Monday, May 05, 2008
GITA 108 DAYS - Day 91
91. All acts without care are ‘Asad’
All acts (karmas) undertaken without proper care are tainted and unworthy. With such activities, one will not get solace here or hereafter. Even while doing the karma, or having completed it, there will be no peace of mind. Penance, Yajnas (ritualistic worship) and charity done without care will result in the state of restlessness in us. Any karma done with the sounding of one of the words in “Om tat sat” will become satvic as these words indicate the ultimate reality, Brahman. That is why Brahmanas and Vedas have been created. So, men of wisdom undertake Penance, Yajnas (ritualistic worship) and charity by chanting the mantra ‘Om’ (pranava mantra). It is with the ‘Om’ chanting that we should undertake any activity such as- taking, giving and working. The pranava mantra, Om purifies everything.
Those who long for liberation undertake various karmas without desiring for their fruits by chanting ‘tat’. Whatever be our ultimate goal, these mantras purify our actions by allowing us to detach ourselves from wishful desires associated with those activities. Desire-less life doesn’t mean that one should live the life of a poor man. One should be able to accept all kinds of experiences with the same attitude. Don’t be fond of something and detest others. If a king’s life is being given, enjoy it with contentment. On the other hand, if the life extends you a life of poverty, living under a tree, enjoy that also with ease. Don’t get identified with any such situations as they are transient. In this wisdom, we can live in the world, experiencing everything, dealing with all situations with ease.
‘Sad’ is used to indicate true and good. Regularity, care and promptness in yajna, thapass and charity and the associated karmas, are ‘sad’. What we are doing is to take and transfer a portion of something that is existent in the universe in all the three states. Wise men consider themselves to be an instrument while giving charity. There is nothing ‘new’ here to take or give. Ignorant people pride themselves thinking that “I gave this, and this much”. Neither the giver nor the receiver is going to benefit with such attitudes.
All acts (karmas) undertaken without proper care are tainted and unworthy. With such activities, one will not get solace here or hereafter. Even while doing the karma, or having completed it, there will be no peace of mind. Penance, Yajnas (ritualistic worship) and charity done without care will result in the state of restlessness in us. Any karma done with the sounding of one of the words in “Om tat sat” will become satvic as these words indicate the ultimate reality, Brahman. That is why Brahmanas and Vedas have been created. So, men of wisdom undertake Penance, Yajnas (ritualistic worship) and charity by chanting the mantra ‘Om’ (pranava mantra). It is with the ‘Om’ chanting that we should undertake any activity such as- taking, giving and working. The pranava mantra, Om purifies everything.
Those who long for liberation undertake various karmas without desiring for their fruits by chanting ‘tat’. Whatever be our ultimate goal, these mantras purify our actions by allowing us to detach ourselves from wishful desires associated with those activities. Desire-less life doesn’t mean that one should live the life of a poor man. One should be able to accept all kinds of experiences with the same attitude. Don’t be fond of something and detest others. If a king’s life is being given, enjoy it with contentment. On the other hand, if the life extends you a life of poverty, living under a tree, enjoy that also with ease. Don’t get identified with any such situations as they are transient. In this wisdom, we can live in the world, experiencing everything, dealing with all situations with ease.
‘Sad’ is used to indicate true and good. Regularity, care and promptness in yajna, thapass and charity and the associated karmas, are ‘sad’. What we are doing is to take and transfer a portion of something that is existent in the universe in all the three states. Wise men consider themselves to be an instrument while giving charity. There is nothing ‘new’ here to take or give. Ignorant people pride themselves thinking that “I gave this, and this much”. Neither the giver nor the receiver is going to benefit with such attitudes.
# posted by Sukumar Canada @ 9:06 PM 
