Miscellaneous - Religion   

Discharge duties

CHENNAI : The Bhagavad Gita is as much a scripture explaining the highest metaphysical truth as it is a manual propounding a philosophy of action for engaging purposefully in the world. Liberation from bondage being the objective of human birth the means prescribed here to pursue this end have been envisaged to suit the level of spiritual evolution of the seeker. When Arjuna surrendered to Lord Krishna and sought His advice on the best course of action, He stressed the importance of first fulfilling his duty (Karma yoga), which would prepare him for embarking on the path of knowledge (Jnana yoga) leading to liberation.

The Lord in this context advanced four arguments as to why a person should first discharge his duty, said Swamini Satyavratananda in her discourse. Krishna pointed out, "Man does not attain freedom from action (culmination of the path of action) without entering upon action; nor does he reach perfection (culmination of the path of knowledge) merely by ceasing to act." So it is incumbent on a spiritual aspirant to do his duty first. The second reason the Lord adduced was that inaction was impossible. So an individual has to engage in action because his nature (Svabhava) would impel him to act anyway.

Moreover, if one gives up duties, the risk of spiritual downfall is there. Active engagement in life with the intention of fulfilling one's duties promotes spiritual evolution by purifying the mind of its desire for sensory pleasures and also pulverises the ego. This reinforces the need for alignment between the mind and the body (thought and action) for the Gita says, "He who outwardly restraining the organs of sense and action, sits mentally dwelling on the objects of the senses, that man of deluded intellect is called a hypocrite." Engagement in life with the purpose of fulfilling one's duties involves assuming different roles and in the process the ego ripens slowly. Spiritual progress thus becomes a natural process and the craving for materialistic pleasures drops off on its own accord.

The Lord finally reasoned that even survival in the world is impossible without engaging in action. Vedanta is thus an appointment with oneself to attain mastery over oneself. It is a slow process of evolution which every person must consciously strive for.

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