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“The Vedic seers and mantras deal in esoteric terms, and I also am pleased by such confidential descriptions.”
[Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 11.21.35]
Karma-yoga Part 2
In the second chapter of Bhagavad-gita, Sri Krsna explains Sankhya philosophy, which describes the difference between spirit and matter.
nābhāvo vidyate sataḥ
ubhayor api dṛṣṭo 'ntas
tv anayos tattva-darśibhiḥ
"Those who are seers of the truth have concluded that of the nonexistent there is no endurance, and of the existent there is no cessation. This seers have concluded by studying the nature of both." [Bhagavad-gita 2.16]
He also establishes the ontological position of the self-realized soul on the basis of consciousness. We have already discussed this philosophy very elaborately in Secrets of the Soul, and many other posts and podcasts. Naturally, after hearing this analytical discussion of spirit and matter, Arjuna tries to connect it with Krsna's insistence that he should fight his kinsmen.
jyāyasī cet karmaṇas te
matā buddhir janārdana
tat kiṁ karmaṇi ghore māṁ
niyojayasi keśava
Arjuna said: "O Janārdana, O Keśava, why do You urge me to engage in this ghastly warfare, if You think that intelligence is better than fruitive work?" [Bhagavad-gita 3.1]
When a person is entangled in the actions and reactions of material work, they cannot independently see the way out of material existence. They need to accept intelligence from a higher source: someone who is already free from karmic entanglement. This is the guru; and the greatest guru, the original guru, is Krsna. The first principle of transcendental intelligence is that the self is not the material body but the soul. The chief symptom of the soul is consciousness, and the quality of our consciousness determines whether we are materially conditioned or a liberated soul. People who are deluded by the temporary qualities of material existence remain in samsara; those who can understand their real spiritual nature have a chance to attain salvation from the pangs of material existence.
loke 'smin dvi-vidhā niṣṭhā
purā proktā mayānagha
jñāna-yogena sāṅkhyānāṁ
karma-yogena yoginām
The Blessed Lord said: "O sinless Arjuna, I have already explained that there are two classes of men who realize the Self. Some are inclined to understand Him by empirical, philosophical speculation, and others are inclined to know Him by devotional work." [Bhagavad-gita 3.3]
Some aspiring transcendentalists think that one can become self-realized simply by philosophical speculation on the nature of the soul and spiritual existence. That process may help us to become detached from material consciousness and fruitive work, but it cannot grant positive knowledge of the soul's actual transcendental identity and form. Nor can speculation reveal the truth of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Therefore Krsna leads Arjuna beyond philosophical speculation to the positive platform of work in devotion.
naiṣkarmyaṁ puruṣo 'śnute
na ca sannyasanād eva
siddhiṁ samadhigacchati
"Not by merely abstaining from work can one achieve freedom from reaction, nor by renunciation alone can one attain perfection." [Bhagavad-gita 3.4]
The jnanis speculate that they can attain freedom from karma simply by ceasing to work; thus their process is renunciation from material activities as far as possible. But this does not take into account the facts that everyone must work, if only to feed their belly by begging; and that even if it is possible to abstain from creating further karmic reaction, the accrued karmic results of one's previous activities must still fructify. Therefore simple renunciation of material activities is of limited use in attaining real freedom from material reaction. It is at best a preliminary process of purification. It cannot award liberation from material existence.
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