The Hindu : Miscellaneous / Religion : Overcome attachment

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Apr 26, 2004

Miscellaneous

Miscellaneous - Religion

Overcome attachment

CHENNAI, APRIL 26 . There is a natural tendency for a spiritual aspirant who has undertaken scriptural study to feel disinclined to engage in action (Karma) with full gusto when he becomes convinced that it is spiritual knowledge, which will liberate him from bondage. But, the scriptural guidelines are very clear that Karma should not be abandoned and that it is incumbent on the seeker to discharge his duties without fail. They only emphasise a change in attitude while engaging in action. While in the case of a worldly person the result will be the motive of his action, one who is spiritually inclined on the other hand, will perform it as worship of God.

One of the oft-quoted teachings of Lord Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita stresses the importance of right attitude, "Your right is to work only, but never to the fruit thereof. Be not instrumental in making your actions bear fruit, nor let your attachment be to inaction." In another context the Lord says how every action can be transformed into worship, "Whatever you do, whatever you eat, whatever you offer in sacrifice, whatever you give as charity, whatever austerity you perform, do that as offering unto Me."

In his discourse, Swami Omkarananda said even if one were to analyse the four ends of human life— sensory pleasures, wealth, Dharma and liberation— it could be seen that except for liberation all other pursuits would not give permanent joy. The joy one derives from the other pursuits may be immediate but they are dependent on an object and also will not last; whereas the bliss of Self-realisation is not only eternal but also realised within. Self-knowledge enables the person to understand this difference.

Adi Sankara in his work Sadhana Panchakam underscores why one should abstain from doing misdeeds. It is only because of the Karma accrued from previous lives that a person suffers in this life; knowing this a wise person should refrain from doing the same blunder. So one should pray to God to give mental strength to desist from doing mistakes. For this it is also important to understand what drives man to commit wrongs. Desires impel human beings to throw caution to the winds and indulge in sensual pleasures. Man runs behind sensory joys because he has not tasted the bliss of the Self. If one understands the inherent blemishes and limitations of the objects of the senses then he will not run after them and instead develop interest in pursuing the path to liberation.

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