| Discourses On Gita By Acharya Vinoba Bhave |
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| Discourses On Gita |
| THE SELF AND THE NON-SELF |
| 4. Another distinction which
reinforces this is given in the Thirteenth Chapter. The distinction between body and
spirit helps the separation of action from the desire for he fruit. This is set forth in the
Thirteenth Chapter. The figure which we see with our eyes, we call an image, a form, a body. But even
after seeing with our eyes the outer form, we still have to enter into the
object and see it from within. We have to remove the armor, the outer
skin of the fruit and taste the pulp within. Even the coconut, one has to
break to see what there is within.
Despite its rough sharp exterior, the jack-fruit is full of sweet juicy pulp. Whether we look at ourselves or others, we have to distinguish the inside from the outside. Now, what is the significance of removing the skin? It means that, in every object, the outer skin and the inner substance should be distinguished. Every object has two forms - an outer body and an inner soul. This is also true of karma. The outer result is the body of karma. The inner purity that results from karma is its soul. Let us give up the body, the outward result of the performance of svadharma, and let us bear in our hearts the essence of action, the soul which is inner purity. Let us acquire the habit of looking at things in this way, of seeing everything in its essence, setting aside the body. To the eye, the heart and the mind we should give the exercise, the training and the habit of such discrimination. In every thing we should leave aside the body and reverence the soul. This distinction has been made in the Thirteenth Chapter for us to think about. |
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