The first chapter of the Geeta deals with the grief of Arjuna. Consequent upon that, Lord Krishna counsels him to follow the righteous path. During his course of counseling, Lord Krishna imparts the knowledge of harmonious and balanced personality and how the intellect of a person is anchored into equipoise and equanimity. A person whose wisdom is steady has been called Sthitaprajna in the Geeta. This discourse of Lord Krishna has been called Buddhi Yoga or the Yoga of knowledge. Further, Lord Krishna suggests Arjuna to follow his bounden path of his duty and fight the battle. The duty is to be performed without being attached to it. Attachment generates worries and anxieties. Hence the mind is to be focused on the present so that a flow state is created without any distractions of either past or future. This is called Karma Yoga or the Yoga of action.

 

The two fold description of Yoga of knowledge and Yoga of action creates a confusion in the mind of Arjuna and he is still not clear which path to follow. Since he is still not free from the lurking tendency of escapism, so he poses a query to Lord Krishna as to why he exhorts him to engage in the action whereas the path of knowledge is superior as told by him. Based upon this question of Arjuna, the third chapter has been named Karma Yoga or the Yoga of action. Lord Krishna clarifies that both the paths of knowledge and action are complementary to one another. An integrated human personality emerges out of a perfect combination of knowledge and action. Self evolution takes place with actions performed with a pious motive, a sense of surrender and a spirit of service. Such actions do not create bondage. Actions are the foundation upon which the edifice of knowledge is built. Nobody can remain without actions even for a moment. Even if one is sitting idle, the mind is on move and the body is active internally performing innumerable biological activities. Hence actions are to be performed with a pure bend of the mind. Lord Krishna propounds that he has nothing to gain, still he performs actions. Common persons follow the leaders, so inaction on the part of leaders will send a wrong message in the society.

 

So sitting idle and entertaining the sensual thoughts is a sign of hypocrisy. Thoughts and actions should be aligned with one another. In this context Lord Krishna elaborates very extensively on the importance of the control over sense organs by the mind. This mental control comes through right living and self discipline. Actions performed with a sense of detachment with the mental control over sense organs in the service of humanity becomes a Yajna or a sacrifice. The whole creation is sustained through sacrifice. Nature sacrifices itself for all species and demands nothing. Similarly humans need to perform Yajna or sacrificial acts to nourish the powers of nature. Lord Krishna has used a very important word Lokasamgraha in the context. It connotes the collective welfare of all. The maintenance of collective welfare will sustain the universe. Such a temperament is generated by controlling the constant agitations of the mind, the fleeting sensual enjoyment and impulsive craving and emotional outbursts like anger. This chapter contains the beautiful tools and techniques of self control and evolution with knowledge-oriented action. (The writer is Former DG Police & CG, Homeguards, Maharashtra) ■