Wednesday, September 14, 2011

V: 1

CHAPTER FIVE

THE YOGA OF RENUNCIATION

Arjuna says,

"You praise both renunciation
And the Yoga of holy work, Krishna.
Of these two, tell me in truth,
Which is the better path?"

Paramahansa Yogananda:

"When Yogis begin to meditate deeply, they often are so happy with their new world of inner perceptions that they wonder: 'Should I ever return to the activity of the world? Should I not rather confine myself wholly to secluded meditation?' These two paths have been the cause of many controversies. The initial romance with the infinite in the path of meditation is likely to make students one-sided. They may be inclined to forsake the path of action. The cosmic law, however, compels us to activity. We who are part of creation have obligations towards creation. We are forced, even perhaps against our conscious wills, to play our equitable parts. Just as we cannot successfully decide with our minds that we will stop breathing, so we cannot effectively decide with our minds that we will stop acting.

There are exceptional cases. Yogis who have destroyed the roots of all past actions with their resultant longings may be filled with the consciousness of God to such an extent that their only activity consists of divine meditation. Even such great Yogis, however, who do not engage in outward activities, nevertheless perform actions. Inwardly they are very active, sending forth divine vibrations by which they help the Sadhana [spiritual practice] of others.

Krishna himself declares in the third chapter, 'Arjuna, I have achieved everything, and yet I work!" Those who emulate Krishna are those who meditate on him in quiet stillness, and who also perform activities...even as he does himself."

Sri Aurobindo:

"The reconciliation which Krishna has already stated, namely, that in outward inaction to see action still persisting and in apparent action to see a real inaction when doership has been renounced, is still, to the practical mind of Arjuna, too subtle a distinction. Hence he poses the question once again. Krishna's response will once again frame the distinction and indicate the line of reconciliation."

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