In human life, the guru's place is pre-eminent. By keeping utmost faith in Guru alone, everything is obtained.
A devotee's entire strength is due to his guru. Devotion to the guru is superior to devotion to gods and goddesses.
The guru is the supreme being.
సాయి రూపాన్నే ధ్యానిద్దాము, సాయి పాదాలనే పూజిద్దాము !
సాయి మాటలే మన మంత్రాలు, సాయి కృపే మనకు మోక్షము!!


Wednesday, June 28, 2017

Bhagavadgita 3.4 Karma yoga - Welfare of the World



In this universe the consciousness is present in every living and non-living objects. The mind and body are said to be non intelligent (jada) and they receive their energy from the Atma. Mind can think, and buddhi can tease things out only  because of the Chaitanya (consciousness). The jnaani is one who understands and experiences this truth. They are always merged in their own self. They are just content. They do not have any specific needs in this world. They perform their karmas without any attachment. Bhagavan said that we can also attain that state if we can start doing our duties and actions without attachment.  We can feel that this is a difficult task but Bhagavan talks about the process and concept of this no attachment in the net verse.

Karmanaiva hi samsiddhi- maasthitaa janak-aadayah!
Loka- Samgraha- mevaapi sampasyam-kartum-arhasi!! (3.20)

Janaka and others attained perfection by performing actions without attachment; Even we need to do our actions for the welfare of the world. 

The kings like Janaka, Asvapathi and Prahlaada ruled their kingdoms and they were immersed in their daily routine. Still they did their actions without attachment. They understood the power of non attachment and they became role models for all of us. 

Bhagavan uses word "LOKA SAMGRAHA" in the above verse. If we can understand the real meaning of this and apply to our daily life,we can also attain this perfection. We can then escape the oddities in life and immerse ourselves in the blissful state. Keeping the universe as it is created and not disturbing this cycle of universe is nothing but Loka Samgraha. Performing our duties in this universe as prescribed is the most important action. All the planets, solar systems, living and non-living objects act accordingly. But man has mind and buddhi which makes us special to use these characters for the good of the universe. If we deviate and become selfish, who can help us. We become so much preoccupied with our own priorities ignoring the universe. This creates an imbalance and then we blame somebody else or nature for these calamities.   

In this universe we all have our own duties and by our past karmas and vasanas we are bund to sertian actions. We can not escape not doing these actions. If we can keep in mind the welfare of the world and community around us then we can learn to perform our actions with non-attachment. If every one is selfless in this way, the universe moves without any disturbance. People like saints teach us this path all the time. We need people in leadership positions to have this kind of thinking. In a family both parents and elders have to keep this in mind. If one generation can learn from the other, this world becomes a peaceful place. 

Bhagavan talks about this very fact in the next verses.

Yadyaaacharati sreshthas-tatta-devetaro janaah !
sa Yat-Pramaanam kurute lokasthadanuvathate !! (3.21)

People follow a great man and the great people become the role models (standard) for other people to follow. 

Na me Paardhasti kartavyam trishu lokeshu kinchana !
Naanavaaptamavaapyam vartha eva cha karmani !! (3.22)

O Arjuna! there is nothing in the three worlds that has to be done by me, nor is there any thing that should be attained by me; yet I engage myself in action. 

Bhagavaan also reiterates that these worlds perish if he does not perform action. We also have to participate in this progress of the universe by performing our duties without attachment towards the objects. What will happen to future generations if we act with selfish attitudes?

If we have the inclination to act for the welfare of the universe then all karmas will be converted to Yagna.  Then our thinking will be purified. If our mind becomes pure, our intellect can distinguish good from bad. This will in turn ignite the lamp of Jnaana. This Jnaana will take us closer to the Paramatma- The supreme.



OM SRI SAI RAM !




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