- Yoga of Knowledge in Action
- Renouncing Action with/in Knowledge
- Transcendental Knowledge
Summary of chapter
- This chapter touches upon how this knowledge was first imparted to Sun God and then lost & this current form is when Krishna spoke to Arjun. The 10 avatars are mentioned and that all holy wise saints are sent by God for the good of mankind.
- The chapter mentions the order / sections of society : It is a system to organise society by a set of classification. It was meant to be a classification based on Guna & Karma. (In recent times corrupted to classification by birth). Modern grouping : Birds of feather flock together
- Head - Intellectuals - Thinkers - Visionaries (SRT)
- Hands - Action oriented - for others Warriors / Leaders (RST)
- Tummy - Action for self - Consume / Eat / Bhogi - Business (RTS)
- Feet - Inaction - Lazy/ no ambition - Workers / Serving (TRS)
- This chapter also deals with forms of God as deity's that we are familiar with.
- It mentions that Lord fulfils our wishes and desires but only if we work towards it and ask with a pure heart. (4.11). God deals with us the way we deal with him.
- Working like a gyani
- Only pray & no work is like begging. And working and no prayer is like slavery
- Pray & work and dedicate to God , is the way to go
- Karma : Action & Reaction / cause & effect theory.
- Actions will create bondage if done for self or for fruit
- When doing actions not as doer but as representative of God, we don't earn any good/bad karma.
- Sacrifices and yagnas done with knowledge & for the larger good are beneficial.
- Birth & Death cycle to consume all desires / vasanas and then Moksha to merge into God
- Gyan tapas requires effort. Growing old, hair growing etc happens on its own. But knowledge requires self effort.
- Worshipping a deity is common and when done with faith
- Having a Guru for spiritual knowledge is important
- 42 shlokas
- 4.7 : the famous shloka of "Yada Yada ye dharmasya..." when there is adharm, people are away from their true divine nature, selfishness prevails, society is deteriorating...I will come to help sort things out
- 4.11 : Different strokes for different folks.
- 4.12 : Working towards education, job, marriage, kids...we work towards it and it gets done. So work towards moksha also.
- 4.13 : Order of society
- 4.19 - 23 : Actions of a Gyani
- 4.24 : Everything is Brahman for a Yogi. The food, the farmer who grew it, or mother who cooked it, the fire that digests it....
- 4.25 - 31: talks about sacrifices and Chanting, Jap, reading scriptures etc. (4.17 talks about forbidden actions)
- In 4.33 mentions that sacrifice thru knowledge is superior to all material sacrifices.
- Knowledge helps exhaust our past life karma. Seeking and then implementing knowledge (4.37) The fire of knowledge reduces actions to ash. Knowledge is the purifier just like fire
- Seva is socially beneficial & Sadhna helps in seva. People doing seva are blessed by lord with self knowledge (4.39)
Key message from the chapter
- When necessary, Lord comes to earth for benefit of mankind to set things in order. Establish DHARMA
- Selfless service & self knowledge, burns past karmas & frees the soul from cycle of birth and death
You do not know ME fully yet
I am the Real and the Light
When Right is in its very decline
I manifest in forms, all divine
I appear at MY will, time and again
To restore peace, I ascertain
Leave your desire, fear and anger
Follow your way with all the fervor
Every path is dear and pleasant
If pursued with pure intent
Action and inaction, it is a world of choice
Always listen to your inner voice
A man’s life sans oblation
Leads him away from salvation
A story related to the message
Related story 1 is of Eklavya about praying to a form with great faith.
Long ago there lived the Pandavas and the Kauravas, the princes of Hastinapura. All the princes were taught archery by Sage Dronacharya. The Pandava prince, Arjuna was Drona’s favourite student. Ekalavya, a poor commoner boy also wanted to be Drona’s pupil but Drona refused to teach him. And blessed him that practise with determination & you will excel.
Ekalavya was a determined boy & felt blessed by Drona. He carved a statue of Drona on a tree trunk in the forest and started practising in front of it and offered flowers to the statue. Time went by. One day the princes and their teacher came to the same forest. As Arjuna aimed at a particularly difficult target, an arrow pierced the target. Shocked, the boys and their teacher looked around. They saw Ekalavya, who went up to touch Drona’s feet. “Who is your teacher?” Drona asked. Ekalavya quietly led him to the statue. Drona did not want anyone to be better than Arjun. He thought for some time and said, “If I am your guru, give me my gurudakshina.” “Surely, sir,” bowed Ekalavya. “I want your right thumb, replied Drona. Ekalavya wordlessly cut off his right thumb and laid it at Drona’s feet.
This story is really about his faith. Eklavya meditated in front of the statue, presented his problems and found his solutions. The bit about the thumb has many interpretations including that his tribe was from another kingdom etc.
Related Story 2 of King Janak : The Rajrishi, who ruled as a king & worked/lived as a rishi. He lived in the palace , but was not attached to the luxury and totally committed to his duty as the king and all actions were for others & for the good of his kingdom.
Related Story 3 of man who could run very fast. Once there is a robbery in his village and people tell him to run after the robber. He runs, overtakes him, get tired and the comes back. Others look surprised and asked. His response, I did not know I was to catch him, was asked to run so I ran!!! Action without knowledge cannot use a mans skill.
Related posts on this blog
- Dharam Arth Kaam Moksh
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