Gita_Regimen_6

Gita-regimen for advaitic living – 6
shlokas 2-47 to 2-51: second Round

Why do we have to do it the karmayoga way?

1. The major Vedanta answer

Action is done by the complex of BMI .
BMI is not the real You or the real I.
The consequence of action will come only to the BMI.
But one has to be detached from one’s BMI.
This means we (the real I) should have no attachment to
the consequence of action. Maa phaleshhu.
Later Krishna is going to say that you are not the doer of your actions.
“na aham kartA”; so where is the right for me for the fruits of actions?
So the fruits of the actions are not yours. So “maa phaleshhu”.

2. No bondage to transienc

Any binding to, that is, being desirous of, the results of the action
means a bondage to its transience.
Any bondage to transient things creates a vAsanA
which will have to be exhausted later either
by an experience in this birth or by having a future birth. (See 5.12).
Any thirst for the fruits of actions will create opportunities for us
to enjoy the fruits of those actions;
this will mean more births again and again to experience them.
All unhappiness arises from
non-recognition of the transience of everything.
Therefore don’t be bound by the syndromes of the transient Fruit of action
Neither the good nor the bad should keep us in bondage.
all thought of phala, either way, is an obstacle to the spiritual ascent.

3. God above is the phala-dAtA

Dispensation of the fruits is under the control of Providence.
So to think that we have done the action and
so we deserve to enjoy the fruits of action – is illogical.
Nothing is yours. In particular,
the phala (=fruit of action) also cannot be yours
See ‘yat karoshi …’ (9.27) .
You have dedicated all your actions to God.
So no more claim either on the action or its results.

4. Desire-oriented action wasteful effort

‘artha’ and ‘kAma’ depend on destiny (prArabdha karma).
‘Dharma’ and ‘moksha’ depend upon self-effort, done desirelessly.
So effort should not be wasted in karma with an eye on the fruits.

5. Worldly-wise answer

If you are attached to the fruits of your action,
efficiency of the action will suffer.
Attached involvement implies excitement
which implies confusion; therefore efficiency suffers. Example:
Answering an examination paper.
Acting on the stage.
No expectations means no thought of success or failure.
Therefore, no frustration or elation. No consequential pain or pleasure.
No jubilation, no dejection. No chance for play of the ego.
No preoccupations with the future.
This means: ‘Act in the living present’.

6. Only a question of Attitude

Detachment is only a question of attitude.
See 3.25 & 18.57 Attachment means presence of ego-centric desires.
Let not attachment or aversion determine the action.
See 2.48. Even-mindedness to success or failure is a must.
This is “maa phaleshhu”.

7. No renunciation of Action

“maa te sangostvakarmani”. You cannot desist from action
because you have to do what is prescribed for you. See I3.8.
Renunciation of an obligatory duty is in no way justified.
One cannot reach the goal of Karma Yoga that way.
See 3.4; 18.7, 18.8.
Your right is only for action, not for its renunciation.
If you forcibly try to renounce 3.5 says you will not succeed.
Your nature will compel you to act. (3.33) (18.59, 18.60).
Refusing to perform an obligatory duty will bring punishment
not only in this world, but in the other world also.
Detachment from the fruits of actions does not mean indifference
For you have to do your duties efficiently.
“samAcara” is the word. See 3.9 and 3.19. Also 18.26.

8. Desirelessness

Every desire is wrong.
For desire to anger, to delusion, to malfunction of the intellect and
finally to chaos. (See 2.62 & 2.63) is a familiar chain of fall
So desire for the fruits of action is also wrong.
18.12 says ‘Fruits of action adhere not to those
who do not have any desire or attachment to them.
They are not therefore instrumental in making their action bear fruit.
“mA karma phala-hetur bhUH”
The Br.U. says those who work for fruits of actions are miserable,
like ‘slaves bought for a price’.
kRpaNAH, paNakrIta iva dAsAdiH, says Shankara.

GitA-Regimen - 7