Pujya Ramsukhdasji Maharaj

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God Realization through Action or Not? How to Reconcile?

 

Those actions that lead to the acquisition of perishable worldly things, those

very same actions if done without any selfish motive, for the welfare of the

world, with the aim of God-realization, then these actions can lead a man to

God-realization. In Gita 3/20, it has been declared, " Janaka and others attained

perfection, verily by action alone, " while in in Gita 6/3 it is stated, " Action

is said, to be the means for a sage who wishes to attain to Yoga. " These facts,

reveal that God can be realized by actions. Parvati and Manu-Satarupa etc., also

realized God, through performance of actions, in the form of penance. It is also

mentioned in the scriptures, that He can be realized through chanting,

meditation, good company, study of scriptures and cognition etc. On the

contrary, it is also mentioned, that He cannot be realized, through actions,

such as penance etc., (Gita 11/53). How to reconcile the two?

 

The answer is, that in fact Paramatma (God) is not attained through any action.

He is also, not a fruit of any action. God pervades everywhere, in everything,

incident, circumstance and person etc., all the time. He is ever attainable to

every one and all beings at all times abide in Paramatma alone. No one can ever

be separate, from Him. But, a man being attached to perishable body, senses,

mind, intellect and objects etc., which are evolutes of insentient nature, has a

disinclination for God, Who is his. Spiritual discipline, is to be practised, in

order to wipe out this attachment or affinity with insentient nature.

 

Through the performance of penance etc., when this affinity for the

insentien, is renounced, God, Who is ever-attainable is naturally and

innately attained. This affinity can be very easily renounced, when

actions are performed for the welfare of the world, without any selfish

motive.

 

The sentient and eternal Lord, cannot be bought, for all the wealth of

the world. All the worldly objects, stand nowhere, when all of them are compared

to the imperishable Lord. Moreover, a thing which is bought for a particular

amount, is cheaper than that amount. Thus if God is realized by performing

actions, it means, that He is cheaper than actions.

 

Here is a vital point, which calls for attention. Generally, strivers

during spiritual practice depend on and have affinity for the body,

senses, mind, intellect etc., with which, they perform that spiritual

activity. So long as, they have affinity for these i.e., the insentient, they

cannot realize God. As soon as, this affinity is renounced, God is realized.

God-realization is not possible, through matter, rather it is by snapping our

connection with it.

 

The body, senses, mind and intellect etc., belong to the same class, to which

the world belongs. So these should be utilized, in rendering

service to the world (this is Karmayoga). A striver, should not accept

his affinity for these, nor should be depend on them, as he cannot get

rid of the unreal, by having affinity for the unreal. Actions are

performed, without any selfish motive, in order to renounce affinity,

for the unreal. When this affinity is totally renounced, disinclination for God

perishes, and ever-attained God, is realized.