Who is the doer?

Hare Krishna,

PAMHO all dear Vaishnavas,

Krishna says in the Bhagavad Gita,

The spirit soul bewildered by the influence of false ego thinks himself the doer of activities that are in actuality carried out by the three modes of material nature. (3.27)

And

Thus I have explained to you knowledge still more confidential. Deliberate on this fully, and then do what you wish to do. (18.63)

At one place he says that we are not the doer and at one place he says that we have the free will to do!

What is the reality?  

The place of action [the body], the performer, the various senses, the many different kinds of endeavor, and ultimately the Supersoul – these are the five factors of action. 

Please explain about these five factors also? Is the soul doer or the body is? I am confused

Please clear my doubts! 

Hare Krishna.

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Replies

  • Hare Krishna,

    Undoubtedly, Bharat prabhu explained very nicely with good examples.

    I want to comment on this perticular line.

    The place of action [the body], the performer, the various senses, the many different kinds of endeavor, and ultimately the Supersoul – these are the five factors of action. 

    5 things you can see in the chariort? right?

     

    Please Observe the 5 horses and the chariot, chariorteer, and the person sitting in the chariort.

    1.The Chariot -- is refrerred as body. or Kshetra.

    2.The chariotter- Krishna. The one who really does the action... without Him the horses go in various endevors in different directions.-- SO REAL PERFORMER of action is Krishna.

    3.Mind - reigns of the chariot

    4.Horses- senses 

    If the charioteer the one who drives the chariort is in Krishna consciousness. All endevors of the horses ( senses) are completely under the control of Krishna. If not each horses go looking for doing different endverors isn't it?

    5.The person sitting in the chariort is Soul.

    Soul has nothing much to do But soul in false ego thinks it is the body. Soul if surrendered to Krishna. gives mind ( reigns) in the hands of Krishna. the chairot is stable and the Krishna will take the horses properly to the correct destination.

    SPIRITUALITY SCIENCE – THE KNOWER – THE KNOWING-SELF – Simon Cyrene-The  Twelfth Disciple

    plsplThSPIRITUALITY SCIENCE – THE KNOWER – THE KNOWING-SELF – Simon Cyrene-The  Twelfth Disciple

    • Tell me by simply seeing the Picture of this chariort what will you conclude.

      who is the real doer?

      If krishna is not holding the horses properly where will the charior take the soul * the person" sitting in the chariort?

      Krishna is the real doer.

      soul is just bewildered if it is not surrendered to Krishna. soul in false ego bewildered state thinks it is the body. which is real doer. or may even think its the senses or mind who is doing things.

      soul is confused at this point.

      If soul is in Krishna bhakti and it is fully surrendered to Krishna. then Krishna takes charge of all the activities of senses and directs the mind properly to the destination.

       

      I

      • Haribol,

        I see.

        Can I see it as this as well;

        the soul, you is n a cab/taxi and want to go to somewhere, the cabdriver takes you to your destination, but the route the driver takes is different than you expected.As passenger you look out of the window, you see, smell, and perhaps able to touch and taste things on the way, but can't be too long in touch with thoose things on your way, because the driver moves on. The destination may be home or somewher you love to visit or be. Like often you could ask the driver to hop by something specific instead of the route given by the origional plan.You can even try to change transportaion verhicle, but the setting stays the same, ther is a person who stirs the wheel and brings you somewhere. Like any journey, one often mutters after a long exhausting trip;"I want to go home"than the driver speeds up and takes the most easyest and shortest way to home. Aka Bhakti Yoga process. So you are free to let's say 'sightseeing' and grab all you like on the way and put thoose souveniers in your luggage, or simply change many dresses on your trip, but eventually the driver arrives at the place called home. May take a while, but the concept time is illusionary, like if you like your stay, time flies... time is an experience for the soul, because the soul never dies etc etc. but for material body time is a pain of the dress. Bondage & ascociation of others or other material stuff one get sentimentic and mixed with love feelings or not want to let go of one another makes the soul confioused. There are soulmates, but thoose are rare, their souls are often connected no matter what dress it has in which moment of the circle of kalpa's. His material creation is 'just' like a gaint amusement park; you can eat, drink, get in all sort of attractions, meet up with others, but in the end you all go home and the park will be closed or wrapped up, and be there the next day aka when Maha Visnu breath out again.It is up to you if you like to get in the enjoiments for a day or enjoy something else for eternity aka in company with Lord Krishna. That freedom we all have. Wich one you like to choose?!

         

        Hare Krishna! 

         

      • Yes mataji I understood that Krishna is the real doer. Due to the false assumption of the soul with the insentient prakriti or material nature it thinks that it is the doer and gets bonded in the cycle of birth and death. 

        Actually all actions are performed by Krishna's energy that is the modes of material nature.

        Only the soul has the free will to choose whether it is to live in ignorance or to take shelter under Krsna, The Supreme personality of godhead.

        Hare Krishna. 🙏

         

        • SB 6.4.30

          yasmin yato yena ca yasya yasmai

          yad yo yathā kurute kāryate ca

          parāvareṣāṁ paramaṁ prāk prasiddhaṁ

          tad brahma tad dhetur ananyad ekam

          The Supreme Brahman, Kṛṣṇa, is the ultimate resting place and source of everything. Everything is done by Him, everything belongs to Him, and everything is offered to Him. He is the ultimate objective, and whether acting or causing others to act, He is the ultimate doer. There are many causes, high and low, but since He is the cause of all causes, He is well known as the Supreme Brahman who existed before all activities. He is one without a second and has no other cause. I therefore offer my respects unto Him.

          This is the quote of the Shrimad Bhagavatham which clarifies everything.

          • Sevak

            Ok so why are some souls sent to heaven others to hell ?

            • Please forgive me prabhuji if I have done something wrong. 🙏🙏😥😰

              • Sevak

                Hare Krsna

                No no nothing wrong. I am asking questions to test your understanding

                Hare Krsna

            • Prabhuji, I just saw this verse in Shrimad Bhagwatam hence I quoted it.

              Prabhuji I am also very confused, I have no knowledge about anything hence I asked the question because reading from various places I got confused.

              I read in Bhagavad Gita Prabhupada quoted the Upanishad. 

              The Vedic hymn therefore declares:

              esa u hy eva sadhu karma karayati tam yamebhyo lokebhya unninisate

              esa u evasadhu karma karayati yamadho ninisate.

              ajno jantur aniso 'yam atmanah sukha-duhkhayoh

              isvara-prerito gacchet svargam vasvabhram eva ca.

              "The Lord engages the living entity in pious activities so he may be elevated. The Lord engages him in impious activities so he may go to hell. (Kausitaki Upanishad 3.8)

              The living entity is completely dependant in his distress and happiness. By the will of the Supreme he can go to heaven or hell, as a cloud is driven by the air."

              Prabhuji I know only you Vaishnavas and devotees clear my doubt. What to do? You explained very clearly, then I read in Bhagavatham and I got confused.

              • Sevak

                Hare Krsna

                But it seems so unfair that lord engages some living beings in pious activities sending them to heaven and he engages some other living beings in impious activities sending them to hell. 

                Isn't this unfair by god ?

                Hare Krsna

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