But it only appears so;
it is not really so. Because, once it is said, "Perform action
after renouncing the fruit," it becomes clear what actions we
should perform and what not. Violent actions, actions filled with
falsehood, actions like theft - it is quite impossible to perform
them after renouncing the fruit. The moment such actions are tested
on the touchstone of renunciation of fruit, they simply disappear.
When the light of the sun spreads, all objects begin to look bright,
but does the darkness too appear bright?
No, it disappears
altogether. This is the condition of forbidden and interested
actions. We must test all our actions on the touchstone of renunciation of fruit. Renunciation of
fruit is the test for
performing any action. When this test is applied, interested actions
show themselves up as unworthy. They are fit for sannyaasa,
fit only to be renounced. What now remains is only pure saattvik
action.
Such actions should be
performed without egoism. Renouncing interested actions is itself
action. Apply the scissors of renunciation of fruit to this action
too. Then the renunciation of interested action will become natural.
Thus we have seen things. The first is that, whatever we do, we
should do it after renouncing the fruit. The second is that rajasik
and tamasik actions - prohibited and interested actions -
when tested on the touchstone of renunciation of fruit, fall off by
themselves. The third is that, even to giving up of such actions the
scissors of phalatyaaga, renunciation of fruit, should be
applied. We should not give room to the egoism which says, "How
much have I renounced!" |