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RE: the goal of life (piravi payan)

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Sukumar • February 4, 2003 


> there are many paths for achieving it. first is bhakti,to stand
> clinging to god. next is the path of yoga of desireless action which
> leads to bhakti. third comes gnana,culmination of the pursuit along
> the path of desireless action and clinging to him-in being one with
> him in bliss. each of them again follows three courses determined by
> three gunas or modes of prakriti or nature.

Dear Sri Balaji,

While the [above] narration is indeed good, I beg to differ on one aspect. 
 It was said below that the third path of purushartha is of gnana, 
culmination of pursuit with desireless action.  But the desireless action 
is actually a karma yoga, which according to Lord Krishna is the most 
uppermost of all yogas and is the most easiest path for reaching him.  In 
fact, the person without any desire is GOD and the root cause of all 
impediments in attaining purushartha is our LIKES & DISLIKES.

Regards
sukumar

[ Unfortunately both of the above views differ markedly from the
  understanding of the yogas and the Gita in Sri Ramanuja's
  school. That karma-yoga and jnana-yoga leads only to 
  the vision of the individual self is well-established
  in Sri Ramanuja's Gitabhashya. Once the vision of the self 
  is established, karma-yoga and jnana-yoga become totally
  subsumed in bhakti-yoga and the latter becomes primary.
  Yet at any stage there are aspects of all three; karma-yoga
  includes an element of jnana-yoga and bhakti-yoga, and 
  so on.

  karma-yoga is preferred as the easiest *starting point* for
  one who has neither meditational proficiency nor intense,
  all-absorbing love of God. By itself, however, it is not
  the moksha-sadhana.

  The progression of Sri Krishna's teachings in the Gita makes
  this sequence of yogas clear. -- Moderator ]


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