Bhagavad Gita As It Is 4.18

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karmany akarma yah pasyed

akarmani ca karma yah

sa buddhiman manusyesu

sa yuktah krtsna-karma-krt

TRANSLATION

One who sees inaction in action, and action in inaction, is intelligent among men, and he is in the transcendental position, although engaged in all sorts of activities.

PURPORT

A person acting in Kṛṣṇa consciousness is naturally free from the bonds of karma. His activities are all performed for Kṛṣṇa; therefore he does not enjoy or suffer any of the effects of work. Consequently he is intelligent in human society, even though he is engaged in all sorts of activities for Kṛṣṇa. Akarma means without reaction to work. The impersonalist ceases fruitive activities out of fear, so that the resultant action may not be a stumbling block on the path of self-realization, but the personalist knows rightly his position as the eternal servitor of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Therefore he engages himself in the activities of Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Because everything is done for Kṛṣṇa, he enjoys only transcendental happiness in the discharge of this service. Those who are engaged in this process are known to be without desire for personal sense gratification. The sense of eternal servitorship to Kṛṣṇa makes one immune to all sorts of reactionary elements of work.

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Karma (action), Akarma (inaction), Vikarma (forbidden action). This is a vicious wheel of karma. It is also time bound.

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Acting in Krishna Consciousness ? Does it refer to some drama school as Shakespeare says the world is a stage and we all are actors ?

We are souls, jivas, living entities, whatever terms you may call, and we are supposed to serve Krishna. How are the 3 modes of material nature affecting us ? Can we break the shackles of 3 modes of material nature ?

Once Srila Prabhupada said, "Just see. You are not reading my books. Every day you have to read, study, and learn my books just like a lawyer learns the law books."

Is that society existing what Prabhupada wanted ?

What is Sakshi bhava ? How to develop judgment and witness to serve Guru and Krishna?

Why should we worship Krishna ?

What is the parameter of judgment for self realization over here ? Since Krishna is talking about intelligence, what is intelligence referred to over here ?

1. Material education, degrees.

2. Independent understanding of scriptures.

3. Yoga practice without disturbing others.

4. Praying for living entities.

Eg.

1. Green peas is called matar in Hindi, pois verts in French, albazila' alkhadra' in Arabic, etc. and so on. As per different languages the pronunciation changes, but the ultimate substance remains the same, it is unchanged.

2. In society, it is seen that in a family 2 or more people staying under the same roof, with same upbringing, same parents, same needs have different mentality, different friends, different likes and dislikes. This is one example.

3. An well educated person won't have the same level of understanding as a common man. His way of speaking, logical thinking might direct him to some higher actions. His way and style of living might only allow or permit him to have specific choices and associate only with select few people among classes of society.

4. Suppose a person is driving a car and asks the address to 2 people, one knows and another doesn't, 1st tells address, but the 2nd only directs him to a paan shopkeeper who may know the area well. Out of the 2 people one who knows may be familiar to the area, other isn't. Who is important in this drama, the not knowing person/knowers or car driver or destination or journey overall ?

How village people used to find roads just using torchlight in the dark during previous era when there were no vehicles or before the advent or development of scientific technology in 21st century ? Why village people are giving up farming and selling lands ? Why there is no one speaking about the importance of farming as a profession on a national and international level ? Why in olden days village people used to keep dogs in their farms while rendering sheep or cows ?

5. Suppose a beggar is begging on the street. One person gives him a rupee, another gives him 10 rupees, another gives him 100 rupees. A gentleman walks and tells him you leave this business of begging and come with me I will give you employment do not worry. Can this story be a logical understanding of this verse ?

What is destroyed ? How to take care of reactions ?

What are the time, place, circumstances where caring, sharing, respect and love can be brought into practice according to the sutra given by Srila Rupa Goswami : Namer Ruchi, Vaishnava Seva, Jiver Daya ?

Hare Krsna Prabhuji,

PAMHO.

Firstly, apologise for the delay in responding.

Secondly, you appear to be very intelligent (in the material sense, acedemically speaking). That is the reason you are able to think up so many things. Unfortunately, you are using your intelligence in the wrong direction. You are not using your intelligence intelligently, if I may say so.

To answer your questions:

1) Akarma is action without fruitive results. Vikarma & Karma is correct what you mentioned. Akarma means action in devotional service. Acting in Krsna Consciousness doesnt mean there is any acting school going on here. It means karma - doing some activity. As you may have noticed, nobody can stay even one moment without doing something. Even doing nothing is doing something. So at any given point in time, we are doing something or the other. Every action has some or the other reaction. So the way to get out of the cycle of reaction is to do karma which does not have reaction. That is devotional service. For example, we all eat food - that is action which has reaction. Reaction here means - if its non-veg, then the sin of eating another animal or sin of killing or abetting killing of animals (just giving broad examples to make you understand). If its veg, the sin of killing another life form - plants. But we cannot stay without eating - so to get away from the reaction, we eat prasadam - food which is offered to the lord already. That takes away this negative reaction and gives the positive reaction of nourishing not only the body, but also the soul, purifying us and making us ready to go back to Godhead.

