Yog of Knowledge and Action
Chapter 4, Verse 18
karmaṇya karma yaḥ paśyed
akarmaṇi ca karma yaḥ
sa buddhimān manuṣyeṣu
sa yuktaḥ kṛtsna karma-kṛt
He who sees inaction in action and also action in inaction is wise among people. He is fit for liberation and has concluded all actions.
Here Krishna says that the secret of liberation is to see inaction in action. The wise person performs his allocated duties, renouncing attachment to the fruit of the action or any sense of possession. If one’s mind is hanging onto the result, one is not free. Whereas, if one performs every action without expectations, renouncing all its fruits, one is not bound by the karma. Such a person is wise among men; he has realised God. He is a yogi because he is doing all his actions with the aim of attaining God.
Here, Krishna is also referring to people who have done great sadhana in the past. They had the aim of liberation in their minds, without knowing what liberation actually was, so they were bound to take birth again. Even if they did their sadhana in a state of inaction, they did it with an aim, which made the sadhana become like an action. People on the spiritual path often sing the glory of their renunciation, “I have renounced this. I have renounced that.” They are very proud that they have renounced something, “I feel good! Ah, I have renounced this.” But in reality they have not renounced action: their pride shows that they are still attached to it. Due to that attachment, people take birth again, they come back again.
Everybody usually does something to get something. Krishna previously says that when people pray to the devas, they do it with a certain aim; once they get what they have asked for, the connection with the devas is finished. (Ch. 4, v. 12)
Here He says that if one has not seen inaction in action, and action in inaction, how can one be free from action? It’s very difficult to understand. Only when one fully surrenders to the Will of the Master and follows His advice, one “is fit for liberation.” When one has let go of all expectations, including the expectation of liberation, one becomes a yogi. But as long as there’s an expectation, even if it is an expectation for liberation, there will be suffering. The mind doesn’t know what liberation is. Focus the mind on God.
People ask, “How will we know God?” Like Krishna Himself says earlier, God is not bound by any form. All these forms that He has created are only Him. Therefore, focus on your aim of attaining only Him. Then, you’re fit for liberation! But if you long for liberation and think that liberation is just freedom, be aware that liberation is not this. These who think like this are considered to be unwise. Whereas when Divine Love awakens, even if you want to understand it, the mind can’t grasp it. Isn’t it true? That’s what happens when one has this deep longing for God. Here Krishna says, “Surrender yourself at the Feet of the Master.”
Bhagavad Gita
