Chapter 5 The Yoga of Renunciation

In the beginning of this chapter, the hero, Arjuna, again, asks Krishna to give him a straight answer - which is better - renouncing action or the yoga of action:

You speak so highly of the renunciation of action,

Yet you ask me to follow the yoga of action.  

Now tell me definitely, which of these is better?

Discussion: Again, Krishna tells Arjuna there is no black and white answer to such a question.  The mind set that wants black and white answers is still undeveloped.  An immature mind cannot handle ambiguities, grey areas, many different possibilities.  In an attempt to simplify the complexities of living, a person often seeks to be told specifically what to do and often falls into the trap of assigning "good" to one thing and "evil" to its opposite. Often, that mind set is unable to hold tension and is driven by reactivity to act or to shun action for the wrong reasons.Many people seek out someone in authority who will give them the answers and tell them what to do - leader, a guru.  A true guru, a true leader, will not succumb to the temptation to have control over the person, but rather, as Krishna is doing for Arjuna, will teach to expand the person's understanding. 

We need to ask ourselves how far along have we moved from a black and white worldview. What is important is to be persistent in one's practice of yoga, whichever path we tread and not give up.  A path of renunciation, a path of study and reflection, of contemplation and one of action all lead to the same end.

Sri Krishna:

Action rightly renounced brings freedom

Action rightly performed brings freedom

Both are better 

Than mere shunning of action.

Discussion: If you decide not to do something because of fear, that is not renunciation of action.  If you retaliate because someone has hurt your pride, that is not right action. Deciding to refrain from an action that may harm someone unnecessarily, is a decision made in the spirit of renunciation.  Taking up a cause because one feels called to do so, and offering the outcome to God, that is renunciation in action.The same choices in different situations can have a different meaning - it is the inner motivation that is important.

When a man lacks lust or hatred, 

His renunciation does not waver.

He neither longs for one thing 

Nor loathes its opposite:

The chains of his delusion 

Are soon cast off.

The yoga of action, say the ignorant,

Is different than the yoga of knowledge of Brahman.

The wise see knowledge and action as one:

They see truly.

Take either path and tread it to the end:

The end is the same.

There the followers of action

Meet the seekers after knowledge

In equal freedom.

Discussion:For the average person, this discussion may seem rather philosophical and hence not applicable to their lives.  But actually, psychologically, we are often faced with these inner decisions about whether to act on a certain impulse, or to try to solve a problem by taking action or whether to wait and, maintaining a certain level of self-control, allow things to work themselves out.  But sometimes we shun action for the wrong reasons. We may think that refraining from action is wise.  But, we have to examine our inner state.  Are we afraid? Are we depressed? Are we concerned about loss or gain, failure, defeat? Are we feeling embarrassed, or insecure in stepping out to live our true convictions or do we feel we are not up to a task? Are we feeling thwarted in our lust for something and therefore stymied by obstacles standing in our way of self-gratification? Inwardly are we really able to discern a path that is wise - not coloured by our own desire, but what will be a mutually beneficial solution for a situation?  Are we wanting control of others and to look good, or are we truly seeking the best for another and to help another get to a place where they will discover what is best for them on their own? Are we able to act on something because we know it is right in principle, even if it isn't profitable to us? 

In the modern world, we are not necessarily talking about whether we will retire to the forest and not get involved in anything that might taint us.  Most people don't have that option or cannot even envisage what that would look like.  And I think the Bhagavad Gita is telling us that it is not necessary to retire - rather,what is important is what our inner motivations are for our actions and what degree of selflessness we have actually attained. Not everyone is called to a life away from the world.  For those who are called to that kind of life, they will discover this way is best for them. The answer for most though,  lies in a middle path of action, balanced by meditation, self-examination, inner growth and spiritual understanding.

It is hard to renounce action 

Without following the yoga of action. 

This yoga purifies

The man of meditation

Bringing him soon to Brahman. 

Discussion: The key to renunciation is a steady practice of meditation and the introspection that arises with that practice that heightens are awareness of our motives, our thought processes, our emotions and desires. Otherwise, we are constantly forced to act based on our whims, our moods, our egotistical desires, passions,lack of discrimination .  We are unable to exercise the self-control that enables us to discern how to be of service to another rather than to seek our own gain. We may have a discrepancy between what we say, think, believe and what we are, what we aim for.  Integration of thought and deed, requires a refined consciousness that comes from a meditation practice balanced by a life in the world of responsibilities and  creative work, activity.  The process of living and wrestling with life situations, while at the same time meditating and gaining self-awareness is what brings about the wholeness we truly seek .

When the heart is made pure by that yoga

When the body is obedient,

When the senses are mastered,

When a man knows that his Atman

Is the Atman in all creatures,

Then let him act, untainted by action.

The illumined soul, whose heart is Brahman's heart,

Thinks always: 'I am doing nothing.'

No matter what he sees, 

Hears, touches, smells, eats,

No matter whether he is moving,

Sleeping, breathing, speaking,

Excreting, or grasping something with his hand,

Or opening his eyes, 

Or closing his eyes:

This he knows always:

I am not seeing, I am not hearing:

It is the senses that see and hear

And touch the things of the senses.

Discussion: Being free from a sense of "I" takes a lot of practice in meditation, to reach an inner state that has transcended the control the senses and ego have over the mind.  This is not something we can talk ourselves into - it is an actual state of being, where detachment has taken place.  There are dangers along this path as well,  for we are not looking for a detachment that makes us dysfunctional in our daily living either.  We need to ground ourselves in daily life, while reaching a state of of calm detachment. We are not seeking to be "blissed out." Careful and understanding observation of our inner state, accompanied with fulfillment of our natural desires and role in life, help us to recognize the forces of the ego, the senses and to choose our responses to life, rather than to react in an uncontrolled manner. Then, we can have the wisdom to act, "untainted by action." 

He puts aside desire,
Offering the act to Brahman.
The lotus leaf rests unwetted on water:
He rests on action, untouched by action.