II r. Free mind & disciplined action (2.51-53)

karmajam budhiyuktaa hi falam tyaktvaa manisheeNah
Janmabandhavinirmuktah padam gachhantyanaamayam (2.51)

yadaa te mohakalilam buddhirvyatitarishyati
tadaa gantaasi nirvedam shrotavyasya shrutasya cha (2.52)

shrutivipratipannaa te yadaa sthaasyati niShchalaah
samaadhavachalaabuddhistadaa yogamavaapsyasi (2.53)

The wise whose intellect is united
can be totally present in action
skilfully dropping the
effects of the past,
and of the future...
claiming their freedom
from the limitations of birth
they celebrate the limitlessness of this very life
despite the limitations of the human-
free even when busy, the wise can just be!

when you can disentangle clear reason
from the mires of delusion,
detaching events, perceptions, prejudices
from emotion
and be driven by pure intelligence,
you will access that deep-rooted calm
beyond sounds and beyond silence
beyond knowledge and beyond ignorance

unshaken and unshakable
by words, said or unsaid,
opinions or perceptions
nor getting stuck
in witting or unwitting positions

when the intellect becomes
free from conflict / resistance,
established in content equanimity,
rejoicing in enthusiasm and harmony
it would have perfected the dance
of stillness
attaining Yoga-unity!

previous

Mahatma Gandhi's version

51. For sages, gifted with the attitude of detachment, who renounce the fruit of action, are released from the bondage of birth and attain to the state which is free from all ills.

52. When thy understanding will have passed through the slough of delusion, then wilt thou be indifferent alike to what thou hast heard and wilt hear.

53. When thy understanding, distracted by much hearing, will rest steadfast and unmoved in concentration, then wilt thou attain Yoga.

Dr. Ramanand Prasad's version

Wise Karma-yogis, possessed with mental poise by renouncing the attachment to the fruits of work, are indeed freed from the bondage of rebirth and attain the blissful divine state. (2.51)

When your intellect will completely pierce the veil of delusion, then you will become indifferent to what has been heard and what is to be heard (from the scriptures). (2.52)

When your intellect, that is confused by the conflicting opinions and the ritualistic doctrine of the Vedas, shall stay steady and firm with the Self, then you shall attain Self-realization. (2.53)

from Gurudev

Ordinary people would just look at the behavior, but the intelligent looks beyond and is amazed by the play of the consciousness (Brahman). (Knowledge. Sheet. # 50, 21 May 1996)

When the intellect becomes quiet, it brings out the intelligence. Often people think that gathering information makes one intelligent. This is not so. It is the "samadhi" which brings out the intelligence.
An unintelligent man, in spite of having all the information, cannot be creative. An intelligent man without much information can be creative. A sign of intelligence is to see the one in many and find the many in one. (Knowledge.Sheet. # 166, 27 Aug. 1997)

~ Sri Sri

II q. Skillful excellence in action (2.49-50)

dooreNa hyavaram karma buddhiyogaddhananjayah
buddhau sharaNamanviccHha krupaNaha falahetavah (2.49)
buddhiyukto jahaateeh ubhe sukrutadushkrute
tasmaadyogaaya yujyasva yogah karmasu kaushalam (2.50)


The far-sighted can see and pursue
long term happiness
beyond the short term misery
Every moment engaging in action
and yet untouched by the happening
the intelligent form an example
of dynamic responsibility
while being free,
in surrender
within

their action being
from the source
out of an expression
of the inner wisdom-life-force
unlike the selfish, myopic
carrot-chasing donkey

The fire of knowledge-awareness
can burn all karma in moments
and the cool grace of surrender
washing away the residues
of both actions, abominable
as well as meritworthy

Skilfully dropping the opposites
fight the war (and not with yourself)
while smiling in harmony
the skill to smartly do the doing
while watching - its all just happening
is itself the way to Oneness

responding to whatever is needed
engaging skill and grace
to the best of one's capacity
deep silence in dynamic activity

is the path of Yoga-unity...


