Chapter 5 :: THE BHAGAVAD-GITA FOR CHILDREN

[Guest guest]

5 THE PATH OF RENUNCIATION

10.0pt">Jai: Previously, you mentioned two paths. Which path is better for

most people, Grandma, the path of spiritual knowledge or the path of selfless

service? Grandma: A person who has the true

knowledge of God believes that all work is done by the energy of Mother Nature

and he or she is not the real doer of an action. Such a person is called a

Samny|si or renunciant and has Self-knowledge. A KarmaYogi works without a

selfish motive for the fruits of work. Selfless service or KarmaYog forms the

basis of renunciation (Samny|sa). Self-knowledge leads to

renunciation. KarmaYog prepares one to automatically receive the knowledge of

God (Gita 4.38, 5.06), So both paths finally lead to God. Lord Krishna

considers KarmaYog the better of the two paths because it is faster and easier

for most people to follow. (Gita 5.02)

3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in"> Jai: Doesn’t the word

renunciation usually mean leaving worldly possessions and living in an Ashram

or in a lonely place?

1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in">Grandma:

The word ‘Samny|sa’ in the strict sense means renouncing (or giving up) all

personal motives, worldly possessions and objects. But it also means living in

society and serving society by doing one’s duty without a personal motive. Such

mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt"> a person is called Karma-Samny|si.

Some spiritual leaders, such as Adi Sankar

10.0pt">|ch|rya, consider the path of renouncing all worldly possessions as the

highest path and the goal of life. He himself became a Samny|si when he was a

young boy.

1"> Lord Krishna says: An enlightened Samny|si sees the Lord in all.

Such a person looks at a learned, an illiterate, the rich

11pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt">, the poor, an

outcast, even a cow, an elephant, or a dog with an equal eye. (Gita 5.18) I am

going to tell you the story of a great spiritual leader, hero, guru, Samny|si

and thinker. His name is Adi Sankar|ch

11pt; FONT-FAMILY: TcTRANS; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt">|rya. A student of the

Gita owes him great respect and obeisance. 5. Adi Sankara

mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt">charya Adi Sankarach

11pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt">arya (or

Sankara) is the author and promoter of non-dualistic philosophy of Vedanta. It

states that entire universe is nothing but God. He was born in the

state of Kerala in the year 788 A.D. By the age of eight, he learned all four

Vedas, and by the age of twelve, was well versed in all Hindu scriptures. He is

believed to be Lord Shiva in human form. He wrote many books,

including a commentary on the Bhagavad-Gita, Upanishads, BrahmSutra and many

others. The holy

Bhagavad-Gita was hidden in Mahabharata as a chapter before Sankara brought it

out to us. Sankara took the Gita from Mahabharata, gave it chapter headings,

and wrote the first commentary of the Gita in Sanskrit. The first English

translation of the Gita was done by a British ruler in 19th century.

Sankara established four main monasteries in different corners of India: at

Shringeri, Badrinath, Dwarka, and Puri. He stopped the spread of Buddhism on

Hindu ideals and restored Hinduism to its past glory. According to his non-dual

philosophy, the individual soul (Jeeva) is Brahma (God), and the world is the

play of Maya, the illusory energy of Brahma.

He certainly was a Self-realized man. But at first, he had the feeling of

duality, of high and low class. His faith in the absolute God (Brahma) was not

very firmly established in his heart. One day he was going to the Shiva temple

in the holy city of Banaras after bathing in the holy Ganga

11pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt"> river. He saw

an untouchable, a butcher, carrying a load of meat. The butcher came on his way

and tried to tou

10.0pt">ch his feet in respect. Sankara shouted angrily: “Get out of the way!

How dare you touch me? Now I have to take a bath again.”

FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt">“Holy sir,” said the

butcher, “I have not touched you, nor have you touched me. The pure Self cannot

be the body or the five elements (see Chapter 13 for details) out of whi

Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt">ch the body is created.” Then Sankara saw

the vision of Lord Shiva in the butcher. Lord Shiva had Himself come to Sankara

to firmly implant the non-dualistic philosophy in him. Sankara was a mu

10.0pt">ch better person from that day by the grace of Lord Shiva.

This story illustrates that equality with all beings is difficult to practice

all the time. To have such a feeling is the mark of a truly God-realized person

or a perfect Samnya

FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt">si. Chapter 5

summary: Lord Krishna considers the path of

Selfless service (Seva) to humanity without attachment to its results as the

best path for most people. Both paths, the path of Self-knowledge and the path

of Seva, lead to a happy life here on the earth and Nirvana after death.

Samnyasa does not mean leaving worldly possessions. It means not being atta

Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt">ched to them. An enlightened person sees the

Lord in all beings and treats everybody equally. "Gurur Brahma Gurur

VishnuGurur Devoh Maheshwar;Gurur Shakshat ParambramhaTashmai Shri Gurur Veh

Namah"May the Merciful Sri Sai Baba always

shower His grace on us and our families and remove our problems and anxieties by

giving us all - strength , goodluck, success and happiness with peace of

mind.Sai bhakt,Deepa Hdebu7366