________________
COMPREHENSION AND RENUNCIATION OF WEAPONS
(He, whose actions have been dissociated from attachment and desires, and have been consumed by the fire of knowledge is called bandita by the wise).
The Bhagavad Gită (17-2,3) also elucidates the terms karmayoga (actions controlled by spiritual discipline) and karma sa mnyasa (renunciation of actions).
The karmayoga enjoins one to persevering in actions, without having desire to get their rewards, abandoning the egotistic instinct, and dedicating their merits to God.
The karma -sammyasa, however, has been interpreted diversely by different scholars, thus
(a) Abstinence from the actions which are accompanied with rewards.
(b) Renouncing the desire for reward of one's actions. (c) Total abstinence from all sorts of actions (for every action is vicious).
1:
Bhagavan Mahavira, however, harmonised karma - sammyasa with karmayoga. His technique of achieving self-realization mainly consisted in samvara - the stoppage of the influx of karma particles through total abstinence from all actions. But this is not feasible in the very beginning. Therefore, it is advisable to refine the actions first through nirjara (by employing onself in right actions) and then to stop them. Total cessation of actions is achieved only on the verge of the final liberation.
The discernment of the indulgence in actions taught in the aphorism 7-12, thus includes both the karmayoga and the karma-saṁmyāsa - refinement of actions followed by their cessation.
"
Jain Education International 2010_03
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org