Category Archives: spirituality

Gita Chapter 12 – Part X -Shloka 12

Bhagavad Gita, Philosophy, Reflections, spirituality, Vedanta, , , , ,

Gita Chapter 12

Shloka 12

12. Knowledge indeed is better than practice.  Meditation is better than Knowledge.  Renunciation of the results of all actions is better than meditation.  Peace immediately follows such renunciation.

            Shri Krishna said that focus your mind and intellect on Me (God or Atman).  Then, without doubt, you will attain the highest knowledge.  If you cannot focus your mind, then practice to bring your mind from the worldly objects to the Atman.  If you cannot practice that, then perform actions to realize Atman.  If you cannot perform such actions, then offer the results of all your actions to God. 

One has to follow the path which is suitable to him/her.  The suitability of a path depends on one’s capacity and chemistry of mind.  One should not try a path thinking whether it is superior or inferior to other paths.  If a path is not suitable to one’s capacity, then one will not be able to accomplish much success.  Following an unsuitable path may result in developing doubts and disgust for the spiritual goal and its benefits.  Shri Krishna is making Arjuna, and indirectly to all of us, understand that the path which is suitable to our personality is the best path for our spiritual progress.  If we follow any one of the above-mentioned paths, we will attain the realization of God or Atman through that path.   

            If we remember Arjuna’s situation, then Shri Krishna’s message becomes clear.  Arjuna told Shri Krishna that the outcome of the war is extremely painful and he said (Gita 2.8),  “I do not see that either the unrivaled kingdom on earth filled with prosperity or the lordship over the gods in heaven will appease my sorrows which are draining away energy from my senses.” Arjuna was dragged into the war by his greedy and jealous cousins.  He had to fight for the righteous cause.  He saw the upcoming destruction of hundreds of thousands of people and the sufferings that would follow the war.  ‘What to do in this situation?’ was Arjuna’s dilemma.  Out of compassion and being a guide, Shri Krishna told him the path that is suitable to him.  He had to convince Arjuna that the renunciation of the results of actions is the most suitable path for him.  Shri Krishna said that such renunciation would bring immediate peace of mind, which Arjuna was seeking. 

            Like Arjuna, most people go through somewhat similar situations.  People have to work hard to meet the ends in life and take care of hundreds of responsibilities.  Sometimes, there is no time to sit down and meditate on God or fight with the mind to focus it on God.  If Shri Krishna had not shown the alternatives, then most people would feel that they are unfit for spiritual practices and there is no hope for them.  Shri Krishna, a great compassionate teacher, would not let that happen.  This is the reason why Arjuna chose Shri Krishna without weapons as his guide over His strong and powerful army with weapons.  Shri Krishna’s guidance was helpful to Arjuna to perform his duties and to bring peace in his life, and this guidance also gave hope to millions of people afterward. 

            Shri Krishna’s Karma Yoga, the path of actions, is most practical and applicable to most people.  It starts with renouncing the results of actions, and if properly followed, it culminates in bringing the highest knowledge and a state of God Realization.  For some reason, if a seeker starts with renunciation of results of actions and later on does not realize God, then Shri Krishna assures that at least peace of mind will follow such renunciation.  Such a peace of mind is impossible to attain through any other means.  Thus, this shloka has a profound practical guidance to all of us.

            In Bhagavad Gita, at three places Shri Krishna describes the characteristics of perfection or values which make one a decent human being: at the end of chapter 2, as characteristics of “Sthitaprajna,” (a person with steady intellect); at the end of chapter 12, as characteristics of a beloved devotee; and at the end of chapter 14, as characteristics of “Gunatita,” (a person who is beyond the three gunas: sattva, rajas, and tamas).  There are so many commonalities in these values.  Combining all these, one has a precise list of values to practice in one’s life.  Even if one does not want to go on the spiritual path, these values provide a strong foundation upon which one can build one’s life.  A decent amount of progress in these values will help a person attain worldly success and peace of mind.  If people of a society or a country practice these values, that society and country become a role model for others to follow.  Definitely, that society and country will be prosperous and respectable in the world.  This is a way to bring peace on earth. 

            It is difficult to be an ideal human being.  We can always find some imperfections in an ideal being.  But that should not discourage people from trying to reach perfection.  Those who try to be perfect or to be decent human beings and try hard to go as close to the perfection as possible, they become salt of the earth.  They inspire other people to follow these values.  When people practice values, then they find that it is easier to follow values than to live a value-less, unethical, and immoral life.  One acquires peace of mind by following values. On the other hand, life becomes more and more miserable to live a contrary life.

            Naturally, a devotee loves God.  The question comes: “Does God love His/Her devotee?”  What kind of devotee is loved by God?  Here, from shlokas 13-19, Shri Krishna describes the characteristics of a devotee which He, as a Lord, wants to see in His beloved devotee.   

