May your actions show them the way! – Bhagavad Gita verses 3.26-3.27

Discussion in 'Chitvish on Hindu Culture & Vedanta' started by Chitvish, Oct 9, 2008.

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  1. Oct 9, 2008 #1
    Chitvish

    Chitvish Moderator IL Hall of Fame

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    The following advice is given to a Man-of-Wisdom, who is working in society for the service of man.

    Na buddhibedam janayedakjanam karma sanginaam
    Hoshayeth sarva karmaaNi vidvaanyuktha: samaacharan 3.26

    Let no wise man unsettle the minds of ignorant people, who are attached to action; he should engage them in all actions, himself fulfilling them with devotion.

    The majority work enthusiastically under the impulse of their ego-sense for the fulfilment of their desires. The dynamism of activity is a sacred force and so, we should not halt them in their work and confuse their minds. Once they stop their mind, they will sink into sad inertia – tamas. The wise man should join them and working with them slowly, by example, make them work selflessly for the service of the community.

    The youth of a nation should exemplify themselves in the purity of their actions and in the vigour of their efforts; others watching them will come to imitate them slowly – without losing the tempo of their daily efforts.

    Krishna declares the difference in the actions in the wise and the unwise. In what way is an Ignorant man, attached to action?

    Prkrthe: kriyamaaNani guNai: karmaaNi sarvasha:
    Ahankaaravimudaathma karthahamithi manyathe 3.27

    All actions are performed, in all cases, merely by the modes of the mind (prakriti-guNas)
    He, whose mind is deluded by egoism, thinks "I am the doer".

    Actions are expressions of vasanas and the quality of vasanas determines the quality of performance at the body level. But the ignorant one, identifying with the thoughts and the body (Ahankaaravimudaathma) considers that "I am the doer" (karthahamithi manyathe ).
    Hence he is ever tied down to his work – with no freedom to act well and enjoy fully.

    Love,
    Chithra.
     
    Last edited: Oct 9, 2008
    Chitvish, Oct 9, 2008
    Chitvish, Oct 9, 2008
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  2. Oct 9, 2008 #2
    Cheeniya

    Cheeniya Super Moderator Staff Member IL Hall of Fame

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    There is an oft repeated parable of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa. It is about a learned man who observes a cowherd sleeping under a tree at day time. He wakes him up and tells him how he can work his way up by not sleeping during the day time. He delivers quite a forceful speech to wean the cowherd away from this undesirable habit and ends his speech pointing out that the cowherd would have been hundred times richer had he not developed the habit of sleeping during the day. When he concludes, the cowherd asks him in what way all that hard-earned additional wealth would help him and the learned man replies that the security of additional wealth will give him a lot of comfort and he can sleep peacefully. The cowherd chides him for having woken him up from his peaceful slumber only to tell him how he can sleep peacefully!

    This is what happens when someone is stopped in the middle of his action, even if it be sleeping, and told to improve his lot through a different action. It is almost like the mindset of a youngster who is stopped in the middle of his play and asked to resume studying. The child will become very resentful about it despite the fact that such an advice is tendered to him for his own betterment. This resentment may soon grow into some kind of resistance to all the good things pointed out to him.

    The point to be noted here is that every person who is in pursuit of an action does so in the belief that what he is doing is right. If he is stopped from what he is pursuing only to be told to pursue something else, he is likely to become dogmatic about his original pursuit. If we point out one lacuna in his line of action, he may point out a hundred in our own while defending his own.

    Talking of the attitude of an ignorant man to his action, the best way to liberate oneself from the thought of being the ‘doer’ is beautifully summed up in the following words of the French theologian de Caussade:
    “Do what you are doing now, suffer what you are suffering now; to do all this with holiness, nothing need be changed but your hearts. Sanctity consists in ‘willing’ what happens to us by God’s decree. If we understood how to see in each moment some manifestation of the Will of God, we should find therein also all that our hearts could desire”
    What a profound piece of advice that is! If we realise that all our actions arise out of the Will of God, they become sanctified. The mere thought that we are engaged in God’s work gives us the ability to distinguish between the good and the bad, the right and the wrong.
     
    Cheeniya, Oct 9, 2008
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  3. Oct 9, 2008 #3
    corallux

    corallux Bronze IL'ite

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    Dear Chithraji,

    We have a saying in Hindi, "Kehni aur karni mein bahut antar hai." There is a big difference in saying & doing.

    Elders say that actions speak louder than words. This is so true.

    If the elders of the family indulge in idle gossip & evil actions, the youngsters follow suit. Whereas families that believe in good deeds expecting nothing in return always progress in life, materially & spiritually.

    Youth have the capacity to alter history. The recent example of getting RTI (right to information) bill, etc show that if the energy of the youth is channelized properly, it can create welfare for all.

    AS for saying , "Iam the doer," there is no bigger mistake than this. We are all but actors/actresses on this stage called Life. SHE is our Sutradharini.

