Drop The Doer – In Gita Verse 18.7 Prescribed duties should never be renounced. If one gives up his prescribed duties because of illusion, such renunciation is said to be in the mode of ignorance.

For Krishna if someone renounces the world to run away from his responsibility he is false.

If one thinks that such as renouncing the objects and the possessions, by denying things, he can similarly renounce the world and would then be able to realise god, he is mistaken. It doesn’t work that way. God-realisation is not a matter of bargaining. It is not that if you were to give up this or that you will realise god.

Let me share one incident from Osho’s life – Once a monk came to me. He said, “I have left the house, my wife, my children, my business, then why have I not seen god yet?” I asked him, “How would you price your house, your business, your wife, your children? Do you have any figures in mind?” He said, “What do you mean?”  I said, “If we can be sure about the total worth of things you have given up, we can then complain to god that here is a man who is investing so much for you and you are still hiding from him!” The man has given up his home, and he wants god in return? Actually, the very idea of getting in return for something brings business in; it has nothing to do with religion.

The one who has renounced says: “I have left everything and yet no sign of god.” But who asked you to leave everything to find god! And, how much worth is it all that you have given up? And, what will you do when death will knock on your door? Will you leave all you have or would you keep carrying it with you? At the moment of death everything will drop on its own accord. And all those possessions, which were already there when you had not appeared in the world, would remain when you are gone. And yet you believe yourself to be the renouncer!

So, can you really leave something, which existed before you came and which will continue to exist after you are gone? The very idea of ownership is crazy. And remember: even in renouncing something one feels he owned it. When one says, “I have renounced” he is implying his ownership. The truth of the matter is, one owns nothing – then how is one ever going to renounce?

Hence, Krishna is saying: “You don’t realise God by renouncing anything.” God-realisation is a totally different thing. It doesn’t happen because of renunciation; although, it is possible that once god is realised, renunciation happens automatically. This happens; because, when one has seen the infinite, he will not want to go after the insignificant, the trivial. When one has found diamonds, he automatically drops rocks and pebbles.

So, it is not that one attains god by renouncing everything – no, that’s not the case. But, because of god-realisation, often one becomes free of all possessions. Realising God brings the supreme joy, it is the ultimate experience of bliss.

Here, Krishna is making a very categorical statement. This statement is very valuable. If understood, it can bring a revolution in one’s life. Krishna is saying: “Do not give up action.” It is not possible to drop action. As long as one is alive, there is no way one can cease to act. Even a monk will have to work – if not running a shop, he will be on the road begging. What difference does it make? Is begging in any way less of a job than minding the shop? As far as work is concerned, there is hardly any difference. Instead of building a house, he will build an ashram. Is building an ashram less of a job than building a house? Work is part of both.

One cannot run away from work. If indeed one cannot escape from action, then such running away would only lead one into being a hypocrite. Doing something, which is impossible to do, creates hypocrisy. Suppose if Arjuna were to run away from the battlefield, what will he do next? He will certainly do something, and whatever he will do, it is action. So, one thing is clear: it is not possible to escape from action. Then is there no way out?

Krishna opens a new door, a new dimension. He says: keep doing your job, but free yourself from being a doer. Krishna’s teaching can greatly revolutionise one’s very being. He is saying: keep working, you cannot get away from doing; but you can certainly stay away from being a doer.

Let the work go on, just drop being the doer. Drop the doer from within; drop the idea that you are doing.

Tags:
0 Comments

Leave a reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

©2024 Dwarkadhish Holistic Centre. Hosting Provided By TD Web Services

CONTACT US

    Log in with your credentials

    or    

    Forgot your details?

    Create Account