Chapter 18 :: THE BHAGAVAD-GITA FOR CHILDREN

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6.0in">LIBERATION THROUGH RENUNCIATION Jai: Grandma, I am confused by

different terms you used. Please explain to me clearly what is the difference

between renunciation (Samnya

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10.0pt">sa) and selfless work (KarmaYoga)? Grandma: You might think

that renunciation means walking away from family, home, possessions, and going

to live in a cave or the forest or any other place outside society. But Lord

Krishna defined Samnyasa as giving up the selfish desire behind all work. (Gita

6.01, 18.02) In KarmaYoga one gives up the selfish desire of enjoying the

results of one’s work. Thus a Samnyasi is an advanced KarmaYogi.

10.0pt"> Jai: Does that mean I can’t do anything for myself that gives me

pleasure? Grandma:

'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt"> That depends on what

kind of pleasure you have in mind. Such actions as smoking, drinking, gambling,

and taking drugs etc. appear enjoyable in the beginning, but definitely produce

harmful results in the end. Poison may taste very sweet when you drink it, but

you know its deadly results when it is too late. On the other hand, actions

such as going to s

11pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt">chool, doing

home work, meditation, worship, and helping the needy seem difficult or boring

in the beginning, but gives very useful results in the end. (Gita 5.22, 18.38)

A very good rule to follow is to avoid any activity that seems pleasurable in

the beginning because it causes harmful effects in the end.

10.0pt">Jai: What kinds of activities in society are available, Grandma?

Grandma: In the ancient Vedic way of life, people were classified into

four Varnas or groups described by Lord Krishna. (Gita 4.13, 18.41-44) These

four divisions --- Brahmana, Kshatriya, Vaishya, and Shudra --- were based on

the mental, intellectual, and physical abilities of persons. The ability of the

individual --- not the social level one was born into --- was the deciding

factor. Those who were interested in learning, teaching, prea

10.0pt">ching, and guiding people in spiritual matters were called Brahmanas or

intellectuals. Those who could defend the country, establish law and order,

prevent crime, and administer justice were called Kshatriyas, the warriors.

Those who were good in farming, cattle raising, business, trade, finance,

commerce and industry were known as Vaishyas or businessmen. Those who were

very good in service and labor type work were classed as Shudras or workers.

People are born with certain abilities or could develop them through training

and effort. Birth into a family at a certain

social level, whether high or low, does not decide one’s worth. The

four Varna system was work assignment according to individual’s skills and

ability. Unfortunately, the four work classifications became degraded into

hundreds of rigid castes to the detriment of this great Dharma. Swami

Vivekananda considers modern day caste system in India as a big blot on the

face of our great way of life (Dharma). Even some of our educated immigrants

from India are forming caste-based associations here in the USA!

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Jai: How can any body living and working in society attain liberation?

6.0in">Grandma: Work becomes worship when done as a service to the Lord

and without selfish attachment to the results. If you do work honestly for which

you are suited for, you incur no Ka

Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt">rmic reaction and attain God. If you take

on work that was not meant for you, such work produces stress and you will not

be very successful. It is important to find work that best suits your own

nature. You should know yourself before you can ch

10.0pt">oose a job that will be suitable for you. (Gita 18.47) Then your work

will not produce stress and will lead to creativity and success. There is no

perfect job. Every job has some fault. (Gita 18.48) You should not be concerned

about such faults in your job. You can attain God by doing your duty honestly

with devotion to God and keeping your senses under control by some spiritual

practice.

1.0in 1.5in 2.0in 2.5in 3.0in 3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in">The following

story illustrates one can attain Self-realization by sincerely doing one’s duty.

25. I am no Crane

FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt"> A holy man named

Kaushika had acquired great spiritual powers. One day, he sat under a tree

meditating. A crane at the top of the tree soiled his head with its droppings.

Kaushika looked up at it angrily, and his angry look killed the bird instantly.

The holy man was pained when he saw the dead bird lying on the ground. Some

time later, he went as usual to beg for food and stood before the door of a

house. The housewife

was busy serving her husband with food and seemed to forget the holy man waiting

outside. After her husband had been fed, she came out with food, saying, “I am

sorry to have kept you waiting long. Forgive me.” But Kaushika, burning with

anger, said: “Lady, you have made me wait for a long time. This is not fair.”

“Kindly forgive me,” said the woman. “I was serving my sick husband and hence

the delay.”

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4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in"> “It is good to attend the husband,” replied Kaushika,

“but you seem to be an arrogant woman.” “I kept you waiting only because I was

dutifully serving my sick husband,” she replied. “Please do not be angry with

me. I am no crane to be killed by your angry thought. Your anger cannot harm a

woman who devotes herself to service of her husband and family.”

3.5in 4.0in 4.5in 5.0in 5.5in 6.0in">Kaushika was surprised. He wondered how she

knew of the crane incident. She continued: “O great one, you do not know the

secret of duty, or that anger is the greatest enemy that dwells in human

beings. Go to the village Rampur in Mithila and learn the secrets of doing

one’s duty with devotion from Vyadha Raj” Kaushika went to the village and met

the man named Vyadha Raj. He was surprised to learn he was selling meat at a

butcher’s shop. The butcher got up from his seat and asked: “Honored sir, are

you well? Did that pure lady send you to me? I know why you have come. Let us

go home.” The butcher took Kaushika to his house where Kaushika saw a happy

family and was greatly amazed at the love and respect with which the butch

FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt">er served his

parents. Kaushika took his lesson from the butcher on doing one’s duty. Vyadha

Raj did not kill the animals; he never ate meat. He just carried on his family

business after his father retired. Afterwards, Kaushika returned to his house

and began to serve his parents, a duty which he had neglected before. The moral

of this story is that you can reach spiritual perfection by honestly doing

whatever duty is yours in life. This is a true worship of God. (Gita 18.46)

1"> Lord Krishna lives within all of us and guides us to work out our

own Karma. (Gita 18.61) Put your best effort and gladly accept the results as

His will. This is called surrendering to God. (Gita 18.66) The gift of

spiritual knowledge is the best gift because the absence of spiritual knowledge

is the cause of all evil in the world. Spreading of this spiritual knowledge is

the highest devotional service to Lord

mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt">Krishna. (Gita 18.68-69) Everlasting peace and

wealth are possible only when you do your duty well and also have the spiritual

knowledge given in the Holy Gita by Lord Krishna

New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt">. (Gita 18.78) One who reads Gita and

practices it’s teachings, gets what one wants and lives happily. Chapter 18

summary:

Lord Krishna told that there is no real difference between a KarmaYogi and

Samnyasi. A KarmaYogi gives up the selfish attachment to the fruits of work

whereas a Samnyasi does not work for personal gain. There are two types of

pleasures --- helpful and harmful. Society has different work to suit different

people. One should

choose work wisely. You can get God-realization while living in society by

following the three D’s --- Duty, Discipline and Devotion to God. "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