________________
Karma-yoga of the Gītā: A teleological Interpretation
The Bhagavadgītā is one of those few books which have gained wide popularity not only among the scholars of repute, but also among the commonplace persons. Millions of people derive inspiration from this classic. It has been a source of great, calm and comfort, to those who are deeply involved in mundane miseries. Its central teaching has been diversely formulated, so much so that if one finds in it the message of Karma-yoga, the other reads in it the message of jñānayoga, still the other sees in it the message of Bhakti-yoga. However controversial its central teaching may be, there is one thing which seems obvious that Karma-yoga is regarded as the significant doctrine of the Gītā. What I propose to present in this paper is that if the doctrine of Karma-yoga is socially meaningful, it should be interpreted teleologically. In other words, Karma or action should be judged right or wrong with reference to the goodness or badness of the consequences. This is tantamount to saying that no action is self-justifying and no action can be our duty regardless of the goodness of the consequences. • Now it may be said that the above approach to the doctrine of Karma-yoga is not all in conformity with the evidence that we have in the Gītā regarding the meaning of Karma-yoga as the performance of dutiful actions without any consideration of effects of such actions. The Gītā says, “Your right extends only to action not to its fruits or consequences.' Those who seek for the fruits of actions are pitiable.2 He who performs a prescribed duty after renouncing all attachment to fruits of action is the man of Sättvika relinquishment. Again, it may be said that in order to substantiate the doctrine of duty for duty's sake, the Gītā portrays the picture of an ideal Karma-yogi with reference to his inward attainments and outward conduct. As regards Jaina Mysticism and other essays. ...
135
Jain Education International
For Personal & Private Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
