One has sorrow and regret over things done, and not done…
Why not give the karma to Isvara?
Doing is happening. Remember, it’s an “as though” doing. In samsara my actions cause guilt and other’s actions cause hurt. Krishna says… ‘Know me, Gain me.’
Bhagavad Gita chapter 15
यो मामेवमसम्मूढो जानाति पुरुषोत्तमम् |
स सर्वविद्भजति मां सर्वभावेन भारत || 19||
yo mām evam asammūḍho jānāti puruṣhottamam
sa sarvavid bhajati māṁ sarvabhāvena bhārata
The one who is not deluded, who knows me in this way, she or he, the knower of all, gains Me as the self of all, Bhārata!
Samsara is strangely addictive and strangely sorrowful. In India they would say it’s like eating spicy food, tears are coming, but you can’t stop. However many people, like us, seekers of the truth and liberation override the desires and fears and realise Isvara is now my primary occupation. They are purified by knowledge.
Chapter 4.
वीतरागभयक्रोधा मन्मया मामुपाश्रिता: |
बहवो ज्ञानतपसा पूता मद्भावमागता: || 10||
vītarāgabhayakrodhā manmayā mām upāśritāḥ
bahavo jñānatapasā pūtā madbhāvam āgatāḥ
Free from craving, fear, and anger, totally resolved in me, taking refuge in Me, purified by the discipline of knowledge, many have come back to my nature.
Apply knowledge to your life with one pointed devotion.
You must know this by now, that clinging causes fear. Thinking I need something other than myself. Making even a razor’s edge of difference between myself, and something else. And why cling? You think it will give you some satisfaction.
God cannot be enclosed by a thought, no form, no name, and it’s non-separate from me. Everything is God. May you be the one for whom God is not a means to an end. Wherever I look, whatever I encounter is God. I’ve successfully Isvar-ized the whole universe.
In some ways, you can look at it like this. There’s not much difference between jnanis and animals. Animals don’t worry about tomorrow or saving for their grandchildren or retirement. And one who lives without reservation is a jnani; free of raga dvesas. They understand Oneliness. Nothing makes you let go like Vedanta. No other expectation for any other tapas than knowledge.
If everyone has moksha as a goal, then why are we not following God? The flow of life? We must realise everyone really does have moksha as a goal. The allure of God is like following the pied piper. There’s no hiding or cutting corners and in the end God only wants what’s best for you, to live free and happy as you truly are.
Bhagavan cannot go against Bhagavan. (the only name that’s stood the test of time.) Praying for certain things depends on my karma stream. Which is in Bhagavan’s stream and Bhagavan doesn’t have an agenda.
Chapter 4
ये यथा मां प्रपद्यन्ते तांस्तथैव भजाम्यहम् |
मम वर्त्मानुवर्तन्ते मनुष्या: पार्थ सर्वश: || 11||
ye yathā māṁ prapadyante tāns tathaiva bhajāmyaham
mama vartmānuvartante manuṣhyāḥ pārtha sarvaśhaḥ
Those who worship me in whatever way, I bless them in the same way. Pārtha! People follow my path in all ways.
Nobody’s asking for moksa, interesting right? Plus you can’t have a little bit of moksa and a little bit of samsara. So the question is what do you really want? If you follow the sastra, you will naturally become a seeker and desirous of liberation, instead of those who want the stuff.
Do whatever you’re equipped to do, without being compelled and impelled for the fruits of actions. Everyone is a mumukshu, but no one knows it. The wise one, on the other hand, is always seeking the truth of themselves.
Every thought an ordinary person has, is sprinkled with salt and pepper, likes and dislikes. But the jnani has that satya sankalpa; that true resolve. And when you don’t want anything, it’s right there – everything. “Seek first the kingdom of heaven; the Lord’s justice and all else shall be added unto you.”
When you stop looking for things and realise, I am… The jnani’s prayer goes straight to Isvara. Knowing all that is here is Brahman.
“Why can’t you put the desire for freedom in everyone, oh Lord?”
This teaching is precious. It’s given freely without any expectation, nor manipulation, for free! Isvara doesn’t even want people to gain knowledge.
See all the deities as Bhagavan. Make your invocation sophisticated.
That’s the absolute success. Feeling fulfilled in myself. This human incarnation is very precious indeed.
Sattvic people inspire others to grow. The will has to be trained to go with Isvara’s flow. By doing only the things that align with Isvara’s flow. Exercise the muscle of discernment. Even if I don’t understand what I’m doing. Do what you know is right. There is a certain flow in the universe, and it’s palpable.
~ Dharma
~ Acknowledging there are certain challenges; The Gunas,
~Presence; the light of Bhagavan expressing through me.
Follow what comes naturally. Nobody wants adharma done to them.
Do what needs to be done by keeping with the voice in the heart. 💗
Inspired by the wonderful Bhagavad Gita classes, conducted by
Swamini Svatmavidyananda
at Swami Dayananda Ashram in Rishikesh.
For which I am eternally grateful.Om
