श्रीः
प्रपन्नपारिजाताय तोत्रवेत्रैकपाणये । ज्ञानमुद्राय कृष्णाय गीतामृतदुहे नमः ॥
ॐ नमो भगवते श्रीरमणाय
Chapter 4. ज्ञानकर्मसंन्यासयोगः - Key takeaways
My assumed identity with the body, mind and intellect, push me into the idea that I am performing action, I am entitled to the results, I will achieve my goals through this method. Karma is firmly established in the ego.
When I renounce my body identity and ego, I am free.
Karma does not bind me any more because I don't identify myself as a doer of karma and enjoyer of its results, which cause bondage.
When I realise that I am not the body or mind, I am the aatma, I realise that I am actionless. However, due to ignorance, I superimpose actions performed by the body and mind, on myself. This is called adhyasa / superimposition. It has made me mix up the truth with non-truth.
The only action that is done without retaining the ego, is the jnana-tapas - the penance of knowledge. As a result of this, I accomplish the following
- I let go of my ego, I see everyone as Ishvara.
- I am pervaded by Ishvara.
- I surrender to divine will. I am an instrument in the hands of Ishvara. I perform work but it liberates me rather than binds me.
- I realise my oneness with Ishvara.
The body and mind perform karma, this is driven by our nature. We cannot and should not fight it. The physical and mental activities that are performed, are led by vasanas / samskaras / prakruti. The starting point is sankalpa - this is good for me, this is not good for me, I want this, I do not want this. Action which results out of this, binds me.
When I renounce sankalpa, I can allow my body and mind to work without superimposing the work and its results on myself. I am merely an instrument and I work as a servant of Ishvara.
I have no attachment / sanga with action or its result, I am satisfied, I do not depend on anything external for my happiness. I am content in the knowledge that I am not the body, but the one supreme Brahman which is the substratum of all.
The signs of such a person are
- He has transcended suffering and is contented because he has no external dependencies for his happiness.
- He has no ego, he remains equanimous always.
- He has no sankalpa and therefore, no feeling of incompleteness or jealousy and hatred. He always maintains inner poise.
- He does not give up his karma, However he works as a yajna - for Ishvara. He accepts the result of work as Ishvara's prasada. Therefore he receives spiritual benefit from every activity. He has burnt his karma and its effects in knowledge.
- He sees Ishvara in all, he has knowledge of the oneness of each aatma with Brahman. He sees beyond upadhis / limiting factors like the body and intellect.
- He has no doubts as to the exact nature of karma and its place in his spiritual journey. He performs karma to purify his mind and because it is his duty to perform it. He has removed the ego from the picture.
- On the strength of this knowledge, he is now able to see akarma in karma - he is not the doer, he is insulated from the bondage of karma. He is a कर्मणि अकर्मदर्शी. Therefore he has renounced karma through knowledge. He is a karma-sanyasi not by renouncing action but by renouncing doership and by renouncing his ego.
- He performs karma in the state of Yoga, and he attains Ishvara.
In 8.7, Bhagavan tells Arjuna
तस्मात्सर्वेषु कालेषु मामनुस्मर युध्य च।
मय्यर्पितमनोबुद्धिर्मामेवैष्यस्यसंशयम्॥8.7॥
Therefore, think of Me at all times and fight. There is no doubt that by dedicating your mind and intellect to Me, you will attain Me alone.
यत्र योगेश्वरः कृष्णो यत्र पार्थो धनुर्धरः । तत्र
श्रीर्विजयो भूतिर्ध्रुवा नीतिर्मतिर्मम ॥
सर्वं श्रीकृष्णार्पणमस्तु
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