Bhagavad Gita | The Essence of Vedanta 24 – Combining Action with Contemplation | Swami Tattwamayananda
Oct 25, 2019
01:00:53
Chapter 3 Verses 2, 7, 8, 9. The lecture was given by Swami Tattwamayananda on October 25, 2019.
-Gita ends with the verse: “Wherever the ideals of action and contemplation are present, there will be victory, prosperity, success and stability of life”.
-Third chapter of Gita starts with a question from Arjuna, as he was facing a conflict. He asks which path is better – path of action or path of contemplation. Arjuna had a serious misunderstanding and came to the wrong conclusion that it is more desirable to remain in a path of perfect contemplation with no action.
-Not only is it impossible to remain inactive, but also it is dangerous. If we do not divert our mind towards positive channels, mind naturally turns to its own channels, which may be harmful.
-It is easier for the mind to stay focused when we are active. When we are physically inactive, mind becomes more agitated. It is psychologically impossible for a beginner to remain inactive at the mental level.
-One should avoid selfishness. One should not avoid activity. Action is needed to refine and sublimate the mind and ego. Mind can be turned into a friend with activity.
-Arjuna misunderstood that being a Yogi means to be physically inactive. Spirituality needs mind and senses of action/perception, as it expresses itself through them.
-Gita presents Swadharma as a way to stay properly active. Swadharma is our natural way of work, what we feel perfect harmony with. When we do our Swadharma, we derive inner contentment.
-Even if one is not engaged in work that he feels perfect harmony with, he should interpret what he is doing as Swadharma. Then every action is turned to our advantage, advances us spiritually and gives us inner contentment.
-One who claims to have transcended action but mentally keeps thinking about what he could have achieved – such a person is a hypocrite. Hypocrisy blocks all channels of growth. Our pretention to have reached the goal will permanently prevent our ability to reach that goal.
-In the 7th verse of 3rd chapter, Lord Krishna gives a picture of a real Yogi. One who has mentally restrained his senses, works hard with a strong motive and whose mind is not enslaved by the work – such a person is a Yogi. He has perfect equanimity of mind and is always serene and happy. Contrasting examples are provided of an executive who is a Yogi versus a hypocrite.
-Action is always better than inaction. Inaction out of laziness is worse than action with a definite purpose. Even better is to combine that action with contemplation. Then every action becomes an active help in our spiritual progress.
-The highest spiritual person is able to see inaction in action and action in inaction. When he works hard, he understands that it is the body/mind that is working and that his “real I” transcends all action and is not doing anything. Therefore, do your work.
-Swami Trigunatitananda’s example is provided. He was a traveling monk before coming to the US. In 13 years, he built the old temple, shaped the Vedanta Society, built a printing press, preached across the city and inspired people to renounce. All along, he never felt he was doing anything.
-Yajna has two meanings: (1) Vedic rituals for harmony and peace of the world, material prosperity, well-being of relatives, etc. (2) Any noble activity done with a sense of sanctity and sacredness, for the good of others. Gita discusses Yajna in its broader sense of noble activity.
-Gita provides a graphic symbolism of Yajna with the Brahmarpanam mantra. It says: “What we offer is Brahman, the act of offering is Brahman, the fire on which it is offered is Brahman, the one who is offering is Brahman, the one who is the beneficiary is Brahman, and the one who supervises is Brahman”. Every secular activity becomes spiritual.
-Another illustration of Yajna is provided. Rivers are filled with water by rains. Rivers empty in the oceans. Sun absorbs the water from the oceans and turn it into clouds. Clouds come down as rain. Rain sustains human life with crop. This whole creation and sustenance is a silent, invisible Yajna that is going on.
-Lord Krishna says: “Any activity that you do other than as Yajna becomes a bondage. Whatever you do, do as Yajna, free from all attachments”. Yajna becomes a blessing to others and helps us in our spiritual growth. To turn any activity into Yajna, do it without any expectations.
-Bhoga and Yoga can be combined, if Bhoga is practiced with Tyaga (renunciation). Look upon everything as expression of one Divine Reality. Understand the transient nature of the activity and its limitations. With this awareness, one can enjoy Bhoga without obsessive attachment.
-Bhagavan is used to refer to someone who is endowed with six Bhagas (great spiritual characteristics). (1) Great effulgence (2) Great prosperity (3) Great power (4) Great knowledge (5) Great renunciation and (6) Great reputation. Another interpretation of Bhagavan is a spiritual teacher who can see beyond the division of past, present and future of creation and is endowed with superlative wisdom.
