Freedom From Results: The Bhagavad Gita, Ch2, Verses 49-51

What if we let go of the fruits of our actions and let ourselves be led by joy? This week, we will be diving into Chapter 2, verses 49-51. In these weekly lectures, we focus on specific ancient teachings that we can all apply to our day-to-day lives and personal spiritual journey!

Transcript

So we are studying the Bhagavad Gita. The book I am reading out of is a translation by Stephen Mitchell. This is a dialogue between. Arjuna and Krishna. Arjuna is basically seeking a different way to understand life. And he's wide open. So Krishna is sharing all the different aspects of living. One of the interesting things about the Gita, You know, We're going through it step by step. We're going through it verse by verse and going into depth into each verse. But there's also something interesting about Lightly reading it. Like a book, Like starting at the beginning and just reading and reading and reading and reading. Because there's all these different lessons all the way through. And they all blend together. Like they actually don't stand alone. And when they blend together, They become a whole life understanding. Just like all of us. Let's say we want to get healthy. Well, One person might say, It's all about the food. It's all about the food. And someone else says, No, It's all about your emotional state. But the truth is, If we have issues with food, It's probably tied to emotions. And if we have emotions attached to food, We may have thoughts that aren't actually serving us. And those thoughts are causing emotions which are causing food. And then because of all those things, Maybe the thoughts are actually affecting our sleep. And then the sleep is affecting our body's ability to digest and have a healthy pancreas. And then that's affecting the food, And that's affecting our body, And then that's affecting our body. And then we don't want to exercise. And then the exercise isn't actually, You know, Blah, Blah, And everything is actually connected. But we can go deeply into one thing and one thing into another, But to always in our hearts know that they're all connected. When we change one thing, It changes everything. When we have a realization about one thing, It affects everything. And this is very much like the Gita. He's talked a lot about understanding that we are eternal beings. They look at to never be afraid to engage with life. That we should enjoy all sensations in life, To not only be attached to pleasure, To just allow life to flow because the reality is that's what life is. And so this is why it's interesting to kind of look at all the pieces of the Gita. Because right now we're deeply focusing on releasing attachment to outcome. Releasing our attachment to the fruits of our actions. This is where Arjuna and Krishna are now. But it isn't in isolation. This makes a lot more sense when we understand that we're eternal beings. You know, It makes more sense when we have other lessons also. So It's kind of like as we listen to this lesson. To remember everything we know about life. All the lessons we've learned. Today we're actually looking at three verses. But I'm going to back up a little bit. You have a right to your actions, But never to your actions' fruits. Act for the actions saved. And do not be attached to inaction. Self-possessed. Resolute. Act without any thoughts of results. Open to success or failure. This equanimity is yoga. So those are the verses we worked on the last couple weeks. And these are the next three verses that we're working on. This is chapter 2, Verse 49 to 51. Action is far inferior to the yoga of insight. Arjuna. Pitiful are those who, Acting, Are attached to their actions' fruits. The wise men let's go of all results, Whether good or bad. And is focused on the action alone. Yoga is skill in actions. The wise man whose insight is firm. Relinquishing the fruits of action. Is freed from the bondage of rebirth. And attains the place beyond sorrow. What are we going to do? We're going to look at each verse independently. But they're all kind of circling a similar message. That's why we're going to do all three today. We're going to read a couple other versions of it. We're going to look at the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi's version. Of verse 49. Far away, Indeed, From the balanced intellect is the action devoid of greatness. Take refuge in the intellect. Pitiful are those who live for the fruits. Of action. I love these guys. Okay, This is Paramahansa Yogananda's version. Ordinary action performed with desire is greatly inferior to action united to the guidance of wisdom. Therefore, Oh Arjuna. Seek shelter in the ever-directing wisdom. Miserable are those who perform actions only for their fruits. I like that translation the best, Personally. Ordinary action performed with desire. Is greatly inferior to Action United. To the guidance of wisdom. Therefore, Arjuna. Seek shelter in the ever-directing wisdom. Miserable are those who perform actions only for their fruits. One of the things that this one is particularly saying is that So when we think of the fruits of our actions, The fruits of our