Similarly, other devotional services are book distribution, cooking prasadam, serving in the temple, collecting donation for temple related activity, organising and participating in Krsna festivals etc. I am sure you can understand.

3 modes of material nature are affecting us because these 3 modes are coming from God Himself. He says - daivi hyesha gunamayi, mam maya duartyaya..... Therefore, we cannot get away from the 3 modes as long as we are in the material world. The trick is to try to be in sattva guna, proceed towards shudh sattva. Therefore, our routine is set as - wake up early in the morning, take bath atleast twice a day, chant, pray, do arati, listen to lectures, activities which constantly remind us of Krsna, so that by the time we go to work/ study, we have developed the right consciousness.

Whether that society exists that Prabhupada wanted - who is there to judge prabhu and why should we judge. If you think something needs to change, pls be the change you want to see. Why dont you lead from example what you think Prabhupada wanted. We would love to follow.

What is shakshi bhava ? I dont know.

Why we should pray to Krsna - this is like asking - after hearing the whole Ramayan - who's father was Sita? If you have not even arrived at why pray to Krsna, then this whole discussion is useless.

Parameter for judgement for self realisation - the extent of level of surrender to Krsna and adherence to the process of Krsna Consciousness. This is measured by humility, love for God, love for all of God's creation, harmony of mind and environment.... lots of things.

Intelligence does not mean ability to memorise difficult things, or ability to clear exams. Intelligence means asking - who am I? What am I doing here? What is the purpose of my life? What should I do to fulfill my life? That is the beginning of self realisation.

Your examples I am skipping.

What is destroyed ? The entire material creation, including the eyes with which we see.

How to take care of reactions - by doing devotional service.

Namer Ruchi, Jiver Daya - start practising, no need to wait for time, place, circumstance.

Always remember, if something has to change, it has to begin with me.

Haribol,

Your servant,

Radha Rasamayi DD

Replies

E-Counselor

Radha Rasamayi DD January 25, 2017 at 2:21pm

Hare Krsna Prabhuji,

PAMHO.

Firstly, apologise for the delay in responding.

Secondly, you appear to be very intelligent (in the material sense, acedemically speaking). That is the reason you are able to think up so many things. Unfortunately, you are using your intelligence in the wrong direction. You are not using your intelligence intelligently, if I may say so.

To answer your questions:

1) Akarma is action without fruitive results. Vikarma & Karma is correct what you mentioned. Akarma means action in devotional service. Acting in Krsna Consciousness doesnt mean there is any acting school going on here. It means karma - doing some activity. As you may have noticed, nobody can stay even one moment without doing something. Even doing nothing is doing something. So at any given point in time, we are doing something or the other. Every action has some or the other reaction. So the way to get out of the cycle of reaction is to do karma which does not have reaction. That is devotional service. For example, we all eat food - that is action which has reaction. Reaction here means - if its non-veg, then the sin of eating another animal or sin of killing or abetting killing of animals (just giving broad examples to make you understand). If its veg, the sin of killing another life form - plants. But we cannot stay without eating - so to get away from the reaction, we eat prasadam - food which is offered to the lord already. That takes away this negative reaction and gives the positive reaction of nourishing not only the body, but also the soul, purifying us and making us ready to go back to Godhead.

Similarly, other devotional services are book distribution, cooking prasadam, serving in the temple, collecting donation for temple related activity, organising and participating in Krsna festivals etc. I am sure you can understand.

3 modes of material nature are affecting us because these 3 modes are coming from God Himself. He says - daivi hyesha gunamayi, mam maya duartyaya..... Therefore, we cannot get away from the 3 modes as long as we are in the material world. The trick is to try to be in sattva guna, proceed towards shudh sattva. Therefore, our routine is set as - wake up early in the morning, take bath atleast twice a day, chant, pray, do arati, listen to lectures, activities which constantly remind us of Krsna, so that by the time we go to work/ study, we have developed the right consciousness.

Whether that society exists that Prabhupada wanted - who is there to judge prabhu and why should we judge. If you think something needs to change, pls be the change you want to see. Why dont you lead from example what you think Prabhupada wanted. We would love to follow.

What is shakshi bhava ? I dont know.

Why we should pray to Krsna - this is like asking - after hearing the whole Ramayan - who's father was Sita? If you have not even arrived at why pray to Krsna, then this whole discussion is useless.

Parameter for judgement for self realisation - the extent of level of surrender to Krsna and adherence to the process of Krsna Consciousness. This is measured by humility, love for God, love for all of God's creation, harmony of mind and environment.... lots of things.

Intelligence does not mean ability to memorise difficult things, or ability to clear exams. Intelligence means asking - who am I? What am I doing here? What is the purpose of my life? What should I do to fulfill my life? That is the beginning of self realisation.

Your examples I am skipping.

What is destroyed ? The entire material creation, including the eyes with which we see.

How to take care of reactions - by doing devotional service.

Namer Ruchi, Jiver Daya - start practising, no need to wait for time, place, circumstance.

Always remember, if something has to change, it has to begin with me.

Haribol,

Your servant,

Radha Rasamayi DD

This reply was deleted.