Bhagavad Gita Chapter 3, verse 9 states that true freedom comes from offering our actions to God without seeking personal gain.
यज्ञार्थात्कर्मणोऽन्यत्र लोकोऽयं कर्मबन्धन: |
तदर्थं कर्म कौन्तेय मुक्तसङ्ग: समाचर ||
yajñārthāt karmaṇo ’nyatra loko ’yaṁ karma-bandhanaḥ
tad-arthaṁ karma kaunteya mukta-saṅgaḥ samāchara
Translation: Work must be done as a yajna to the Supreme Lord; otherwise, work causes bondage in this material world. Therefore, O son of Kunti, for the satisfaction of God, perform your prescribed duties without being attached to the results.
According to spiritual teachings, one can engage in two different modes of work. The first mode involves performing work to satisfy one's senses and ego, which ultimately leads to bondage in the material world. On the other hand, the second mode of work involves performing actions as offerings to the Supreme Lord, which has the power to free us from the chains of maya and invite divine blessings into our lives.
Work performed as yajna for the pleasure of the Supreme Lord liberates one from the bonds of maya and attracts divine grace. As human beings, it is our nature to perform actions and engage in work. However, if we do not offer our actions to a higher purpose, we will inevitably be driven to work to satisfy our desires and cravings. This work reinforces our attachment to the material world and leads to further entanglement.
When we perform work as a sacrifice (yajna) to God, we shift our perspective and begin to see the world and everything in it as belonging to the Divine. This allows us to use the world's resources in a way that is aligned with the will of the Supreme. By offering our actions to God, we free ourselves from the bondage of material desires and open ourselves up to the grace and blessings of the Divine.
Summary: JKYog India Online Class- Bhagavad Gita [English]- 20.04.2024
