Renunciation In Action

Renunciation in Action

By: Swami Parthasarathy
http://www.speakingtree.in/spiritual-articles/science-of-spirituality/renunciation-in-action?track=1&uid=34555&date=20120704

Action is the insignia of life. The law of life proclaims that none can remain without performing activity. Everyone is made to act according to one’s own inner temperament. If you choose to remain idle, you lead yourself to destruction. Look at Nature. Observe the stagnant pool and the running brook. Where water stagnates it turns filthy and dirty, whereas running water is clear and pure.

If you are to succeed in life, if you wish to be prosperous and peaceful, you must adopt the principle of running waters. Follow their line of action. The river keeps moving, overcoming all obstacles, ever-progressing. It never stops until it reaches the ocean. So must you pursue the path of action until you reach the abode of Truth. Vedanta highlights the gospel of karma action. It emphasises the importance of fulfilling your obligatory functions in life.

Scriptures caution us that even to maintain your body, you must be active. If any part of your body remains inactive for a period of time it loses its strength and vitality. Your body needs to be kept in constant repair. You must exercise daily. But people detest the idea of physical exercise. Instead, they choose to indulge in sensual pleasure. But even enjoyment of sensual pleasures needs proper maintenance of the physical body. Neglect of physical exercise would prove detrimental to your material and spiritual wellbeing. Hence, the first spiritual lesson Swami Vivekananda gave to his followers was: ‘Go, play football!’

Vedanta insists on work, work and work. Equally so, it glorifies renunciation. There is an apparent contradiction. How can action and renunciation go together? The answer is: Real work is founded on renunciation of the ego -- which is work performed without the egoistic feeling, ‘I-am-the-doer. I am the sole architect of all that I do.’ Real work is turned out when the body plunges into action while the mind is attuned to an ideal set for it. A true worker is one who pours out his efforts for a higher cause beyond his selfish interest. It has to be done without an egoistic arrogation of doership. That is the spirit of renunciation to be practised. Such work commands success and prosperity concurrently with peace and bliss. You can practise it in your home, in business, in society, everywhere. There is no need to retire to the forests for living a life of renunciation.

The idea of working in a spirit of renunciation has confused people. People either become attached, entangled in their work or turn cowardly and seek escape from it. Realise that action is inevitable. You cannot avoid your obligatory functions. In the epic Mahabharata, a great battle was fought between two royal forces. Arjuna was a warrior-prince leading one of the armies. He aimed at destroying unrighteousness and resurrecting righteousness in the country.  The stage was set for the battle to commence. At that crucial moment Arjuna wanted to withdraw from the scene. The warrior declined to fight. He shrank from his obligatory duty. It was then that Krishna gave Arjuna the sermon of theBhagwad Gita. He advised him of the necessity and art of right action and how action embraces the principle of renunciation. He asked  Arjuna to renounce his ego and fight the battle impersonally for the welfare of the people. Empowered by this knowledge, Arjuna fulfilled his obligation as a warrior and won the battle.

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