Miscellaneous - Religion   

Work for work's sake

CHENNAI : Scriptures stress the value of steady practice (Sadhana) as the most essential requisite to spiritual attainment as much as the mental attitude with which one leads life. When one's acts are prompted by personal gain, then one gets entangled with worldly attainments.

Spiritual progress takes place when one learns to shift one's priorities — from engaging in actions for personal gain to working for work's sake so that all actions are directed for the welfare of all, pointed out Sri Ramana Chaitanya in a lecture. A right intent of the goal prompts the right action and action in the right spirit facilitates right thought. Knowledge and action are thus interrelated when principles and practice are yoked together.

The act of living becomes a yoga to him who lives for the sake of others since such a person's actions are not motivated by personal desires. The notion that "I" am the doer of this (good or evil) deed binds one to Samsara. But when one gains the Jnana that this is a false assumption, one gets freed from the feeling of agency and bondage. Such practice of Karma Yoga automatically leads to Brahma Jnana. Constant practice that keeps one aware and alert helps to purify one's attitude. He subdues his senses. He is able to see himself in all aspects of creation. When such a person acts, he is not bound by those acts. Such a realised soul knows that though he sees, hears, touches, smells, eats, walks, breathes, sleeps, winks, etc., he is not acting. He identifies with the power that causes the senses to act and though he works, having given up attachment and resigning his actions to God, is not touched by sin even as a lotus leaf is untouched by water.

The incident when the river Yamuna testified to Lord Krishna's Brahmacharyam and Sage Durvasa's fasting vow by giving way to the Gopis who had to cross the river to hand over food to the sage (given by Lord Krishna) is oft quoted to illustrate the state of freedom from the binding effects of action that both Lord Krishna and Durvasa exemplify. Realised souls have no ego and seek no personal gain, having renounced everything. They are not bound by their acts.

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