actions are often what we are desiring. It's something that I really, Really, Really want. Have you ever had it that you wanted something so badly that you actually acted impulsively. You want it, And you just go do it. And you just go do it. The weird thing about it is. Or we do it without thinking. We do it without pausing. We do it, And it could be a relationship. It could be a job. It could be a purchase. It could be lighting a cigarette when you're trying to quit. It could be anything. But it's like, I want that thing so badly. There's some part of you that just shuts the brain off and just goes and does it. You know, It's just, Yeah. The challenge with this is, We all can imagine how damaging this kind of action is. You know, Because the fruits, I just, All I care about is the fruits. Don't tell me, Don't tell me about the repercussions. Don't tell me about the consequences. Just give me the fruits. One? The likelihood is, You probably won't even get what you want. The funniest thing about that is, Is we end up it not working out. Sometimes we don't actually even get the goal that we want in the moment. I mean lighting the cigarette or going for a chocolate or having sex with that person just because they're hot or something, You know. Maybe we can actually get that to happen. But if we're actually. . . Seeking a life goal. Very often we won't get it. For example, Beyond the addictive things. Maybe you just simply want to have more money. You just want to be able to pay the rent. You just want to be able to fix your car. I'm just, I'm giggling there because I really need to fix the air conditioning in my car. We were driving a lot this weekend in a really hot car. And anyway, But sometimes it's real. Sometimes you just really want to have enough money to do the thing. The problem is, Is when all we think about is adjusting more money, Adjusting more money, Adjusting more money, The focus on the fruits. We do silly things. And we seldom get the money. Maybe we buy lottery tickets or we do a job that is really good for the money, But it destroys our lifestyle. It destroys our families or it destroys whatever, Like how many people, Especially in I don't know what it's like anymore. Today, I swear, I think I live in my own little bubble. I'm not really sure what life is like anymore. You know, Growing up, It was certainly a thing that you got the job, You worked the long hours, You did the thing, And people lost all connection with their families. Or for example, Like let's say the fruits of our labor, Our fruits, Is I want to be really fit and hot looking, You know, Or I want to, I don't want to age. I just want to be thin and I want to look like my 18 year old self or something when I'm 50, When I'm 60, When I'm 40, When I'm 30, Whatever. And the fruits are like right there. And we just do all these extreme things. To make that happen. And in the end, 10 years later. We've destroyed our body through fad diets and our digestion and our metabolism. And we've hurt our bodies doing crazy exercise regimes. And do you know what I mean? Like, So when we have that so close in front of our nose, We often don't even get there. In the long run. And so what this verse is saying, He would say, You want to be established in yoga. You want to be established in your whole self. There's this one beautiful thing that Paramahansa Yogananda says, Therefore, Seek protection from the darkness of error. By keeping the light of divine remembrance ever burning to light the way. I love that. Therefore, Seek protection from the darkness of error. By keeping the light of divine remembrance. Ever burning to light the way. What does that feel like in you? How does that land in you? You know, What language would you use? To say that. Cross stitch that and hang it on your wall. Keeping the light of divine remembrance ever burning. To light the way. It's like all things. So they talk about, Let's say you want to. Shoot an arrow. If you're so focused on that, What do you call it? The bullseye that you want to hit. You might actually in anxiety and haste kind of just go to just Let it go. And it probably won't hit the bullseye. But if you take time. And you slowly pull that bow back. And you breathe. And you really let yourself be aware. Feel grounded. Feel focused. And then just keep adjusting that bow for the perfect focus, Perfect direction. And then release the arrow. There's a much higher chance you'll hit the bullseye. And that's all they're saying. They're saying, Remember who you are. Remember the bigger picture. Remember. All of life it's like in fitness for example there was a I have a friend who's a doctor, And he, At one point, Was teaching me how to run. Because running's never been my forte, Because I'm a very heavy-boned kapha, If you know Ayurveda, Person. So swimming is really good for me. But running. That's pretty hard on the joints. And so he started teaching me how to run naturally. And eventually we evolved into barefoot running, Which is a great passion of mine that I'm very excited to get back into one day. But he used to say that he trains for, And he used to do ultra marathons and stuff. But he would train so