties without attachment and dedicating results to God. Karm sanyāsīs renounce external pleasures and through austerity and devotion, attain lasting peace by overcoming fear, desire, and anger.
The Bhagavad Gita Verse Summary 1-15
Arjun said: "O Shree Krishna, You have spoken highly of karm sanyās, the path of renouncing actions, and have also recommended karm yog, the practice of performing duties with devotion. Please clarify for me which of these two paths is more advantageous."
The Supreme Lord said both renunciation of actions (karm sanyās) and working with devotion (karm yog) lead to the ultimate goal, but karm yog is superior. Shree Krishna explains that karm yog is safer for most, as it balances worldly duties with spiritual practice, while karm sanyās is suited for those fully absorbed in God.
Karm yogis, free from desire and aversion, are seen as truly renounced and liberated from material bonds. They perform their duties with detachment, accepting all outcomes as God's grace, which aids their spiritual growth. Like wood shaped through pain, they understand that challenges purify their hearts and focus their minds on God.
Some think renunciation and devotion are separate paths, but Shree Krishna says they lead to the same place. True renunciation is about serving God and seeing everything as His, just like those who practice devotion through action. So, both paths ultimately get you to the same spiritual goal.
The highest spiritual state can be achieved through both karm sanyās and karm yog, as the state of the mind is what matters most. Those who truly understand see that both paths are equal if the mind is fully absorbed in God, regardless of external renunciation.
Achieving true renunciation is hard without practising devotion (karm yog), as shown by a sadhu who struggled with anger after years of austerities. Shree Krishna advises using natural talents to serve God while working on personal flaws, as this path leads to genuine inner renunciation and quickly reaching the Supreme.
Karm yogis who have purified their intellect and gained control over their mind and senses see the divine presence in every being and stay unaffected by their actions. Shree Krishna explains that, in Vedic terms, ātmā encompasses both the soul and the divine, and through selfless devotion, these yogis achieve the same inner clarity and enlightenment as those practising karm sanyās.
Karm yogis consistently remind themselves, "I am not the doer," even while engaging in daily activities like seeing, hearing, or speaking, recognizing that only the material senses are at work. By attributing all their actions to God's power and viewing themselves as mere instruments of divine will, they overcome pride and remain spiritually grounded, understanding that God is the true doer.
Those who dedicate their actions to God and let go of attachments stay unaffected by sin, just like a lotus leaf stays dry even when it's in water. Shree Krishna uses this lotus analogy to show that karm yogis remain pure and free from sin by maintaining divine consciousness in all their actions.
Yogis, free from attachment, use their body, senses, mind, and intellect to perform actions for self-purification. Understanding that material desires are futile, they renounce selfishness, dedicate their actions to God, and see heart purification as their greatest offering, viewing challenges as opportunities for spiritual growth.
Karm yogis, by dedicating their actions to God, achieve peace and remain free from karma, while those driven by selfish desires become entangled in their actions. Shree Krishna explains that those focused on self-purification are liberated, while those seeking worldly rewards are bound to the cycle of life and death.
Self-aware individuals find peace in their own bodies, which they see as a city with nine gates. They stay detached, recognizing that they're not in charge of their actions or their results—those are under God’s control.
God isn’t responsible for our actions, the feeling of being the doer, or their results—these are influenced by material nature. The sense of doership and pride comes from our own ignorance, and we need to overcome this with God’s help.
God is always there but doesn’t control our good or bad actions. He gives us the power to act, sees what we do, and gives us the results. We get confused because ignorance hides the truth, making us forget that it's our own choices, not God’s, that lead to what we do.
In the next verse, Shree Krishna explains next how such ignorance can be dispelled.
Summary: JKYog India Online Class- Bhagavad Gita [Telugu]- 9 September to 13 September 2024.