Mahatma Gandhi's version
49. For action, O Dhananjaya, is far inferior to unattached action; seek refuge in the attitude of detached action. Pitiable are those who make fruit their motive.
50. Here in this world a man gifted with that attitude of detachment escapes the fruit of both good and evil deeds. Gird thyself up for Yoga, therefore. Yoga is skill in action.

Dr. Ramanand Prasad's version

Work done with selfish motives is inferior by far to the selfless service or Karma-yoga. Therefore be a Karma-yogi, O Arjuna. Those who seek (to enjoy) the fruits of their work are verily unhappy (because one has no control over the results). (2.49)

A Karma-yogi gets freedom from both vice and virtue in this life itself. Therefore, strive for Karma-yoga. Working to the best of one's abilities without getting attached to the fruits of work is called (Nishkaama) Karma-yoga. (2.50)

Total responsibility is total surrender. It's a little hard to chew, but this is the truth. People usually say either I take responsibility or surrender, but I tell you they go hand in hand. Suppose you are surrendered to the Knowledge. That means you are committed to sharing it with others. You take responsibility to see that it flourishes.

When you are taking responsibility and you find blocks, remember "surrender." That gives you strength to move ahead.

Taking responsibility or surrendering without doership is the skill of the wise.
~ Sri Sri..... excerpt from weekly knowledge # 57 11 Jul 1996

II p. Act from the source (2.47-48)

karmaNyevaadhikaaraste maa faleshu kadaachana
maa karmafalaheturbur maa te sangostvakarmani (2.47)
yogasthah kuru kramaaNi sangam tyaktvaa dhananjaya
siddhyasiddhyo samobhootvaa samatvam yogamuchyate (2.48)

seeds become saplings

saplings become trees

trees bear fruit

carrying the replicated seed...

some in years,

some in weeks

absorbing water from earth

and sun's comforting heat...

action is the seed,
and to sow, to care
both an urgent need
and your birthright
whatever results
is in its own time,
by grace and natures's
nurturing insight

belonging to nature, not for you to grab
these fruits of the action
whether disgusting
or causing delight...


neither getting stuck
in resistance, worry or inaction
nor running hastily
or refusing to leap
smile and sow,
acting with contentment
confidence and fullness
not in the feverish
or insecure
greed to reap

do what needs to be done
united, centered in trust
that whatever happens
is what needs to happen

with a sportsman's zest
transcend your best,
play united, in harmony
doing what you can do
dropping the worry of what you cant

so that whether you lose or win

the game is total fun
if you remember its a privilege to play
neither success nor failure
ever becomes a burden...

from your true nature
when you act
the path itself is the culmination
head cool,
hands busy
heart filled
with content celebration

every action then is
a free flowing dance
in the journey to now-here
where every step
itself is the destination...

that balanced state
restfully focussed
and alert calmness
when all work is play
is the yoga
-the harmony way...


Mahatma Gandhi's Version
47. Action alone is thy province, never the fruits thereof; let not thy motive be the fruit of action, nor shouldst thou desire to avoid action.
48. Act thou, O Dhananjaya, without attachment, steadfast in Yoga, even-minded in success and failure. Even-mindedness is Yoga.

Dr. Ramanand Prasad's version

You have Adhikaara over your respective duty only, but no control or claim over the results. The fruits of work should not be your motive. You should never be inactive. (2.47) (The word Adhikaara means ability and privilege, prerogative, jurisdiction, discretion, right, preference, choice, rightful claim, authority, control.)

