Ch05-Karma-Sanyasa-Yoga

Arjun Uvaca (said):

 

Arjun is asking Bhagawan – tell me the difference between the two – renunciation of action and karma yoga, which is superior. I am not the owner of action, but you are asking me to act as well.

 

Verse 2

 

Shri Bhagavan Uvaca (said):
Sannyasa (renunciation of action) and karma yoga – both take us towards liberation. But karma yoga is superior.

 

Example: Turning the spoon, after the spoon was bent, then there is no attachment left with the bending of spoon. Now, we understood that “Iness bhava” is removed.

 

Verse 3

 

The person who has renounced action permanently is known as a true sannyasi. We normally run towards something (raga) or we run away from something (dvesha). A knowledgeable person who performs actions with no attachment to actions, then he/she is liberated.

 

Verse 4

 

Sankhya yoga is different as concluded by an immature person. But a matured person with respect to spiritual knowledge considers both knowledge and karma yoga in the same manner. Overall experience is related to “totality”. The principal of analysis is related to individual elements. Now we are moving from understanding to knowing. When we move away from raga and dvesha then we realize the life as it is.

 

When we think that we have the understanding of the knowledge, it creates confusion and frustration. Frustration is related to the idea that we have not reached Brahman. When we move from understanding to knowing then the value of understanding goes away.

 

Verse 5

 

When a person sees both knowledge and karma yoga in the same manner, that person sees it clearly. When you perform your action without any raga and dvesha, you will start knowing that I am neither the owner of an action nor the owner of the results of an action. Eventually, both paths will take you the same state (liberation). 

 

Verse 6

 

But renunciation of actions is difficult for an immature person O Arjuna. Yoga-yukata, when your mind and intellect are calm, you become peaceful. Then, questions and doubts do not arise anymore. The thought that attaining brahman is neither difficult nor easy is just a thought. Get rid of this thought and accept it as is. Accept this world as is without making any judgement, no raga and dvesha. We can use this attitude in our daily meditation practice.

Bhagavad Gita – Chapter 5 – Karma-Sannyasa Yoga 

 

Shri Bhagawan Uvaca:

 

Sannyasi vs. Karma yogi – A person can be a sannyasi when he/she performs actions without attachment to the actions and results of actions (with detached bhava). The one who has renounced external world is Tyagi. These are different stages of mind. It is difficult to move from one stage to another. In Sankhya yoga, it becomes clear that you are not the owner of actions nor the results of actions. But it takes time to come to this level of bhava (attitude).

 

Verse 7

 

Yogayukta - the person who always exists in the supreme consciousness. As my awareness grows with respect to consciousness, we get attached in the vibrations of super consciousness (Brahman). That connection is called yogayukta. As mind (jivatma) becomes pure (2nd stage). The one who has won over his/her senses (Jitendriya). When these conditions are fulfilled, then a person realizes that my atma is not different than any other atma. It is one and the same thing, then you are not entangled, while performing actions.

 

Indriya – control – clarification – yougayukta.

 

Verse 8-9

 

All actions – eating, walking,  ..are happening, but I am not the doer. All sensory objects are performing their actions according to the laws of nature, yet they are not performed by Me (I). Once you reach the stage of awareful witness, you become observer and things happen naturally.

 

I know (brahman) and I do (shakti). The combination of Brahman + Shakti projects all living- being. The consciousness is everything. The awareness is caused by consciousness. I become aware of my thoughts, objects and all things around me due to consciousness. Consciousness is achintaye. 

 

If instrument is not ready (bulb) then light will not project. The electricity as consciousness is present, but there is no light due to fused bulb. I can know about my thoughts and activities of body and mind because of consciousness. Consciousness is present even when a person moves away from this earth.

Verse 10

 

When you perform your actions without being attached to the actions with yagya bhava. Then, we are not tainted by the results of actions like the water slips away from the lotus leaf.

Bhagavad Gita – Chapter 5 – Karma-Sannyasa Yoga 

 

Shri Bhagawan Uvaca:

 

Verse 11-16

 

Purifying the mind by performing actions with body, mind and indriyas without attaching to the actions. Every person has three types of relationships:

 

1.     Relationship with external world – this will allow you not to be entangled with actions. These actions could be positive or negative actions. What is your duty in this external world? Not to harm anyone. When you move across this external world, then you start to understand the relationship with Bhagawan.