Gita Chapter 12 – Part IX – Shloka 11

Bhagavad Gita, Reflections, spirituality, Vedanta, , , , ,

Gita Chapter 12

Shloka 11

11.     If you are incapable of performing even this (performing actions for Me), then be self-controlled, and taking refuge in Me, renounce the results of all your actions to Me.

            In the Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna, he said that, just as a mother cooks various dishes according to children’s digestive capacities and tastes, several paths have evolved for the spiritual development of people to suit their capacities and mental constitutions.  There cannot be a single path for everyone on Earth.  Along the same lines, a spiritual teacher prescribes various paths to his/her students according to their capacity and mental chemistry.  Shri Krishna, a great teacher, describes all possible ways for spiritual development in the Bhagavad Gita. 

            Shri Krishna tells Arjuna that if he cannot perform actions for God, then just offer the results of all his actions to God.  Shri Krishna had described Karma Yoga, the Path of Actions, to attain the Highest Knowledge in the previous chapters.  He has said (Gita 2.47), “You have a right to perform an action, not in the fruit of an action, do not get attached to the result of action – do not be inactive.”Here, Shri Krishna tells Arjuna the final step of Karma Yoga.  We perform actions to enjoy their results.  Our attachment to the results of the actions being performed brings joy or sorrow, depending on the favorable or unfavorable outcomes.  The results of these actions leave deep impressions on our minds.  Since we crave favorable outcomes, we constantly worry about the outcomes of our actions rather than focusing on the actions themselves.  All these cravings and worries create constant disturbances and distractions in our minds. 

            Shri Krishna, knowing all the intricacies of human minds, suggests a simple but very effective path.  Even though this path begins with a simple act of mentally offering the results of all our actions to God, if properly performed, it culminates in self-upliftment or self-transformation for the good.  This path makes a person divine from the level of being a slave of the senses.  How does it work? I think of the following steps:

(1) Remembering God: Initially, when we offer the results of our actions, we remember God. 

(2) Awareness of the results of actions: Later, at the time of offering, we become aware of the results being good or bad, depending on whether we are going closer to God residing within or going away from God. 

(3) Selection of actions: Because of this awareness, we start asking ourselves questions about what kind of actions we should perform or not perform. We examine whether the results of these actions are appropriate to offer to God.

(4) Improvement of our performance: Since we will not constantly think about the results of our actions, we will do our best in the performance of our actions. This way, we improve the quality of their results. 

(5) Transformation: With all the above practices, a big transformation comes in us.  We learn how to select appropriate actions, to perform them in the best spirit, and to offer their results to God.  Our awareness of God increases throughout our lives, and it reflects in our thoughts, speech, and actions. 

(6) Purification of our minds: Finally, the attachment to the results of the actions also goes away.  This process purifies our mind and makes it ready to focus it on God. We realize that “God has created me, has given me an opportunity, capacity, and favorable conditions to do this work.”  Thus, before, during, and after performing a work, what remains is the awareness of the presence of God.  All the worldly consequences and attachments to the work and its results vanish, and we feel peace within.

A question comes: Is it not an idealistic imagination?  Is this possible in real life?  Has anyone ever tried this method and obtained a successful result?  The answer is ‘yes.’  There are several examples. I will state one such example from the book, “They lived with God”, by Swami Chetanananda.  This example makes us believe that this path is practical and not an imaginary hypothesis.

Girish Chandra Ghosh, a famous playwright of Kolkata, was a disciple of Sri Ramakrishna.  One day, he asked Sri Ramakrishna for spiritual instructions.  Sri Ramakrishna said, “Do just what you are doing now. Hold on to God with one hand and to the world with the other hand.  Think of God at least in the morning and evening.”  This sounded simple to Girish, but then he recalled that his life was so irregular that it would be hard for him to remember God at those stated hours, so he kept quiet.  Sri Ramakrishna read his mind and said, “Well, if you cannot do that, then remember God before you eat and before you sleep.”  But now Girish was reluctant to make any promises to Sri Ramakrishna.  He knew that, with his instinctive resistance to self-discipline and rules, he might not be able to keep even this simple observance.  Then Sri Ramakrishna went into an ecstatic mood and said to him, “So you are unwilling to agree even to this.  All right.  Give me your power of attorney.  Henceforth, I will take full responsibility for you.  You won’t have to do anything at all.”  Giving power of attorney means that the consequences of all Girish’s actions will be borne by Sri Ramakrishna.  After this, the life of Girish Chandra Gosh was transformed to such an extent that he found himself completely surrendered to God.  He felt that he was an instrument in God’s hands.  In the later part of his life, he would say, “Look at me.  I am not even free to breathe.”  Thus, surrendering the results of all our actions brings self-surrender and a constant awareness of God.