that he's still running when he's 90. How different is it to train? Or to take care of your health. So that when you're 90, You will still be mobile. You'll still have a healthy metabolism. You'll still have energy. As opposed to, I just want to lose these 20 pounds, Or I just want to beat my personal best, Or I just want to look good in jeans, Or I just want to How different is that? And what's fascinating about it, As soon as you back up and you pull that bow back, And you say, How do I want to do this so I'm still comfortable and happy when I'm 90. When you let that arrow go and you change this diet, Or you start walking, Or you take up Tai Chi, Or you start, Maybe you start training for a marathon. But you're not so attached. To what happens today. You're not so concerned about what the scale says or how long it takes you to run 5K or something like that. You're not so concerned about it right now. Because there's a bigger picture at play. So the immediate fruits of our actions don't matter so much. This is equanimity, Which is what we talked about last week. Equanimity. Centered in the true self. The capital S self. How different is that? Taking actions in life. Let's say you're like, You know what, I really need to make more money. Or maybe I need to simply have more money. So maybe you back up and you pull that bow back and it's like, Are there places that the money's leaking? Maybe I should look at that. Maybe we ask ourselves, What are my actual gifts? You know, What am I actually really good at? Are there opportunities that I'm missing out on? It just allows us to sort of contemplate. And contemplate maybe my whole life needs a slight rejig. And then money will happen. But it just allows us to slow down. Like when they say to be established in yoga, They just mean. Really be connected to your true path. That's all they're saying. You know, It's just. Let's take a breath. And really act out of true intelligence. When he says, I'm just going to reread that part. Ordinary action performed with desire. Is greatly inferior to Action United. With the guidance of wisdom. And then he says, Seek shelter. In the ever-directing wisdom. Do you know what that feels like? Like when you've really sat with something and you've contemplated it and maybe you've talked to some friends and maybe you've journaled about it. Who knows what you've done? Maybe even you've asked your favorite AI or something. Not that I want to get into a debate about AI, But everybody has different people and things that they consult these days. And you've really sat with it, And then you've sat and meditated on it, And you're like, You know what? This feels like a dream. Good path. And then you take a step. And it's not so much about the outcome. It's like, Wow. Being aware of that desire has helped me realign my own life. So that now I can take interesting steps. The other thing that they talk about is that when we can release the. . . It's almost anxiety that we want that desire, Right? When we can release that, What happens is all the energy that we're using, Worrying, And stressing out about the fact that this might not work. That's a lot of energy wasted. As soon as we can get to the place where we can release that. And we're not releasing it without a plan. Releasing the goal because we just don't care anymore. We are becoming established in ourselves, And by establishing ourselves in yoga, Whatever that is for you, Maybe it's journaling, Maybe it's practice, Maybe it's running, Maybe it's contemplation, Maybe it's discussion, Who knows? But somehow you have come to peace with something. What happens is all the energy that went towards the anxiety and the stress now goes into the present moment. And now you take all that energy. And you actually do the action. You're almost guaranteed the outcome. So we're gonna pop forward to number 50 now. I'm going to read all three versions of this. So here, Number 50. The wise man lets go of all results, Whether good or bad. And is focused on the action alone. Yoga is skill in actions. The Maharishi says, It's so funny reading all the different versions and how incredibly interpretive Sanskrit is. Like Sanskrit is one of those languages that. . . It's almost so. . . Poetic. Indeed. All the words sort of can change depending on the context. So cool. He whose intellect is united with the self. Casts off both good and evil, Even here. Therefore, Devote yourself to yoga. Yoga is skill in action. They agree about that one. And then Perma Hans' version. One who is united to cosmic wisdom goes beyond the effects of both virtue and vice, Even here in this life. Therefore, Devote thyself to yoga, Divine union. Yoga is the art. Of proper action. Devote yourself to yoga. Divine union. Yoga is the art. Of proper action. Isn't that interesting? Proper. It's funny how the word proper has been used to be. You must be proper. You must be polite. You must be. . . Do be righteous, You must do as I say. Then you are a pro. And honestly, I think that's the number one. Lesson? In almost the whole Gita. Is that when we live our lives according to anyone else's version, Of right or proper. We're always off path. You