Fwd: Gita Chapter 3
From the Bhakti List Archives
• November 27, 1997
Seminar #5 Copyright, 1997, Andy Fraenkel (Sankirtana das) story108@juno.com This material is part of a Seminar entltled Rejuvenating The Soul based on the teachings of Bhagavad Gita and Mahabharata Work is an important part of everyone's live. The third chapter of the Gita delves into karma yoga. In this sense karma is taken to be work or activity. When we think of yoga, we envision someone meditating in solitude, a peaceful atmosphere, perhaps someone doing hatha yoga positions. We don't envision someone in the thick of activity, someone rushing to meet a deadline or dealing with a dilemma, let alone being in the midst of a battle. Sometimes our lives assume the preportions of a battle. We struggle with different concerns - ecomonic, relationships, health. One writer explains that we have four major concerns - we want to learn, to love, to live, and to leave a legacy. When we encounter problems we often tighten up - our breath our muscles - our body becomes tense. We think that the problem is an impediment to our lives. We are afraid of problems because they're in the way to what we want - and that we have to deal with the problem and get that out of the way before we can continue to something meaningful. Problems are part of the nature of existance. What we fail to perceive is that the problems are not ordinary, but are put before us to come to grips with leaning, loving and living. Third Chapter of Gita: Karma Yoga - Yoga in Action Every one must act. We cannot cease activity. We cannot stop the senses. One who externally ceases from activity, but whose mind lingers on sensual thoughts, is a pretender. It will be of no use to restrain the senses. Better to perform works in devotion without being attached to the results. One cannot maintain oneself without work. Thus perform your duty in life. Perform your work for the satisfaction of the Supreme Lord, and thus your work will free you from the entanglements of this material world. Work done as an offering to the Supreme Lord is the sure path of liberation. The above advice is given by Lord Krishna in the beginning of the third chapter. It is a paradox. Activity in this world is both the source of our happiness and distress. We create an unending cycle of pain & pleasure. This is the way the pure soul remains entangled in this material world. One might assume that to break this cycle and to attain mukti, or freedom, we would have to refrain from work. Krishna explains that it is not the nature of the soul to remain inactive. The same work which binds us, if performed in a different paradigm or consciousness, can be the source of our freedom. Activity is compared to a sharp object like a thorn or splinter. The example is given that a splinter stuck in your finger is the source of pain. But another sharp, narrow object can remove the splinter and be the source of your relief. So there is no need to give up activity. It would be artifical. By nature the soul is active. So activity, or work, is not the problem. But the consciousness behind the work. Krishna advises us not to become overwhelmed by our situations in life. We can transform any situation by transforming our consciousness. The soul is joyful. The soul is wise. The soul is eternal. Do not become bewildered by the workings of the material nature. Seminar #7 Copyright, 1997, Andy Fraenkel (Sankirtana das) story108@juno.com This material is part of a Seminar entltled Rejuvenating The Soul based on the teachings of Bhagavad Gita and Mahabharata. Continuing 3rd chap of Gita: "Work without attachment, with the mind fixed upon the Supreme Lord. Perform work which arises from within your nature. It is better to perform your work according to your own nature, even if it is done imperfectly, rather than taking up some one else's work. But if you allow the senses to overwhelm you, surely you will lose your balance and you will stumble on the path. Lust is a great enemy which blinds us and destroys our knowledge. The pure soul is now covered by lust as a mirror is covered by dust. By regulating the senses, and by engaging the senses, mind and intelligence in works of devotion one can awaken to the higher self." Transformation is not a quick fix. Usually it does not happen overnight or at a weekend retreat. Usually it is imperceptibly gradual like the dawn. It's dark and the sky slowly gets lighter. And before you know it, the sun bursts from the horizon. This is the way of spiritual awakening. After many years of practice, one day we suddenly realize that our lives have been rich for some time. So it involves diligent work in detachment on our part. And it will take patient work. Still, it's all a gift from God. The happiness does not come as a result of the work, but as a result of the consciousness behind the work. Don't let your happiness be dependent on getting a result you want out of your endeavor. There is no garrentee that you will get a particular result from your work. Many recent books provide hundreds of examples of people who persevered and got what they wanted. But there are hundreds and thousands of more cases of those who attempted but did not attain their desired goal. Why does happiness evade us? We are looking in the wrong places. Our work is not a means to happiness, but the work is the very wellspring of happiness. This is called bhakti - work in devotion to God. This is truly the path of dharma. There are several types of dharma. One is our responsibility to society , another is our occupation or profession, but dharma means the very nature of our existence. Everything has its dharma or nature: a furnace, a pen, or sugar. If a furnace is not providing heat then it is not situated in its dharma. We must understand what it is to be situated in our dharma. Otherwise, no matter how much we make, or how much we have, we can never be happy. -- email: shree@usa.net website: http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Acropolis/8891/
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