Self-Nature – In Gita Verse 18.9 O Arjuna, when one performs his prescribed duty only because it ought to be done, and renounces all material association and all attachment to the fruit, his renunciation is said to be in the mode of goodness.
O Arjun, performing one’s prescribed duties as outlined by the scriptures, with the understanding that it is a duty to be fulfilled, and doing so by renouncing attachment to both the action and its outcomes, is considered Satvik renunciation.
When you recognise your duties and perform them without attachment, you become free from the burdens of those actions. The act of doing becomes an expression of divine will, and you merely play your part as a character in a grand drama. However, the circumstances of our lives often lead us to forget this perspective. We become so engrossed in our roles that we treat them as if our very lives are at stake.
Consider the psychological experiment known as psychodrama. When a person enacts their anger towards a pillow, initially they may laugh at the absurdity. Yet, within minutes, the act becomes real, and the individual fully embodies their anger. Similarly, even in our daily actions, we impose a sense of reality on what is essentially a role we are playing. Krishna advises that we should view our actions as part of this larger play, performing our duties without becoming personally entangled.
Krishna emphasises that life itself is akin to a stage where we are merely actors playing our assigned roles. The script of life, written by a higher power, dictates the actions we must perform. Our responsibility is to execute these actions without inserting our personal desires or fears into the process. Even in our dreams, we attempt to control and intervene, but Krishna advises against this. By understanding that our actions are part of a divine play, we can detach from the outcomes and perform our duties with a sense of peace and clarity. This detachment allows us to act with integrity and purpose, free from the burdens of personal gain or loss.
In times of crisis, such as a storm at sea, the difference in perception becomes evident. While most people panic, a Sufi fakir remains calm, understanding that the outcome is in divine hands. This detachment from the results of actions leads to a state of ultimate peace and joy.
Satvik renunciation involves giving up the fruits of one’s actions, not the actions themselves. Life, as a gift from the divine, requires us to fulfil our duties. By surrendering our worries to the divine, we can perform our actions without being tainted by them, much like a lotus remains unsoiled by the water it resides in.
Total acceptance of oneself includes accepting all aspects of life, whether it be family life or celibacy. It is a recognition that the divine manifests in various forms and roles. Krishna’s advice to Arjuna is to embrace his self-nature as a warrior. Running away from one’s inherent nature leads to a loss of self. Instead, one should recognise their true nature and act in accordance with it, allowing the divine to work through them.
Arjuna is not encouraged to abandon his duties as a warrior because it is intrinsic to his nature. If he had the potential for sannyas, the path of renunciation, that course would have been supported. However, Arjuna’s self-nature aligns with being a warrior, and fulfilling this role without attachment or enmity is indicative of his mode of goodness.
The guidance provided to Arjuna is to act according to his self-nature, performing his duties without attachment to the outcomes. This approach leads to true renunciation and ultimate peace.
Arjuna is advised not to confine himself to a predetermined pattern, as this could lead to disturbance. He is encouraged to follow the natural flow of his life. For many, attaining the divine while remaining in the marketplace does not suit their self-nature. Only by embracing his warrior self-nature can Arjuna fight this war without enmity, which constitutes his mode of goodness. To fight the war without enmity is, for Arjuna, an act of renunciation.
Tags: Self-Nature