know, It's always about. Connecting with self, Divine union. It's not just divine union with God, But it's the union with your divine self. That every one of us is this epic eternal soul. And the goal of yoga is to take this personality that we are. And merge it with our soul's path. And then take the action with this body, With this personality in our particular circumstances. And take the action that our soul asks for. And then you can start to feel that idea that. Well, Yeah, Then I guess the outcome. You don't get so attached to the outcome because the soul is just so happy that it's doing its thing. The soul's like, Woo-hoo! We're doing it, We're living. And then as soon as we do something that really isn't in alignment with our soul, Our soul's just kind of sitting there like. What are we doing? You know, That little voice inside going. Why are we doing this? Why are we doing that? I don't really want to be here. You know, And then suddenly we have two selves. We have the self that is doing all these things like but no no no but we need the money oh no no no we gotta get skinny oh no no no no i have to have that relationship and i don't care if it's really abusive and crappy i have to stay in this relationship and your soul's over here going That's not what we're here for. We're here to grow. We're here to experience joy. We're here to have fun. Why are we doing all these things? Why are we staying in the job that is killing us? Why are we staying in this relationship that is sucking the life out of us? Why are we doing that? Why are we not trying for this new thing? Sounds like the road to depression, Exactly. So the idea that yoga is the art of proper action. Isn't that interesting? I've never been a yogi, I prefer. . . To gong my chi. I like what you did there. Oh, That's amazing. I've never heard that before. But that's just it. It's like every single person has such a unique path and Qigong or whatever practice you love. That's all that matters. When I do this, I love it. My daughter and I swim at the pool three days a week. So this morning we swim and we go at six in the morning and there's a woman there that swims every single day at 6am. And she started doing it because she broke her back 15 years ago. And part of her physio was to swim. And she actually had to learn how to swim. And she's now been swimming every single morning at 6 a. M. For 15 years. And she's probably. Her mid-70s and she just said to me she goes it's my this is my meditation. And she just swims constantly for an hour. And so there's no one path. All that matters is that you're connected to your soul. That's it. So we're gonna move on to number 51. The wise man whose insight is firm. Relinquishing. The fruits of action. Is freed from the bondage of rebirth. And attains the place beyond sorrow. Version 2. The wise, Their intellect truly united with the self. Having renounced the fruits born of their actions. And being liberated from the bonds of birth. Arrive at a state. To void. Of suffering. Version 3. Those who have mastered their minds become engrossed in infinite wisdom. They have no further interest in any fruits of actions. Freed thus from the chain of rebirth. They attain the state beyond sorrow. Those who have mastered their minds. Become engrossed in infinite wisdom. They have no further interest in any fruits of actions. Freed thus from the chain of rebirth. They attain the state beyond sorrow. This is all in the context of rebirth. In reincarnation. This is it. Part of the Hindu faith. The culture that the Gita comes out of. And the idea of reincarnation. Is that We create patterns in our lives. And you know what the truth is? You know what I'm thinking about it? I'm not sure. It was ever meant to be a negative thing. What I'm going to say isn't true because I read it somewhere or something. Sometimes we. . . A lot of the teachings we have in spirituality come from a really negative place. And I think it's partly because a lot of the teachings came from sort of that top-down caste system, We are the right ones, And you are all the sinful ones like You know, We were all raised in a lot of that all over the world, No matter what. Religion we were raised in. So reincarnation is often seen as, Well, You have to keep coming back until you learn your lesson. And until you get out of these patterns. You know there's this real negative because you are just such a lowly being you just you know what I mean there's a bit of a kind of a bite kicking about it. And so even in yoga, They'll say, And you must do this so that you can grow. Release these patterns so that you can finally have freedom. So be disciplined, You undisciplined person. It's just such a negative thing about it. So they kind of say that you will keep being reborn over and over again until you learn your lesson. Like you can just feel the finger wagging at you. But what if it wasn't really like that? What if it was more like. . . Imagine. You did something. And you made a mistake. Ever had that in life that you did something and you just so regret it like you're like Oh, I so wish I had a do-over. You know, I would so love. To try this again. And do it