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Re: phala-tyAga vs. phala-sanga-tyAga

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K. Sadananda • March 11, 2002 


>SrImate rAmAnujAya nama:
>
>Dear Friends
>
>W.r.t sAtvika-tyAga, some people mention a "phala-sanga-tyAga".
>
>What does this "phala-sanga-tyAga" mean?
>
>Is it possibly subtly different than "phala-tyAga"?
>
>Thanks for any clarification.
>
>rAmAnuja dAsan
Ramkumar

Shree Ramakumar - Here is my understanding.

phala thyaaga actually involves not the tyaaga of phala but tyaaga of 
wrong attachment to the phala.  One should have a prasaada buddhi in 
receiving phala.

Every action will involve result that is appropriate to the action.
As a human I cannot but act - nahi kashchit kshanamapi....
I have only choice of action - in fact I cannot but choose - I am 
given three choices - to act, not to act and to act another way. 
karthum shakyam, akarthum shakyam and anyathaa karthum shakyam.

Because of my past actions - praarabda I am placed in an environment 
where I cannot but act. Not to act is also a choice of action. That 
is the essence of the statement karmaNi eva adhikaaraste
I can only act in the present - past is gone and future has not come 
yet - Hence I can act only in the present.  Results follow the action 
not before the action.  Hence results are future to the action and I 
have no control on the future.  Hence the emphasis of Krishna that 
one has only choice to act.

Results are given by the laws of nature and I am not the author of 
those laws - Hence maa phaleshu kaadaachana - Never I have a choice 
in the results.  He is the one who gives the results. Hence He is 
called karma phala daata.

If I have correct understanding then every action should be 
recognized as an offering to Him - a kainkaryam and the results that 
come from him are like prasaadam, since He gives the results.

Then I have a different attitude towards the results - since it is 
prasaadam from Him, I take with a reverential attitude - If someone 
offers a prasaadam - I do not question whether it is sweet or hot or 
bitter - I do not ask who made the prasaadam or how much I am getting 
versus how much the the other fellow is getting etc.  Essentially 
mind gets detached to the result - that is what is involved in 
correct understanding of karma phala tyagam.

Next level of understanding is to recognize that I cannot even act 
unless He gives me the strength to act - I cannot even lift a finger 
without His support.  That is essentially to recognize all the 
actions are performed because of His presence and support.  Which 
means that all actions that flow through my body/mind complex should 
reflect His signature - It is done by Him and for Him - a real 
kainkarya bhaava.  Then there will not be any attachment (sanga) to 
the phala - Attachment involve 'I' and 'I want' - Kaikarya bhaavana 
involves - 'He and He wants' - whether He wants it or  not it is my 
attitude that makes the difference.  When one performs with that 
attitudes and receives the result with that attitude - then that 
karma will not be binding him.  He becomes free from the cycle of 
karma to janma.

Hari Om!
Sadananda
-- 
K. Sadananda
Code 6323
Naval Research Laboratory
Washington D.C. 20375
Voice (202)767-2117
Fax:(202)767-2623



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