Bhagavad Gita 2.47

In BG 2.47, it's translated: "Never consider yourself to be the cause of the results of your activities"; full verse:---You have a right to perform your prescribed duty, but you are not entitled to the fruits of action. Never consider yourself to be the cause of the results of your activities, and never be attached to not doing your duty.---Source: asitis.comIf I pinch myself and feel pain, then how I wasn't a cause of the pain? I think I'm not the *only* cause but in my opinion I'm one of the causes. Why is there the contradiction? Might be, in the verse, "the cause" means "the only cause" as opposed to "a cause".

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  • E-Counselor

    Hare Krsna Prabhuji,

    PAMHO.

    There is no contradiction. I will try to explain with your example itself. You pinched yourself, then how you are not the cause for the pain caused by the pinch? You pinched yourself - agreed. Who gave you the instruction in your head to pinch? The supersoul sitting in the heart inspired you to pinch yourself, thats why you did it.

    Now coming to pain - who suffered the pain - the body or the soul? The soul is sat cit anand - there is no scope for pain or sorrow in sat cit and anand (translated they mean eternal, full of knowledge and full of bliss). If there is bliss, there is no pain, obviously. Therefore the soul doesnt undergo pain. And we all know and can prove very easily that body without soul is dead matter. The proof is that the moment the soul leaves the body, it starts to decay. Therefore, the body without the soul doesnt feel anything. Then why the pain? THe pain is because of identification of the soul with the body.

    I hope I have been able to explain. If you still have doubts, please feel free to ask.

    Haribol,

    YOUr servant,

    Radha Rasamayi DD

  • How can you feel pain when pinch your body? it is body which feel pain not the soul? So who pinch whom?

    It false ego which is cause of suffering, when we think in relationship with body.

    Bg 13.30One who can see that all activities are performed by the body, which is created of material nature, and sees that the self does nothing, actually sees.
    SB 11.28.10Śrī Uddhava said: My dear Lord, it is not possible for this material existence to be the experience of either the soul, who is the seer, or of the body, which is the seen object. On the one hand, the spirit soul is innately endowed with perfect knowledge, and on the other hand, the material body is not a conscious, living entity. To whom, then, does this experience of material existence pertain?
    SB 11.28.11The spirit soul is inexhaustible, transcendental, pure, self-luminous and never covered by anything material. It is like fire. But the nonliving material body, like firewood, is dull and unaware. So in this world, who is it that actually undergoes the experience of material life?
    SB 11.28.12The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: As long as the foolish spirit soul remains attracted to the material body, senses and vital force, his material existence continues to flourish, although it is ultimately meaningless.
    SB 11.28.13Actually, the living entity is transcendental to material existence. But because of his mentality of lording it over material nature, his material existential condition does not cease, and, just as in a dream, he is affected by all sorts of disadvantages.
    SB 11.28.14Although while dreaming a person experiences many undesirable things, upon awakening he is no longer confused by the dream experiences.
    SB 11.28.15Lamentation, elation, fear, anger, greed, confusion and hankering, as well as birth and death, are experiences of the false ego and not of the pure soul.
    SB 11.28.16The living entity who falsely identifies with his body, senses, life air and mind, and who dwells within these coverings, assumes the form of his own materially conditioned qualities and work. He is designated variously in relation to the total material energy, and thus, under the strict control of supreme time, he is forced to run here and there within material existence.
    SB 11.28.17Although the false ego has no factual basis, it is perceived in many forms — as the functions of the mind, speech, life air and bodily faculties. But with the sword of transcendental knowledge, sharpened by worship of a bona fide spiritual master, a sober sage will cut off this false identification and live in this world free from all material attachment.
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