differently. What if that's what reincarnation is? What if it really is driven from us? It's not like some high almighty saying almighty or something. That was a combination of someone on high and almighty, On mighty. But it wasn't someone saying, And now we judge you that you must come back and restart again. What if we really do choose it because we're like, I'd love to try that again. I think I can do better. What if that's all it is? Melissa, Interesting that my version translates that last word as evil instead of sorrow. That is interesting. So just imagine, So instead. We have these patterns. That for whatever reason we're repeating. Even outside of multiple lives. Because sometimes multiple lives get confusing or maybe you don't believe that or whatever, It doesn't matter. But even within this life. We can repeat patterns. As we live long enough. And it's really interesting to imagine the difference. Between living out our patterns focused on the fruits versus focused on the self. So let's say. As a young person. We were starved of love in some way. And so a desire rises inside of us that we just want to be loved. It's natural. It's not a character flaw. It's a natural desire. And so maybe it starts in school. And you just try to be everybody's friend, Even the people that are mean to you. And you just. . . Maybe get into trouble. Maybe you end up in the quote, Wrong crowd. Because. . . You know, You just wanted to be accepted. That was me. I so wanted to be cool and accepted in high school, So I hung out with all the stoners and the partiers and everything. Really didn't do me any good. Yeah, I made some good friends. But I never really fit. And it made my high school. Experience very sorrowful. Because I was never happy, I never fit in, I was never cool. I'm just not like that. And then it wasn't until I was in grade 13. Because we were the last grade 13 in Ontario class. And I was in this enriched. English class. And I was sitting with these other guys that You know, You would call the geeks of the school, Right? Because I was desperately trying not to be the geek that I truly was. Hence all the drugs and alcohol and desperately trying to party and be cool. And I'm sitting and I'd had to write this article, I had to write an essay. A boat. Man's Freedom to choose. And I'd written this essay. And we had to sit and let other people read it and have a discussion about it. I'll never forget it. I'll never forget sitting in this group with me and these two guys. Who had both fast-tracked skipped grades, Like I think there were only 16, Because they were like real geniuses. And they read my art, My essay. And we had this deep philosophical conversation. And in that moment, It's like I had five years of regret. That I had spent five years of my high school. Trying to get people to love me. Who weren't going to. If I have any regrets from high school, That's it. I wish I had hung out with my people first and last. Can't believe I spent so much energy trying to get people to like me. Who weren't like me. And we do that. And then maybe if we go back to the original example, Right? We're desperate for love. The fruit that we are desiring is love. And then maybe we marry the first person who loves us. Or maybe we love someone even though they're an addict. Or maybe they have all kinds of issues. Maybe they're even abusive to us, But we will take the abuse. Instead of nothing. Because what do we want? We want the love. We want the fruit. We want that. We want that thing so desperately. That's what this is saying. If we don't get it, If we don't pull back from that need for the love, If we don't pull back our attachment to that fruit, All we're going to do is keep repeating it in this life. Forget multiple lives in this life. We are going to keep making friends just because we want to be friends with that person. We're going to keep in stay in relationships because we just can't stand to not have that fruit. We're going to keep doing it over and over and over and over again. And we will have lives of sorrow. Or maybe it's money. Maybe we're just always keeping the job because it makes us enough money. Or we're doing that thing over there because it's enough money, And that thing over there because it's enough money, And we're just always with the money, With the money, Money, Money, Money, Money. Or it's about, What do we look like? It's about our health. Maybe it's relationships. All I want is the security. Maybe we were raised. In a situation where we didn't have any security growing up. And we never knew when the next meal was coming or whether maybe our parents were abusive or had addictive problems and things. And then all of a sudden we will stay in the job because it's secure. It's stealing my very life force every single day. But it's security. Or and then we go into a relationship and well, It's safe and maybe they don't hit me and I always know I have a roof over my head, So I'm staying. We're making our choices because of the fruit. So we can imagine that We're just going to keep doing it. And we're just gonna stay in this sorrow space. So these three passages simply are saying, Back up. Remember who you