Chapter 3, Verse 7
yastv-indriyāṇi manasā
niyamyārabhate ’rjuna
karmendriyaiḥ karma-yogam
asaktaḥ sa viśiṣyate
But one who, subduing the senses by the mind, O Arjuna, begins to practice Karma Yoga through the organs of action and who is free from attachment, excels.
“…subduing the senses by the mind.” By controlling the senses from the root itself, the mind, one is free: then true Karma Yoga starts. In the Bible it says that the left hand should not know what the right hand is giving. Otherwise, it is better to cut off
your hand and throw it away. Here Lord Krishna says the same thing that Christ would say 3000 years later. He just changed the words, “Cut off the hand and throw it away! It is better than praising yourself.” When you have helped others, then don’t run after praise, saying that you have done this, and that you have done that. Help others and then forget about it! In whatever you do, be free from that action, whether it is positive or negative.
“He who begins to practice Karma Yoga through the organs of action and who is free from attachment – excels.” If one does an action and does not attach to any fruits of it, one is free. Here Krishna is portraying the yogi who does his duty in the world, yet his mind and senses are fully under control. They don’t just pretend to act. They act in the world, but they are free! Whether the action brings positive or negative results, they don’t care. A person might say, “But then we won’t care.” But this is not an attitude of not caring. The yogi’s mind is fully focused on the Divine. He doesn’t care about the outside things, but he cares most about God – he is centred in the Divine, the Divine is acting through him, is guiding him. But one has to first control the senses, control the mind.
“But one who, subduing the senses by the mind...” niyamyārabhate. You can’t stop the senses. You can’t stop the natural tendency of the senses, but you can control it. Even if you try to stop it, how would you do your Karma Yoga? How would you do your action outwardly? It would never happen, because any form of action is through the senses. However, if the senses are under control, if the mind is under control, then one excels, one rises above the senses. But the first thing, is to control the senses, to control the mind. This is why we do japa. The easiest way to control the mind is to do japa. Chant the Name of God continuously, not only when you are sitting, when you are doing your sadhana, but throughout the day. This helps you put God first. This helps you remember God, even during your daily activities. You see, if you train your mouth to chant the Name of the Lord, in whatever you do, there will be always the humming of it; you will always have the Divine Name in the back of your mind. Your mind itself will start chanting the Name of God.
Krishna says that the karma yogi is superior to ordinary people. Here I am not talking about Karma Yoga, I am talking about the karma yogi. Whatever a karma yogi does in this world, the mind is always fully focused on the Divine. The one who has the indriyas under control is the best karma yogi.
Lord Krishna says, “Don’t pretend to be spiritual. Be spiritual!” When you pretend, you are being fake with yourself. When you are fake with yourself, you feel it. You always feel guilty and ask yourself, “Am I correct?” There is self-judgement, self-pity. Your mind is always focused on the outside, on comparing yourself with others. Is that what spirituality is about? No, it is not! The core of spirituality is not elsewhere, it’s in you! In simple words, Lord Krishna says, “My dear Arjuna, be sincere in whatever you do.” Don’t just be sincere to others, but be sincere towards yourself. This will free you! To have this sincerity, learn to control the mind and learn to control the senses. And do this with an attitude of sincerity.
Bhagavad Gita
