Gita 18.23 To gain knowledge, we need basic knowledge about where to seek knowledge

Transcript

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Bhagavad Gita 18.23 Krishna is speaking now about the three modes and he is speaking about action in the three modes in the previous section he spoke about knowledge in the three modes so we interact with the world broadly through the knowledge acquiring senses and through the action executing senses so these two interactions shape how we function and Krishna is now going to talk about broadly an analysis of the various components of action in terms of three modes of material nature and through this analysis he will help us understand how we can act in a way that is enlightened and is enlightening a way that is enlightened means that we can act in a way that is based on knowledge that is based on a proper understanding of who we are and what we are meant to do and that is enlightening enlightening means that it actually makes us more and more self aware more and more enlightened so for example if we are lost in a dark dense forest and an enlightened way to act at that time would be to consult a map to consult an expert if you could call them by phone to take help from someone who is in knowledge and not just anyone but someone in knowledge so it requires a certain amount of knowledge to know from whom to seek knowledge just like if we are going to study a particular subject if we may not know engineering but if we are to study engineering we need to know at least enough about engineering to be able to discern which engineering college is how good and then to decide which one to go to similarly for us to grow spiritually we need a basic amount of spiritual understanding we could say preliminary level of enlightenment by which we can know where to seek enlightenment otherwise no matter what we do we will not be able to move forwards we will simply stay lost not just in our location but lost also in our disposition not knowing what to do and where to go so it is with respect to action it is our attachment that keeps us lost that makes us lost and keeps us lost to the extent that we are not driven by our emotions in doing this or that so if we are driven too much by our emotions oh I want this, I hate this when we are travelling along a road we need to travel based on where the road is taking us not how the road is certainly if we had two roads one comfortable and another uncomfortable then we would be justified in choosing the comfortable road but if there were only one road to the destination and another road which took us somewhere entirely opposite to the destination and if we choose a road based on its construction not its destination then we would get lost and stay lost similarly our emotions can mislead us certain paths in life we perceive them in particular ways I just don’t like the feel of this road I don’t like the scenery along this road so we may have a rag for certain things that road, the scenery over there is so nice but that road is taking you away from your destination no but I want to see all that scenery if somebody says that then they cannot get to the destination so raga and dvesha if they become the sole factors for our decision making then we will be lost we need a higher more intelligent more purpose driven approach for understanding how we should be acting and niyatam sangrahitam that’s why niyatam is regulated so when we understand from scripture who we are and what the purpose of our life is then that becomes the basis for all our actions that becomes the foundation on which we act just like if we have a map this road is difficult but it’s going to take me to the destination so let me go ahead now we may wonder that when we have a map we want to get to a destination so when we have work we want to get some result from that work so if we are not attached to the result also if we are not desiring the result then what will make us work if that kind of action that kind of work is in the mode of goodness then what does it mean actually we could say there is a material result and a spiritual result of work just like when krishna uses the word karma and akarma he uses the word akarma not so much to refer to not doing any action that usage is also there sometimes but primarily krishna uses the word akarma to refer to action that is not producing any reaction any material reaction action that produces the spiritual result of growth in spiritual knowledge growth in devotion to krishna that is wonderful that is sought similarly afala prepsuna karma means that when we feel exhausted when we are exhausted with the endless pursuit of material things recognizing that these alone don’t give much pleasure then we become animated by the desire for self understanding for self realization for self actualization and of course these two do not have to go linearly we don’t have to become materially exhausted to become spiritually animated we could even just by getting spiritual knowledge consciously choose to turn away from our many material desires from our desires for material results and focus on the spiritual result the spiritual result when we work in the mode of goodness which is said over here that refers to purification in the 14th chapter krishna has said the 14th chapter 16-17th verse 14-15-16-17 verses he gives the results of action in the modes in one of the verses he says that when we work in goodness we do good action and purification is the result of such action gyanam the result of action in the mode of goodness knowledge so if we become purified so that we can better love krishna if we get better knowledge about krishna so that we feel inspired to direct our love towards him and these results are auspicious they are glorious and krishna here is urging us to seek such an enlightening path in life by working in the mode of goodness where we are not driven by our emotions where we do not choose paths based on how they look but where they take us wherein we detach ourselves from the material results of our actions and we become animated and delighted by relishing the spiritual results of our actions which is ultimately increased attraction to