Do your duty to the best of your ability, O Arjuna, with your mind attached to the Lord, abandoning (worry and) attachment to the results, and remaining calm in both success and failure. The equanimity of mind is called Karma-yoga. (2.48)



"The flaw in doing something as an act is that you look for a result. When it is done as your nature, you are not attached to the result and you continue doing it. An action that arises from your nature is neither tiring nor frustrating. For example, daily routines like brushing one's teeth or bathing are not even considered actions because they are so integrated into one's life. You do all this without doership. When Seva is made part of your nature, it happens without doership." ~ Sri Sri ... from Weekly Knowledge #171, 17 Sep 1998

"When you have to be acting or putting out effort, know that life is short. When you realize life is short, procrastination falls away. When it comes to enjoying the fruit of your actions, good deeds or even blessings, know that life is eternal. Anytime that you are in a hurry to get the result, you cannot enjoy. So know that life is eternal. " ~ Sri Sri from Weekly Knowledge #201, 28 Apr 1999

II o. You are beyond qualities (2.45-46)

traigunyavishayaa vedaa nistraigunyo bhavaarjuna
nirdvandvo nityasatvastho niryogakshema aatmavaan (2.45)

dull, active or bright
are the qualities
of the thoughts-feelings
the electricity moving up as desires
toward the objects of senses...
knowing these tendencies,
know you are not the mind
beyond the qualities
the inqualifiable one go find

who you are
is beyond satva, rajas, tamas...
is neither dull nor bright
neither noisy nor quiet
neither lazy nor uptight...

drop the qualities
drop the choice
drop the divisions,
in yourself, rejoice!

drop the worry for wellbeing
both spiritual and material
be with that trust, that faint inner voice

in the crystal pure essence
in that security of the immutable
repose in your own presence
oh dear all-capable...

celebrate and rejoice!

yaavaanartha udapaane sarvatah samplutodake
taavaansarveshuvedeshu braahmanasya vijaanatah (2.46)

of what use is a penny
to the one who owns diamonds
of what use is a pebble
to the one who has mountains?
of what use are words
to the one who personifies silence
of what use is a lake

to the one who plays among oceans?

of that use is the knowledge of the relative
to the one who dissolves in
the truth- the infinity: the brahman!
and becomes ONE?



Mahatma Gandhi's Version

45. The Vedas have as their domain the three gunas; eschew them, O Arjuna. Free thyself from the pairs of opposites, abide in eternal truth, scorn to gain or guard anything, remain the master of thy soul.


Ramanand Prasad's version

The Vedas deal with the three states or Gunas of mind. Become free from dualities, be ever balanced and unconcerned with the thoughts of acquisition and preservation. Rise above the three Gunas, and be Self-conscious, O Arjuna. (2.45) (Guna means the quality, state, or the property of mind, matter, and the nature. )




Weekly Knowledge #151
Hamburg
29 Apr 1998
Germany


Decision And Confusion

Decision comes only when there is confusion. When there is no confusion then there is no decision. For example, if there is a piece of wood and a biscuit on your desk, you don't decide which one to eat, isn't that right? Decision is always about choice and choice is always confusing. So, all decision-makers are confused! (Laughter)
Action is spontaneous when there is no actor. In you, there is an actor and there is a witness. An actor is either confused or decisive, but the witness realizes that the action is spontaneous and smiles.
The more decisions you make, the more confused you are, and as a result you swing between pain and pleasure. The more the witness grows in you, the more playful and untouched you are. Trust, faith, love and joy all manifest in and around you.
Are you confused, decided or happy now?
Eberhard: Confusion is too strong of an expression. Is it not rather "choice"?
Urmila: We are decided that choice is confusion. (Everyone laughs)
Hans Peter: Is there any freedom without confusion?
Sri Sri: When you are confused, there is no freedom.
Hans Peter: What is freedom of choice?
Sri Sri: Confusion! (Laughter)


Mahatma Gandhi's version of 2.46
46. To the extent that a well is of use when there is a flood of water on all sides, to the same extent are all the Vedas of use to an enlightened Brahmana.

