How to achieve both: Renunciation
of fruit
13. The Lord has indeed told us
the truths of life, but the work is not complete with mere telling.
These principles enunciated in the Gita are found already in the Upanishads
and Smritis. If the Gita merely repeated them, it would be no
great distinction. Its real merit is in that it tells us how to
bring these truths into practice. It is in solving this great
problem that the skill of the Gita lies.
"Yoga" is the name of the art or process by which
these principles can be put into practice in the actual living.
The word "sankhya"
means principles or theory. "Yoga" means art.
Jnanadev bears witness: "The art of living comes of itself to Yogis."
The Gita is full of both sankhya and Yoga, science and
art, shaastra and kalaa. When science and art meet,
life blossoms into beauty. Mere science is a castle in the air. One
may understand the theory of music, but if one has not trained the
voice and mastered the art of singing, then nada-brahma (God
as sound) would not take shape for us. That is the reason why the
Lord has taught not only the principles, but also the art of
applying them. What then in this art? What is the art which enables
one to realize the transience of the body and the indestructibility
and wholeness of the spirit, and so to practice svadharma?
Behind a man's action there are
generally two types of attitude. One is the assured feeling, "I
shall enjoy the fruit of my action. I have a right to it." On
the contrary, there is feeling, "If I am not to enjoy the fruit
of my action, then I will not act at all." The Gita tells us of
yet another attitude of mind or way of life, which says, "You
must of course act, but don't think that you have a right to the
fruit." The man who acts has no doubt a right to the fruit. But
give up this right of your own free will. Rajas says,
"If I accept the work, I demand the fruit." Tamas
says, "If I give up the fruit, I shall give up the work
also." These two attitudes are like two brothers.
Therefore,
leave both behind and reach pure Sattvaguna. In other words, do the
work, but give up the fruit; and giving up the fruit, do the work.
Before, or after, do not hanker after the fruit.
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