    Regards,

    Corallux
     
    corallux, Oct 9, 2008
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  4. Oct 9, 2008 #4
    corallux

    corallux Bronze IL'ite

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    Dear Cheeniyaji,

    Day in & day out we hear of "Life coaches" who promise to "Motivate" us. Our elders never had such "Coaches".

    They observed the actions of their mentors & followed in their foot steps.

    It is very easy to sit in a philosopher's chair & speak about life. It takes a great soul to actually get his hands dirty to prove a point.

    "Great men leave behind them foot prints on sands on time." Even to leave foot prints, they had to actually walk on the burning sand.

    I agree with you Cheeniyaji when you say that diversion causes chaos. A perfect example we get is when we study, we are so easily distracted by a movie song or even a cricket match.

    Concentrate & perform your actions. A lovely lesson for this week.

    Regards,

    Corallux
     
    corallux, Oct 9, 2008
    corallux, Oct 9, 2008
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  5. Oct 9, 2008 #5
    Chitvish

    Chitvish Moderator IL Hall of Fame

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    Dear Lux,
    There is a corresponding saying in tamil:
    Those who utter, will not perform;
    Those who perform, will not utter.
    An ignorant man says to himself "I shall do this action and thereby enjoy the fruit".A wise man should not unsettle his belief.On the contrary he himself should set an example by performing his duties diligently but without attachment. The wise man should persuade the ignorant never to neglect their duties, but place before them the pleasures and happiness arising out of discharging the duties. When their hearts get purified in course of time, the wise man could sow the seeds of Karma Yoga in them !
    Love,
    Chithra.




     
    Chitvish, Oct 9, 2008
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  6. Oct 9, 2008 #6
    Cheeniya

    Cheeniya Super Moderator Staff Member IL Hall of Fame

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    Dear Corallux
    On the question of resentment being caused when someone is interrupted in his favourite pursuit and asked to do something which he is not too keen on, there is a beautiful quote by Lord Melbourne:
    "If people are made to do what they dislike, you must allow for a little ill-humour"

    This precisely is the reason why the Lord forbids interruption of any activity but recommends that we go along and transform the 'doer' by personal example.
    Sri
     
    Cheeniya, Oct 9, 2008
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  7. Oct 9, 2008 #7
    mkthpavi

    mkthpavi Senior IL'ite

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    Dear C&C
    Very significant post. We have role models who have done something significant. It is easy to preach but difficult to practise. And it doesnt take very long to figure who's got the stuff and who doesn't. Empty vessels make more noise but dont have water :))
    I know of people who talk about the importance of having a broad outlook, being educated, standing on one's own feet etc. But when it came to their son's wedding, they preferred a 'less educated non-working girl who will have simple needs and wont question us'. It was such a big contradiction between what they said and what they actually believed. My respect for such people went down instantly.
    At the end of the day, what you do is what matters. Great speeches, great advice all comes to nothing if the person who says this does not do the right thing.
    Thanks for your great posts.
    Love and regards
    Your IL disciple
    Pavithra
     
    mkthpavi, Oct 9, 2008
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  8. Oct 10, 2008 #8
    Chitvish

    Chitvish Moderator IL Hall of Fame

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    Dear Pavi,
    By setting an example to others, one does not have anything to accomplish nor lose anything either.
    Teaching by using words is not teaching by setting an example. By doing karma properly a wise person sets an example because peoplw woll follow him or her.
    The example set by the parents in words and deeds makes a lasting impression and makes or mars the child.
    Love,
    Chithra.


     
    Chitvish, Oct 10, 2008
    Chitvish, Oct 10, 2008
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  9. Oct 12, 2008 #9
    vidhi

    vidhi Senior IL'ite

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    Re: May your actions show them the way! – Bhagavad Gita verses 3.26-3.27

    Dear Chith

    Actions always speak more than the words. Only by action we can make any changes. Youngsters follow the elders in most of their actions so we do have a responsibility to do our actions with a great care.

    And about the youth if at all they use their ablilities towards the good cause they can make a tremendous change in the society.

    And as you said ‘I am the doer’ attitude kills the joy of any action. But most of them become the prey of that attittude if it is not taken care at the right time.

    Love
    Vidhi
     
    vidhi, Oct 12, 2008
    vidhi, Oct 12, 2008
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  10. Oct 12, 2008 #10
    vidhi

    vidhi Senior IL'ite

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    Re: May your actions show them the way! – Bhagavad Gita verses 3.26-3.27

    Dear Cheeniya sir,

    We all do actions with a strong belief what we do is right and are very reluctant to take the advice from outside. Even if we know that it is for our betterment we try to resist it. Our ego most of the time does not allow to accept the defeat so it finds so many ways to defend it. The quote of the French theologian is too good. Doing our actions thinking it as a will of God helps us to perform it better and it gives us the endurance to accept it with great respect.

    With best regards
    Vidhi
     
    vidhi, Oct 12, 2008
    vidhi, Oct 12, 2008
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