PHRASES IN THE GITA (7)

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PHRASES IN THE GITA (7)

मा ते सोङ्गोSस्तु अकर्मणि (अध्याय २ - श्लोक ४७)

மா தே ஸங்கோஸ்து அகர்மணி (அத்யாயம் 2 - ஸ்லோகம் 47)

Maa te sangostu akarmani (Chapter 2 - Shloka 47)

Meaning : Do not attach with (develop a liking for) Inaction.

Shri Krishna cautions us against what seems to be a natural human instinct. 'If you are anyhow not going to get result, why should you try at all?' "If you have no chance of winning election, why should you spend money, time and energy in campaigning?" "You stand no chance of getting selected. Why do you write the exam?" "Without a God-father, no one has succeeded in film world, till date. You are asking for the moon. Better try something else." These words are not uncommon. (Shri Krishna has not suggested that you will not get fruits of your action. He only asks us to avoid concern for the fruits while working.) We tend to think in these lines and others too suggest the same. 'If the chances of getting a favourable result from an action, are dim, there is no point in attempting the action.' That is the most common suggestion. Similarly, there is a widespread perception that 'desire for a result is the incentive for action. If desire is to be killed, then, there can be no action'. That is why, Shri Krishna's suggestion to dissociate from desire for fruits of action and at the same time involve in action (avoid inaction) seems mysterious to most of us. But, a look at the success stories in film and political worlds, science, art, and sports arena, suggests otherwise. The successful men in these fields or in any other field, have worked, merely worked, worked against all odds, worked and toiled for years without any trace of a favourable result anywhere within visibility range, worked with undiminished passion despite odds. Success, favourable fruit, and other such thoughts could not find space in their minds. And yet, success traced such men, knocked at their doors and clung on to them in the most glorious fashion.

Work is an expression of a personality. Action is manifested Swabhava. 'I am my action'. Success may or may not result from the action. There can not be a unique and universal definition of success. It will vary from person to person, place to place, age to age. Success is more an approval by others, a recognition, an acknowledgement or a certification by others. Whereas action is an expression of Self. I am Me, with or without others' approval or recognition.

The Joy experienced on accomplishing an action is Fuller than the 'pleasant feeling' on getting a favourable result. 'On accomplishing an action', I said. Yes. While performing an action, there is no scope to experience Joy. To experience, one has to stand aside. The Self wholly merged in action, self completely identified with action, is perfect action. Self personified as action is perfect action. There should be no disjoint between actor and the action in a perfect action. You can not experience a sound sleep while sleeping. Any desire to experience sleep will disturb sleep itself. You experience the Joy of a deep sleep only on completion of sleep. It is similar with Action. Only such an action is action in real sense. Attaching desire with action kills action itself.

At the same time, Inaction is negation of Self. Inaction is unnatural. In fact, Inaction is impossible. What we call as inaction, may be only at the gross level. Mind full of action, mind passionate for action will definitely prompt the body to act.

Attachment with desires results in chaotic or inefficient action and ripples of disturbances and restlessness in mind and tendency to 'inaction' at 'visible' level. This inaction will give birth to laziness. Only desire or an alluring result shakes this inaction again into action. Thus, desire stimulates action and the same desire kills action and encourages inaction.

Detachment with desires is in fact 'inaction' at mind level but hectic bodily action is possible in this state. Such an action is verily an expression of self. It is neither encouraged or discouraged by desire, (How can a non - existent desire stimulate or discourage action?).