Action and its Fruits
“Thus, it is said that man has only the authority to act and that it is God who dispenses the fruits of man’s actions.”
Swami is always asking us to be detached from our actions. What does detachment mean? Does it mean that we do not engage in action? Or does it mean that we become renunciates and hence stay away from the world and its activities? The following words from Swami shed light on this subject.
“Everyone has to bow to the demands of nature and engage himself in karma (action); it is inevitable. Therefore, Krishna said, “Do the kartavya-karmas, karma that is your bounden duty. Being engaged in karma is to be preferred to not being so engaged. If you desist from karma, the task of living becomes difficult, nay, impossible.
Gita Vahini, p.42
“Arjuna! Undertake work in order to please God and not to gratify the senses. Your actions are responsible for elevation to the highest state or degradation to the lowest planes. Your joys and sorrows proceed from your own actions. Your actions are responsible for your sins and virtues. Fix your mind on the atma (soul) and do your work for the pleasure of God; your actions will then be disinterested. Disinterested action destroys the demoniacal qualities of man and promotes the divine tendencies. It strengthens pure and satwic qualities in man. Thus, it is said that man has only the authority to act and that it is God who dispenses the fruits of man’s actions. You should not undertake any work in the hope of receiving its fruit. You will become an exemplar for the world when you achieve control of the senses and undertake disinterested actions. As the representative of mankind, O Arjuna, you should take a pledge to perform sacred actions.”
Summer Showers in Brindavan, 1979, p. 37
“You might say that you will desist from karma (action) rather than practice the difficult discipline of renouncing the fruits thereof. But that is impossible. No, it is inevitable; one has to do some karma or other. Not a single moment can one free oneself from karma….”
Gita Vahini, p. 33
You may wonder why jnanis (realized souls) should still do karma (action). Not only you but many others may be worried at the statement. Well, people usually follow the ideal set by those in higher levels. Their acts from the basis of dharma(right action) for all. If jnanis are inactive, how are ordinary mortals to save themselves? They have no guide, so they lose themselves in the easy paths of sensory pleasure. The duty of the wise is to foster the right and to practice it before others, so that they too may be prompted to follow, drawn by the hope of becoming as contented and as joyful as they are. The wise have to do and get done, see and show, so the rest might be persuaded to follow the example set by them.”
Gita Vahini, p. 43-44
