| Discourses On Gita By Acharya Vinoba Bhave |
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| Discourses On Gita |
| VIKARMA - THE KEY TO KARMA-YOGA |
| 6. When the inner feeling goes with the action, the latter is transformed into something unique. When the flame
is applied to the wick in the oil light is born. When vikarma is
applied to karma, desirelessness comes into being. When a spark touches the gunpowder it explodes.
A power is released from the gunpowder. The mere act, the karma, is like powder, which has to
be activated by the fire of feeling, vikarma. The power that karma develops at the touch of vikarma is
indescribable.
A pinch of lifeless powder in one's pocket blows up a whole body when a spark explodes it. In the same way, the infinite power of the practice of svadharma lies latent. Touch it with vikarma, and see what work it can do! In the resulting explosion desire and anger are destroyed, and the way made clear for the attainment of supreme wisdom. 7. Action (karma) is thus the wick of the lamp of knowledge (jnana). There is a log of wood lying somewhere, when you set fire to it; it becomes a mass of glowing embers. What a difference between that wood and this fire? But it is the wood that has become this fire. When you apply vikarma to karma, the latter begins to acquire divine radiance. The mother strokes her child's back. A hand moves up and down a back, and no more. But who can describe the feelings arising in the hearts of the mother and the child from this commonplace action? |
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