Monday 27 July 2015

Non Attachment

कर्मण्येवाधिकारस्ते मा फलेषु कदाचन 
मा कर्मफलहेतुर्भूर्मा ते सङ्गोऽस्त्वकर्मणि-४७

                               Karmanya Vadhi-karasthe Ma Phaleshu Kada-chana,
            Ma Karma- phala hetur- bhurma Te Sangh-ostv- akarmani

This verse from The Bhagvad Gita, Chapter 2, Verse 47, means-

You have the right to work, but you do not have right to its fruits,
Let the expectations of fruits not be the motive of your action, nor let your     attachment be to inaction.

 Such a beautiful Shloka! This verse brings out the philosophy of non-attachment. It urges us to do our work but not get attached to the results of our work. In a way, it calls upon us to be selfless and detached. On the other hand, it also cautions us not to work with the result in mind. And if the result is not expected to be fruitful, it urges us to still put in our best effort and not refrain from working hard. 

This seems like such a simple philosophy but yet it is the most difficult to follow. How can one be not attached to the results of their hard work?  Will you be motivated to work hard if you knew it was for nothing? You put in years of hard work, lose sleep over it, do your best to nurture it, and in the end you gain nothing out it. Perhaps you might get the “joy” of having worked so hard, but nothing more.

Surely a human being cannot be so detached, we may be compelled to say. But when we look closer, we have a role model right inside our homes. Yes, our Mother!

The efforts she puts in to give birth, and nurture her child is unparalleled, and yet all she gets out of it is a sense of happiness. The mother indeed is an ideal example of non-attachment.  

She does not tend to her child expecting him to repay her. Neither does she stop tending to him if she thinks it is an exercise in futility.  She knows that after years of hard work, she still will never have the rights to its fruits.  Irrespective of whether her child might look after her when she is old, or kick her out of the house, she will still do her best for him. She will leave no stone unturned to see that he gets the best education, the most nutritious food, and good health. Even when he shows signs of hostility, she will continue to do the best for him.













5 comments:

  1. This is one of my favourite philosophies, which I try (mostly unsuccessfully) to follow. I love the fact that you equated it to a Mother's love, Titli. That surely is the best example of all :) It is so hard not to be attached to our creations, isn't it? I think to a large extent, I manage that with BAR, but not my other two blogs. Sigh, I am learning. Little by little, to let go.

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  2. So well said. Beautiful!

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  3. My all-time favourite :) And the way you've analysed it is just so perfect ! I love Krishna, and he's my invisible companion as well :)
    And yes, Ma is the best :)
    I'll return to read the other posts soon :)

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  4. Indeed a most difficult teaching to practice. All our modern education keeps giving us a message totally in opposition to this yogic teaching of Gita. Happy Guru Purnuma to you!

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  5. "Even when he shows signs of hostility, she will continue to do the best for him." Very true isn't it? Is it possible to be detached? I am unsure. In another 2 months, i will be transferred to Tamil Nadu, I am unsure how i will manage the vacuum.
    The example you have given is most perfect. Same is the case with fathers too. We toil our entire life, who knows, what's in store for us.

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