are. Right, We'll go back to that beautiful quote. Therefore, Seek protection from the darkness of error. By keeping the light of divine remembrance ever burning. To light the way. Just whatever we're doing, Like it's not complicated. It's just whatever we're doing. Connect with self. Connect with our truth, Connect with your soul's path. And this is a lot of this. Spiritual journey. Is developing what they call a witness mind through meditation. So that we can actually observe ourselves. And we can observe ourself. And say, Wow. My life is driven by security. That's interesting. You know, Is that still necessary? Am I still that five-year-old who doesn't have a choice? Mmm. Actually know I'm pretty skilled. Actually, No, I can actually do this. That's interesting. And when we can get underneath it through wisdom. And understanding. We can say, Okay. Then maybe my security is in me. And then. . . We can take action that is in alignment with us. That's that proper action. It doesn't mean you necessarily leave the relationship or leave the job or do anything like that. But it might mean that you speak differently. And you might share things because you're no longer afraid of losing the fruit. You know that whole thing that when we release This is verse 48. Self-possessed. Resolute. Act without any thoughts of results. Open to success or failure. This equanimity is yoga. So now you're in that situation, Maybe you're in that job. And it's really not okay. Maybe it's not okay how you're treated, All that kind of thing. But because we're so attached to the fruit of keeping the job. We don't act properly. So as soon as we can say, You know what? I can always get another job. Then suddenly we can be meditative, Listen within. Speak our truth. Kindness or intelligence or however you want to do it. Maybe things will change. Maybe you speak from a place of truth inside a difficult relationship, But because you're no longer worried about losing the relationship, You have the courage to say the thing that's been needed to say for 30 years. Maybe it ends. Maybe it gets better. But what you are focused on was the action you took. Because the end result isn't the point anymore. So I'm just going to reread the three pieces again. Then I would love. I would love to know your thoughts. I haven't asked your guys' thoughts much this time. But then I would love to know what your takeaway is from today. Action is far inferior to the yoga of insight, Arjuna. Pitiful and when they say pitiful by the way they don't mean you are pitiful they mean I truly feel for you. I have pity, I feel bad for these people. Pitiful are those who, Acting, Are attached to their actions' fruits. The wise man lets go of all results, Whether good or bad. And is focused on the action alone. Yoga is skill in actions. The wise man whose insight is firm. Relinquishing the fruits of action. Is freed from the bondage of rebirth. And attains the place beyond sorrow. What would you like to write on a sticky note on your fridge? Speak our truth. Can we honor all of our past and then feel great with the soulful new awareness? Mm-hmm. What am I driven by today? Ooh. Let go of all results. All is unknown. To step away from the outcome focus and focus on the action, It will change the energy of the doing. Do what you enjoy simply for the joy it brings. Let go of attachment to outcome and act from a place of joy alone. Go back to yoga to connect with your soul path. If it does not bring you joy, Why do you do it? I stay in the joy of my flow wherever it leads. That's good. Forget fruit and enjoy the forest. Yes. Well, Thank you guys so much for being here. And I will see you next week. See you later.

Reviews

I so love the teaching and talk of this session. Especially the part about practicing staying connected with our éternel self. For me, I get to do that through meditation, yoga (asenas), dance, painting, hiking, gardening, being in nature. And the one desire I have obsessed with throughout my life has been being loved by others. My parents, family and upbringing were pretty chaotic. So my actions were to do anything possible to earn love from my parents, my siblings, my classmates, my work colleagues, my church. I didn’t know growing up that I already had love, eternal divine love inside of me. That is where I come from. It took me years to figure that out. I still struggle at times with loneliness, especially not having a partner with whom I would enjoy a supportive relationship, being seen. But the more I practice “yoga” (union with God) through my daily practices, I’m less inclined to do actions with the focus on the fruit of my actions. And I realize that having neglected that eternal love inside for so long, it feels amazingly good to enjoy it without the distraction of always needing love to come from outside of me. It’s so fun to have this human experience being aware, conscious that it is a gift, an experience I decided to go through and still stay in union with my divine self.

A beautiful reminder that our outcomes are the byproduct of our action or inaction. The choice is ours, and we have a responsibility to ourselves to choose from a place of truth.