RIGHT ACTION

Various Hindu scriptures emphasize various aspects of the truth as the Hindu elders saw it. The Gita evolves an ethic in advance not only of belief in mere ceremonial observances the earlier phase of Hinduism, but also of the recluse's life of mere abstention.

The Gita emphasises that the activities of the world must go on. The good man does the tasks to which he is called and which appertain to his place in society. In all his activities, he does things like others outwardly; but inwardly he maintains a spirit of detachment.

He does everything without selfish motive, and maintains equilibrium of mind in success and failure, pleasure and pain, joy and sorrow. Purified thus, the good man is qualified for further progress by constant meditation, prayer and devotion, and finally he "sees himself in everything and everything in God." Yoga consists in living this dedicated life in the midst of worldly affairs.

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