-Gita ends with the verse: “Wherever the ideals of action and contemplation are present, there will be victory, prosperity, success and stability of life”.
-Third chapter of Gita starts with a question from Arjuna, as he was facing a conflict. He asks which path is better – path of action or path of contemplation. Arjuna had a serious misunderstanding and came to the wrong conclusion that it is more desirable to remain in a path of perfect contemplation with no action.
-Not only is it impossible to remain inactive, but also it is dangerous. If we do not divert our mind towards positive channels, mind naturally turns to its own channels, which may be harmful.
-It is easier for the mind to stay focused when we are active. When we are physically inactive, mind becomes more agitated. It is psychologically impossible for a beginner to remain inactive at the mental level.
-One should avoid selfishness. One should not avoid activity. Action is needed to refine and sublimate the mind and ego. Mind can be turned into a friend with activity.
-Arjuna misunderstood that being a Yogi means to be physically inactive. Spirituality needs mind and senses of action/perception, as it expresses itself through them.
-Gita presents Swadharma as a way to stay properly active. Swadharma is our natural way of work, what we feel perfect harmony with. When we do our Swadharma, we derive inner contentment.
-Even if one is not engaged in work that he feels perfect harmony with, he should interpret what he is doing as Swadharma. Then every action is turned to our advantage, advances us spiritually and gives us inner contentment.
-One who claims to have transcended action but mentally keeps thinking about what he could have achieved – such a person is a hypocrite. Hypocrisy blocks all channels of growth. Our pretention to have reached the goal will permanently prevent our ability to reach that goal.
-In the 7th verse of 3rd chapter, Lord Krishna gives a picture of a real Yogi. One who has mentally restrained his senses, works hard with a strong motive and whose mind is not enslaved by the work – such a person is a Yogi. He has perfect equanimity of mind and is always serene and happy. Contrasting examples are provided of an executive who is a Yogi versus a hypocrite.
-Action is always better than inaction. Inaction out of laziness is worse than action with a definite purpose. Even better is to combine that action with contemplation. Then every action becomes an active help in our spiritual progress.
-The highest spiritual person is able to see inaction in action and action in inaction. When he works hard, he understands that it is the body/mind that is working and that his “real I” transcends all action and is not doing anything. Therefore, do your work.
-Swami Trigunatitananda’s example is provided. He was a traveling monk before coming to the US. In 13 years, he built the old temple, shaped the Vedanta Society, built a printing press, preached across the city and inspired people to renounce. All along, he never felt he was doing anything.
-Yajna has two meanings: (1) Vedic rituals for harmony and peace of the world, material prosperity, well-being of relatives, etc. (2) Any noble activity done with a sense of sanctity and sacredness, for the good of others. Gita discusses Yajna in its broader sense of noble activity.
-Gita provides a graphic symbolism of Yajna with the Brahmarpanam mantra. It says: “What we offer is Brahman, the act of offering is Brahman, the fire on which it is offered is Brahman, the one who is offering is Brahman, the one who is the beneficiary is Brahman, and the one who supervises is Brahman”. Every secular activity becomes spiritual.
-Another illustration of Yajna is provided. Rivers are filled with water by rains. Rivers empty in the oceans. Sun absorbs the water from the oceans and turn it into clouds. Clouds come down as rain. Rain sustains human life with crop. This whole creation and sustenance is a silent, invisible Yajna that is going on.
-Lord Krishna says: “Any activity that you do other than as Yajna becomes a bondage. Whatever you do, do as Yajna, free from all attachments”. Yajna becomes a blessing to others and helps us in our spiritual growth. To turn any activity into Yajna, do it without any expectations.
-Bhoga and Yoga can be combined, if Bhoga is practiced with Tyaga (renunciation). Look upon everything as expression of one Divine Reality. Understand the transient nature of the activity and its limitations. With this awareness, one can enjoy Bhoga without obsessive attachment.
-Bhagavan is used to refer to someone who is endowed with six Bhagas (great spiritual characteristics). (1) Great effulgence (2) Great prosperity (3) Great power (4) Great knowledge (5) Great renunciation and (6) Great reputation. Another interpretation of Bhagavan is a spiritual teacher who can see beyond the division of past, present and future of creation and is endowed with superlative wisdom.