WHY GITA IS IMPORTANT TO US?
NANGANALLUR J K SIVAN
By throwing his sword, one does not become non violent or calm, patient, tolerant etc., It is the mind that matters.To have desirelessness, one must definitely avoid interest in things of the world, and must have steady mind in avoding them. Contentment with what one has is the first step for reaching desirelessness.
Desirelessness is a state of the mind. Everyone should pursue his or her swadharma. It is necessary but not enough. To light a lamp, oil and wick are necessary but that is not sufficient. It is also necessary to have a flame. Darkness disappears only when we light a flame. How to light a flame? For this one must purify his mind. The mind should be thoroughly cleansed through intense self-examination. Krishna advises on this particularly.
What is Karma (action) really?’ We eat, drink, sleep; these are all ‘actions’. But these are not the actions that the Gita refers to as Karma. In order to attain desirelessness through such karma, an important aid is necessary. It is easy to say that one must overcome desire, attachment and anger.
One cannot have desirelessness unless and until the mind has become pure and calm like the waters of the Ganga. The actions necessary for the purification of mind are called ‘vikarma’ by Krishna.
Karma, vikarma and akarma—these three terms are important to be known.
Karma – means the outward actions done in the pursuit of swadharma.
Vikarma – means total involvement of the mind therein. We may bow to somebody, but that outward action is meaningless without inner humility in the mind. There should be unity between the inner and the outer. I may worship the image of the Lord; but that act is worthless if it is not accompanied with devotion. In the absence of devotion, the idol will just be a piece of stone and so shall I; and the worship will only mean that a stone is facing a stone! Desireless, selfless karmayoga is attained only when outward actions are complemented with the inward action of the purification of mind.In the term ‘desireless action’, the adjective ‘desireless’ is more important than the word ‘action’, it could be dangerous if performance of swadharma is not complemented with vikarma of the mind.
Those engaged truly in social service today are certainly pursuing their swadharma. When people are poor and destitute, it is a natural duty to serve them and make them happy. But all social workers cannot, be called karmayogis. Social service without pure motives in the heart of the workers could have disastrous results. Such a social service can generate in equal measure the vanity, hatred, envy and selfishness. We generate these we serve our families exclusively. This is clearly evident in the world of social work today.