Ramanand Prasad's version
To a Self-realized person the Vedas are as useful as a reservoir of water when there is flood water available everywhere. (2.46)

Weekly Knowledge #19
Nova Scotia
17 Oct 1995
Canada

Discipleship Ends -- A Shishya (Disciple) Or A Sak

DISCIPLESHIP ENDS --
A SHISHYA (DISCIPLE) OR
A SAKHA (COMPANION)?
Knowledge has an end. Knowledge completes. So also does discipleship. For the disciple is aimed at acquiring Knowledge.
Once you cross the water, however nice the boat is, you get off the boat. After twelve years, the disciple completes his studies. The master does a ceremony called Samavartha, where he tells the disciple that he is ending the discipleship and asking him to behave at par with him, and let the Brahman dynamically manifest.
Sakha is a companion in life and death; it never ends. In the path of love there is neither beginning nor end. Sakha only wants the beloved. He doesn't care about the Knowledge or liberation. Love is incomplete because of longing. And so it is infinite, for infinity can never be complete.
Arjuna was a sakha to Krishna and although Krishna was the perfect Master he was a sakha, too. What are you, a shishya (disciple) or a sakha (companion)?

II n. If you follow fun, misery follows you (2.42-44)

The One continues

those immature ones who chase
Flowery and seemingly irresistible
pleasures and comforts
through religious rituals and offerings
know not the way to truth
nor the essence of the vedas:
of knowledge, of life

the uncaring use the spiritual
to fulfil their material desires
and turn to knowledge
for some short term pleasures,
momentary reliefs, aiming
to get rich or to go to some heaven
or to speed up the returns
of their actions...
the wise seek the imperishable richness
and trade the material
in lieu of realisation of the truth.

The irresolute one
hooked to pleasures
and using their time
just to make comforts and money
impossible for them
is the effortless focus
and the way back to
freedom, peace and equanimity..



Mahatma Gandhi's version

When the attitude ceases to be one and undivided and becomes many and divided, it ceases to be one settled will, and is broken up into various wills of desires between which man is tossed about.

42-44. The ignorant, revelling in the letter of the Vedas, declare that there is naught else; carnally-minded, holding heaven to be their goal, they utter swelling words which promise birth as the fruit of action and which dwell on the many and varied rites to be performed for the sake of pleasure and power; intent, as they are, on pleasure and power their swelling words rob them of their wits, and they have no settled attitude which can be centered on the supreme goal.

Sanskrit
yaamimaam pushpitaam vaachah pravadantya vipashchitah
vedavaadarataah paartha naanyadasteetivaadinah(2.42)

kaamaatmaanah svargaparaa janmakarmafalapradaam
kriyaavisheshabahulaabhogaishvaryagatimpratih(2.43)

bhogaishvaryaprasaktaanam tayaapahyatachetasaam
vyavasaayaatmika buddhirsamaadhau na vidhiyate(2.44)

Relevant Knowledge fax

Weekly Knowledge #79 Bangalore Ashram 12 Dec 1996 India

PLEASURE The mind that is seeking pleasure cannot be centered. You either seek pleasure or come to me. When you are centered, all pleasures come to you anyway, but they are no longer pleasures. They lose their charm. The mind that seeks pleasure can never achieve the highest. If you are after pleasure, forget about Satsang. Why are you wasting your time? This is the Art of Living. If you are enjoying your suffering, then you also cannot be centered and you are far away from the path. Susannah: What do you do when people talk negatively about this organization, Satsangs, teachers, or anybody for that matter? Guruji: From your side give license to everybody to talk about anything, about anybody, anywhere, at any time. Exercise -- Talk maximum negativity about everybody this whole week. This is a challenge.

Dr. Ramanand Prasad's version

Those who are resolute have only one thought (of Self-realization), but the thoughts of the irresolute are endless and many-branched, O Arjuna. (2.41)

The unwise who delight in flowery words (or the chanting of the Vedas without understanding the real meaning) stress Karma-Kaanda, the ritualistic aspect of the Vedas, O Arjuna, and say that there is nothing else (except material enjoyment). (2.42)

They prescribe various specific rites for the attainment of pleasure and power to those who are full of desires, and hold the attainment of heaven as the highest goal of life. The rebirth is their fruit of action. (2.43)

The resolute determination (of Self-realization) is not formed in the minds of those who are attached to pleasure and power; and whose discernment is obscured by such (ritualistic) activities. (2.44)