Efficiency of Karma: Summary and Concluding Remarks

March 16, 2003

Hello All,

I think I will conclude this debate before people on this list get a death

warrant against me!!!

I liked Mr. Dasgupta's and Mr. Rath's comments amidst this raised dust

though they are not fully acceptable to me. Rest of the people have only

threatened.

While this discussion was going on I resorted to my favorite commentry on

Gita by Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak. I am confident that the people on this

list, except those like Gaurang Das, should not have doubts over scholarship

of Lokmanya Tilak. Though I havent read Gita Rahasya completly I browsed

through the relevant section again.

What Tilak has argued and it is perfectly acceptable for me atleast today

( I dont know about tomorrow). Tilak highlights that it was important to

resolve the Arjun's dilemma whether to fight or not to fight. At the core

level it is a conflict of Pravritti and Nivritti (action and no-action)

because of the possible results of action. Now performing duties and actions

in the larger interest or goals is recommended by dharma. And when we are

doing something in larger interest we should not bother what is the

result...

Now the issue of 'efficiency' of Karma and intrestingly Tilak doesnt say

anything about it. But I suddenly realised while reading Tilak's commentry

the possible reasons why Krishna did not talk about efficiency of Karma a.

Arjuna himself was a skilled warrior and hence efficient kshatriya which is

evident from his earlier achievements b. It was more important for Krishna

to make him fight, i.e., to choose action rather than non-action in the

given context and hence it was not important to highlight the issue of

efficiency just before war.

Now all the pieces of jigsaw puzzle fall in their place. The application

scenario of the most disputed and misunderstood verse is IF there is dilemma

FOR a 'skilled' agent/actor THEN result is least important WHEN one performs

IN the larger interest/goal.

Moral of the story is Karma Yoga is not for ordinary people... ha ha ha ha

ha... and Mr. Moderator I hope you will be kind to me hereafter.

Rajeev Upadhye

March 17, 2003

dear rajeev,

Geeta starts from "Vishaada Yoga" of arjun. unless this yoga starts we do not

become fit to have the real knowledge. we must remove all the

junks..impressions in our mind to let the fresh knowledge come in..we must have

the humbleness to sit before guru and understand him.. and that is the only

right approach to Geeta. questions and answers are must for the right

understanding ... and that is the culture of the vedic era and indian

scriptures. you will see that all scriptures are written in question and answer

form. but definitely question and answers does not mean unhealthy critisising ..

that one must understand.

skill or physical work are not the only factor for becoming a karma yogi ...

then the plumber (with his high skill) or ricksaw puller (with his hard

physical work) would have been the greatest karma yogi. there are much more to

it.

try to get the comentry on Geeta by Swami Chinmayananda. the comentries are easy

to understand and easily drives the points in home.

regards

dasgupta

-

Rajeev Upadhye

Vedic Astrology

Cc: j.k. dasgupta ; Chandrashekhar ; Sanjay Rath ; pvr108

Monday, March 17, 2003 12:32 PM

[vedic astrology] Efficiency of Karma: Summary and Concluding Remarks

Hello All,I think I will conclude this debate before people on this list get a

deathwarrant against me!!!I liked Mr. Dasgupta's and Mr. Rath's comments amidst

this raised dustthough they are not fully acceptable to me. Rest of the people

have onlythreatened.While this discussion was going on I resorted to my

favorite commentry onGita by Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak. I am confident that

the people on thislist, except those like Gaurang Das, should not have doubts

over scholarshipof Lokmanya Tilak. Though I havent read Gita Rahasya completly

I browsedthrough the relevant section again.What Tilak has argued and it is

perfectly acceptable for me atleast today( I dont know about tomorrow). Tilak

highlights that it was important toresolve the Arjun's dilemma whether to fight

or not to fight. At the corelevel it is a conflict of Pravritti and Nivritti

(action and no-action)because of the possible results of action. Now performing

duties and actionsin the larger interest or goals is recommended by dharma. And

when we aredoing something in larger interest we should not bother what is

theresult...Now the issue of 'efficiency' of Karma and intrestingly Tilak

doesnt sayanything about it. But I suddenly realised while reading Tilak's

commentrythe possible reasons why Krishna did not talk about efficiency of

Karma a.Arjuna himself was a skilled warrior and hence efficient kshatriya

which isevident from his earlier achievements b. It was more important for

Krishnato make him fight, i.e., to choose action rather than non-action in

thegiven context and hence it was not important to highlight the issue

ofefficiency just before war.Now all the pieces of jigsaw puzzle fall in their

place. The applicationscenario of the most disputed and misunderstood verse is

IF there is dilemmaFOR a 'skilled' agent/actor THEN result is least important

WHEN one performsIN the larger interest/goal.Moral of the story is Karma Yoga

is not for ordinary people... ha ha ha haha... and Mr. Moderator I hope you

will be kind to me hereafter.Rajeev UpadhyeArchives:

vedic astrologyGroup info:

vedic astrology/info.htmlTo UNSUBSCRIBE: Blank

mail to vedic astrology-....... May Jupiter's light

shine on us .......

March 17, 2003

Referring to your statement

"skill or physical work are not the only factor for becoming a karma yogi ...

then the plumber (with his high skill) or ricksaw puller (with his hard

physical work) would have been the greatest karma yogi. there are much more to

it."

"j.k. dasgupta" <dgasso (AT) vsnl (DOT) com> wrote:

I would like to add that if the plumber (with his high skill) or ricksaw puller

(with his hard physical work) does his work wholeheartedly offering his labour

to God, thinking that he is working for God, then this hard work will purify

his mind which is the result of Karma yoga.

Regards,

Sadashiv.