Latest / Sri Aurobindo Studies / The Bhagavad Gita and the Path of Karma Yoga
Transcript
- 0:01When we delve into the yoga of works, the bhagavad-gita
- 0:06immediately comes to mind as a primary text.
- 0:11The gate, explores the questions of what constitutes a yogic
- 0:14attitude in action and Compares it to the normal standpoint
- 0:19about work. the major difference lies in the inner standpoint and
- 0:25attitude taken by the person undertaking the action Many
- 0:30people try to judge things by the type of work.
- 0:33Undertaken, charity, philanthropy altruistic, work
- 0:38appear to be yogic in their minds feed, the hungry care for
- 0:44the sick. These are examples of things
- 0:46that ordinarily fall under the rubric Karma Yoga.
- 0:51Yet the Gita makes it clear. This is not the true
- 0:55distinguishing characteristic. Such Works.
- 0:59May be undertaken with a sense of Pride or ego, they may be
- 1:03done from motives of Fame a claim, or to Curry favor with
- 1:08others. This makes them works of the ego
- 1:11and self aggrandizing in their intent and effect.
- 1:15The Gita clarifies that the inner attitude of self-surrender
- 1:20removal of the ego and its motives from the action and
- 1:24alignment of the action with the Divine Purpose, represent the
- 1:28true basis of Karma. Yoga, in such cases, even
- 1:34actions that outwardly appear to be - are yogic in their Essence.
- 1:40That is how SRI Krishna could counsel Arjuna to fight and win.
- 1:45Victory in the battle. He was facing SRI aurobindo
- 1:50writes, quote, the ordinary life consists in work for personal
- 1:55aim and satisfaction of Desire. Under some mental or moral
- 1:59control touch, sometimes by a mental ideal.
- 2:03The gita's yoga consists in the offering of one's work as a
- 2:07sacrifice to the Divine, the conquest of desire, egoless and
- 2:13desireless action, The Gita is the great guide on this path,
- 2:19purification from egoistic movements and from personal
- 2:22desire and the faithful following of the best light, one
- 2:26has are a preliminary training for this path.
- 2:31The first step in karma, yoga of this kind is to diminish and
- 2:36finally, get rid of the egocentric position in works,
- 2:40the lower vital reactions and the principle of Desire.
- 2:45Any work can be done as a field for the practice of the spirit
- 2:50of the Gita. In quote, her friends, SRI
- 2:55aurobindo, and the mother growing within the psychology of
- 2:59inner development. Chapter 5 growth of
- 3:02Consciousness means and methods Pages 95 to 96 Any work can be
- 2:46done as a field for the practice of the spirit of the Gita.
- 2:51In quote, her friends, SRI aurobindo, and the mother
- 2:57growing within the psychology of inner development.
- 3:00Chapter 5 growth of Consciousness means and methods
- 3:05Pages 95 to 96