Freedom From Reaction – In Gita Verse 3.4 Not by merely abstaining from work can one achieve freedom from reaction, nor by renunciation alone can one attain perfection.
In Bhagavad Gita Verse 3.4, Krishna challenges conventional perspectives on action and renunciation, emphasising that true liberation and realisation are not achieved through mere inaction or abandonment of duties. Not by merely abstaining from work can one achieve freedom from reaction, nor by renunciation alone can one attain perfection.
One cannot attain a state of actionlessness simply by refraining from work. The concept of Nishkarma, or action without attachment, is more profound than the mere absence of action. Just as the absence of illness does not equate to health, the absence of karma does not equate to Nishkarma. Nishkarma involves performing actions without the sense of doership, where the ego or the “I” is not involved.
If one renounces all worldly activities and responsibilities, this does not guarantee the realisation of God or ultimate perfection. Renunciation, in the true sense, is not about running away from duties but about performing them without attachment. The essence of Nishkarma lies in the absence of the doer, not the absence of doing.
Krishna advises Arjuna to relinquish the notion of being the doer. When one lets go of the ego and the sense of personal agency, actions transform into nishkarma. Running away from responsibilities, on the other hand, is also an action driven by the ego. True renunciation is about surrendering the ego and recognising that it is the divine will that governs all actions.
Even a renunciant, who may not engage in worldly activities, still performs actions such as begging or building an ashram. Therefore, one cannot escape karma by merely changing the nature of their actions. The key is to perform all actions with a sense of detachment, recognising that the ultimate doer is the divine.
Krishna further clarifies that the realisation of God is not a transactional process where one gives up worldly possessions in exchange for divine realisation. True realisation comes from surrender and devotion, not from renunciation driven by pride or a sense of achievement. When one truly understands the vastness of the divine, the attachment to worldly possessions naturally diminishes.
The futility of trying to escape karma and the importance of embracing one’s duties with a sense of detachment. He urges Arjuna to understand that the outcome of the war is not dependent on him alone but is a result of a complex web of destiny and divine will. This understanding liberates one from the burden of doership and the associated anxieties.
The notion of renunciation is further explored by Krishna, who explains that true renunciation is not about giving up material possessions but about letting go of the sense of ownership and attachment. It is about recognising that nothing truly belongs to us and that we are merely instruments in the divine plan.
Krishna’s message to Arjuna is unequivocal: do not forsake your duties, but rather relinquish the ego and the sense of doership. This approach leads to a state of perfection where one discovers their true self, transcending the realm of actions and possessions. This state is marked by profound surrender and devotion to the divine.
When we describe someone as a renunciant, such as Mahavira or Buddha, we often focus on the material aspects they abandoned – wealth, palaces, kingdoms, and comforts. However, true renunciation is not about letting go of possessions, but about not holding on to them in the first place. Mahavira did not merely discard his wealth; he relinquished his attachment to it. The wealth itself was never truly his, as it existed before him and continued to exist after him.
Similarly, the empire did not belong to Buddha. It was there before his time and remained after his departure. Buddha did not renounce a kingdom; he renounced his attachment to it. This attachment was his own, and by letting it go, he achieved true renunciation.
Krishna’s teachings in this verse present a profound re-evaluation of traditional concepts of action and renunciation. He underscores that true liberation and realisation are attained not through inaction or abandonment of duties, but by performing actions with detachment and surrender to the divine will. This profound wisdom offers a path to inner peace and fulfilment, transcending the dualities of success and failure, ambition and desire, ultimately leading to the realisation of one’s true self.
Tags: Freedom From Reaction