 

2.     Relationship with Bhagawan – I am born in a family. What is my relationship with Bhagawan? Why did he create me? Everything is happening according to the laws of nature. Even Bhagawan is not doing anything. Bhagawan is saying that you need to understand that during My presence (consciousness), this universe continues to function. Shiva is the cause for the knowledge. Shakti is the cause of the movement in this universe. Things are happening in My presence, yet I am not doing it. Things are moving according to the nature. Doctrine of Karma and dharma is also associated with Shakti (nature).

 

3.     Relationship with yourself – Who am I? I am not the doer. I am the awareful witness of actions happening according to the nature (three gunnas). What is the relationship of my atma with myself? This thought came from somewhere. But I am not the thought process. I am the observer (inner divinity) of my thought process. 

 

At every stage you must change your thought process (progress from Jiva to Shiva). The relationship with yourself starts changing as we acquire more spiritual knowledge. You can move from understanding to knowing through meditation. Then you will know it. Once you know it, you will start moving towards “being”.

 

The positive thoughts (bhava) also impact the neural paths and it starts creating different chemicals and toxins inside your body. Eventually you will come to know that you are not the doer of any actions. Even the physicality as we know it is not.

 

Verse 17

 

The person whose mind is fixed on brahman is trying to move from bhakti-yoga to Gyan-yoga. The one who is in bhakti yoga he/she will be focused on relationship with Bhagawan. Gyan (Jnana) yogi will be focused on the relationship with himself/herself. That person will not reach back to the previous state.

 

Verse 18

 

When a person reaches to this state of understanding, then he/she starts looking at everything as a nature. Everything is happening as part of nature. He/she can try to change the situation knowing that things are happening according to the nature. The positive thoughts (bhava) also impact the neural paths and it starts creating different chemicals and toxins inside your body. Eventually you will come to know that you are not the doer of any actions. Even the physicality as we know it is not.

Bhagavad Gita – Chapter 5 – Karma-Sannyasa Yoga 

 

Shri Bhagawan Uvaca:

 

Verse 18

 

We accept the nature of rose and cactus. Then, we extend this to everything – dog, cow, elephant, then he/she understands that everything is happening according to the nature (three gunnas). Intelligent cause is related to sattwa, material cause is related to rajas. That person sees everything is happening according to the nature of that living being. Everyone behaves according to their nature. The knowledgeable person starts seeing that everything is happening according to its nature. How do we react to a thief? Our job is to stop a thief without getting affected by the nature of thief. There is nothing good or bad; everything is happening according to its nature. But we must stop the wrong doings and harmful actions performed by someone. Your efficiency increases when you are acting without being affected by it (no reaction).

 

Verse 19-21

 

The person who is established in brahman starts seeing in this life that everything is happening according to nature. In this stage of mind, a person starts seeing everything with equanimity. Now you will start acting and not reacting. Scorpion nature is to bite.

 

Happiness and displeasure are overrated. In external world, everything is happening according to the nature. Once you see this with equanimity, you are beyond the happiness/unhappiness state – is called bliss. Whatever I am doing is also done according to my nature. When I am happy or not happy that is also a state of mind. Once you start going beyond that stage then concept of happiness and unhappiness goes away. Once you go beyond the state of mind where you understand that it is happening according to nature, then you stop suffering.

Bhagavad Gita – Chapter 5 – Karma-Sannyasa Yoga 

 

Shri Bhagawan Uvaca:

 

Verse 24-29:

 

A person wants to be liberated from:

 

1.     Pain

 

2.     Problems of external world

 

3.     Emotions – anger, happiness, sadness etc.

 

4.     Birth and death

 

5.     Raga and dwesha

 

6.     Physical existence

 

Question: What is Brahma nirvana? – once you reach to a state where you are established in brahman, which implies that you are in a state of being. Such a person is happy within Self (Brahman); self is related to identity. Someone may be satisfied with self (content within – “anthasukha”), but he/she is not in the state of Brahma nirvana. He/she is probably between the state of knowing and being.

 

Sometimes a person shuttles between knowing and being state. The same experience is hard to repeat because your mind tries to realize the contents of memory.

 

“Brahma Bhu Adhigachatti” – That person goes towards “being” Brahman - beyond the sea of existence (Bhu) – Brahman.

 

Verse 25:

 

1.     At the stage of understanding – you have doubts. 

 

2.     At the stage of knowing – you have removed some doubts.

 

3.     At the stage of being – you have no doubts.

 

That person existence is for the benefits of everyone (all existence).

 

Verse 26:

 

That person is behaving like a rishi – controlling the mind.

 

Verse 27:

 

Meditation – how to practice dhyana? Muni – whose vibrations of mind are calm.