To do or not to do? - Dhyana Yoga 1
Chapter VI of the Bhagavad Gita is called dhyanayoga (Communion through meditation). It contains 47 verses. It deals with meditation as a means of God realization. A summary of the chapter is available here
In the beginning of the fifth chapter, Arjuna asked Lord Krishna which of the two, Sankhyayoga or Karmayoga is better. Lord Krishna replied that both of them lead to God realization, but Karmayoga is better because it can be practiced more easily. In the fifth chapter, Lord Krishna also described in the last few verses, how Dhyanayoga leads to God realization and can be useful for both the Karmayogi and Sankhyayogi. In this chapter, the Lord describes Dhyanayoga or the Yoga of Self control, in great detail and how it can be practiced.
Everyone in this world, acts for their own benefits, whether it is to maintain one’s family, or build a house, earn a living or any other reason. However it may be called, there is self interest in the background and it is so ingrained that we do not even realize it some times. We act selfishly, because we see ourselves as different from others and from God. If we look at our body, all the parts function for the sake of the entire body and not for their individual sake. If the legs were to act independently and the hands were to do only what they liked, then the body cannot function. We will we be able to work for the welfare of every one, only when we are able to understand that we are not separate entities and we are able to cultivate a universal outlook. There is a sanskrit saying,
ayam nijaH paroveti gaNanaa laguchetasaaM
udaaracharitaanaaM tu vasudaiva kuDhuMbakaM .
This means that only the narrow minded people think of themselves alone. 
The broad minded people consider the whole world as their family. Only when we have this attitude of vasudaiva kuDhuMbakaM, all our acts will become pure because they will be self less. We will have no more concern for the results because we do not have anything to gain or lose and our acts will be dedicated to the lotus feet of the Lord. When a person acts in such a fashion, he becomes a true sa.nnyaasi as well as a true karmayogi.
Talking of sa.nnyaasis, once a sa.nnyaasi and a politician died on the same day and they went to heaven. The sa.nnyaasi was given a very small room with one window and a cot while the politician was given a palatial room with A/C, television and all comforts. The sa.nnyaasi asked God, “How is it that, I’ve spent my entire life serving God and yet I get a very ordinary room, while the politician is given such a comfortable room?” God replied, “We get so many sa.nnyaasis here, but this is the first time we have got a politician”.
We shall now see what the Lord says about a Karmayogi.
अनाश्रितः कर्मफलं कार्यं कर्म करोति यः |
स संन्यासी च योगी च न निरग्निर्न चाक्रियः||
anaashritaH karmaphalaM kaaryaM karma karoti yaH .
sa sa.nnyaasii cha yogii cha na niragnirna chaakriyaH .6.1.
That person who does his duty without expecting results is the true sa.nnyaasi as well as a true karmayogi. A person who has simply renounced the sacred fire is not a sa.nnyaasii and a person who gives up all activities is not a karmayogii.
Word Meanings:
yaH - that person :
kaaryaM karma -duty :
karoti - performs :
anaashritaH - without depending on :
karma phalaM - the fruits of actions :
saH sa.nnyaasii - that person is a sa.nnyaasii :
yogii cha - and a yogi :
na niragniH - not the person who has given up the sacred fire :
na cha kriyaH - not the person who has given up all activities
So, simply renouncing the sacred fire does not make a person a sa.nnyaasii and simply giving up activities cannot make a person a karmayogi. Only that person who acts without expecting results becomes a true sa.nnyaasi as well as a karmayogi. This verse explains that a person cannot be called a Sa.nnyaasi, if he simply wears a Saffron robe or has a kamanDala or goes and sits in a mountain and remains isolated. Mere external symbols of detachment do not make a person truly detached.
There are many sa.nnyaasis in India who are examples of how not to be a Sa.nnyaasi. Guruji often used to talk about a person who decided to leave everything and go and stay in an Ashram. After a week, he decided that he wanted a bed to lie down, then he wanted an A/C because it was very hot and after that a TV because he was getting bored and so on. In a few weeks, the ashram was transformed into a mini house with all the facilities and there was nothing that he had renounced. Just saying “I am a Sannyasi” and going and sitting in isolation without real detachment is not of any use for spiritual progress.
On the other hand, if we take a person like Mahatma Gandhi, he had not renounced action. He was always performing all actions and involved in daily life. Yet all his actions were selfless. He dedicated his entire life for the welfare of others and even though he did not isolate himself or become a sa.nnyaasi, he practiced a very austere life. Such a person is a true sa.nnyaasi as well as a karmayogi. The Lord says that only when we can perform actions without being attached to results can we learn to remain detached. Again, very often inaction is misunderstood. If a person remains inactive, without giving up attachments, then it would be nothing but laziness.
Two men were listening to the radio when a contest was announced. It said, “Just send an essay explaining why you are the laziest person you know”. One man told the other, “I think you should apply” and the other replied, “I know, but who will write the essay for me” He was so lazy that he did not even participate! Mere inaction, such as this, will only be a state of Tamas or laziness and will have no use at all.
In the next post, we shall see the relationship between sa.nnyaasa and yoga…
