XVIII - Salvation Through Renunciation

Lord Krishna said: The sages define renunciation as abstaining from all work for personal profit. The wise define sacrifice as the sacrifice of, and the freedom from, selfish attachment to the fruit of all work. (18.02) Giving up one’s duty is not proper. The abandonment of obligatory work is due to delusion, and is declared to be in the mode of ignorance. (18.07) The embodied beings are unable to completely abstain from work; therefore, one who renounces the selfish attachment to the fruit of work is considered a renunciant. (18.11)

The five causes, for the accomplishment of all actions are: (18.13-14)

• The physical body, the seat of Karma;
• The modes of Material Nature, the doer;
• The eleven organs of perception and action, the instruments;
• Various bio-impulses, or life forces;
• The presiding controlling forces or deities of the eleven organs.

Whatever action, whether right or wrong, one performs by thought, word, and deed; these are the five causes.(18.15)

Threefold driving force to an action are:

1. The subject; 2. The object; 3. The knowledge of the object. Three components of action are: 1. The eleven organs (six sense organs: ear, skin, eye, tongue, nose, and the mind; and five organs of action: mouth, hand, leg, anus, and urethra); 2. The act; 3. The agent or the modes of Material Nature. The four goals ofhuman life designed for gradual and systematic growth of the individual and progress of society are (18.34):

• Doing one's duty;
• Earning wealth;
• Material and sensual enjoyment (with senses under control);
• Attaining salvation.

In the mode of goodness one:

• Possesses the knowledge by which one sees a single (undivided) immutable Reality in all beings;
• Performs obligatory duty without likes and dislikes, or attachment to the result;
• Enjoys sensual pleasure with senses under control;
• Is free from attachment, non-egotistic, has resolve and enthusiasm, and is unperturbed in success or failure;
• Has intellect by which one understands the path of work and the path of renunciation, right and wrong action, fear and fearlessness, bondage and liberation;
• Has the resolve by which one manipulates functions of the mind and senses for God-realization;
• Enjoys pleasure from spiritual practice resulting in cessation of all sorrows;
• Enjoys pleasure that comes by the grace of Self-knowledge.

In the mode of passion one:

• Sees different realities of various types among all beings as separate from one another;
• Abandons duty merely because it is difficult, or because of fear of bodily trouble; (18.08)
• Performs action with ego, selfish motives, and with too much effort;
• Is emotional, attached to the fruit of his work, greedy, violent, impure, and is affected by joy and sorrow;
• Cannot distinguish between righteousness (Dharma) and unrighteousness (Adharma), and right and wrong action;
• Craves for the fruit of work, clings to duty, accumulating wealth and enjoyment with great attachment;
• Enjoys sensual pleasure without control over the senses.

In the mode of ignorance one:

• Has worthless knowledge by which one clings to one single effect (such as the body) as if that is everything;
• Abandons obligatory work due to delusion; (18.07)
• Undertakes action because of delusion; disregarding consequences, loss, or injury to others;
• Is undisciplined, vulgar, stubborn, wicked, malicious, lazy, depressed, and procrastinating;
• Accepts unrighteousness (Adharma) as righteousness (Dharma), has intellect which is covered by ignorance;
• Does not give up sleep, fear, grief, despair, and carelessness;
• Considers the body or oneself as the sole agent due to imperfect knowledge.

There is no being, either on earth or among the celestial controllers in heaven, who can remain free from these three modes of Material Nature. (18.40)

Human labor is categorized as intellectuals, administrators (or protectors), businessmen, and unskilled workers based on the qualities inherent in people's nature and their make up. (18.41) One can attain the highest perfection by devotion to one's natural work. Listen to Me how one attains perfection while engaged in one's natural work. (18.45)

One attains tranquility, freedom from bondage of Karma, and attains the Supreme Being by:

• Renouncing selfish attachment to the fruit of work;
• Performing one's natural duty, to the best of one's ability, for the Supreme Being;
• Purifying the intellect by spiritual practice;
• Subduing the mind and senses with firm resolve;
• Giving up likes and dislikes;
• Enjoying solitude;
• Eating lightly;
• Controlling the mind, speech, and organs of action;
• Taking refuge in detachment;
• Relinquishing egotism, violence, pride, lust, anger, and proprietorship;
• Becoming free from the notion of "I, me, and my".

Absorbed in the Supreme Being, the serene one neither grieves nor desires; becoming impartial to all beings, one obtains the highest devotional love for the Supreme Being. (18.54) By devotion one truly understands Me in essence and merges into Me. (18.55) Mentally offer all actions to Me and be devoted to Me. Be calm and always fix your mind on Me. (18.57)

If due to ego you think: "I shall not fight"; this resolve of yours is in vain. Your own nature will compel you to fight. (18.59) O Arjuna, you are controlled by your own nature-born Karmic impressions. Therefore, you shall do even against your will what you do not wish to do out of delusion. (18.60)

The Supreme Lord --- as the controller abiding in the inner psyche of all beings --- causes them to work out their Karma. We are puppets of our own Karma. (18.61)

Set aside all meritorious deeds and religious rituals, and just surrender completely to My will with firm faith and loving devotion. I shall liberate you from all sin, the bond of Karma. Do not grieve. (18.66)

This knowledge should never be spoken to one who is devoid of austerity, who is without devotion, who does not desire to listen, who speaks ill of Me, or does not believe in God. (18.67)

The one who shall propagate this supreme secret philosophy, the transcendental knowledge of the Gita, amongst My devotees, shall be performing the highest devotional service to Me, and shall certainly come to Me. No other person shall do more pleasing service to Me, and no one on earth shall be dearer to Me. (18.68-69) I promise the study of this sacred dialogue of ours will be equivalent to worshipping Me with knowledge-sacrifice. (18.70)

Whoever hears this sacred dialogue with faith and without cavil becomes free from sin, and attains salvation.(18.71)

O Arjuna, did you listen to this with single-minded attention? Has your delusion born of ignorance been completely destroyed? (18.72)

Arjuna said: By Your grace my delusion is destroyed, I have gained Self-knowledge, my confusion with regard to the body and the Spirit is dispelled and I shall obey Your command. (18.73)

Abbreviated By Harry Bhalla.
The numbers in parentheses are the chapter numbers and verse numbers respectively, of the Bhagavad-Gita. If any of this interests you, please visit: www.gita-society.com OR www.gita4free.com

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