As you all know our beloved Dadi Kamla Badlani left for heavenly abode on 7th Feb 2015. In her life she followed the teachings of Gita which are explained in 18th Chapter herewith.
The concluding chapter of the Bhagwad Gita begins by Arjuna asking for definitions of the two most important concepts in Vedanta – sannyasa, renunciation and tyaga, giving up. Krishna says sannyasa is giving up desire-driven action while tyaga is giving up fruit of action. Contrary to popular perception neither sannyasanor tyaga implies giving up action. Action continues, giving up the two things that come in the way of excellence in action – desire from the past and anxiety for the fruit which belongs to the future.
The grandeur and magnificence of renunciation lies in growth to a higher dimension as a result of which the lower fascinations drop. It is giving up that which comes in the way of your success and happiness. Desire stands between you and your higher dimension. In fact desire stands in the way of even obtaining objects of desire. In order to rise above desire you need to perform acts of yajna, sacrifice, tapa, penance and dana, charity. Yajna is acting in a spirit of service for a higher cause. The highest ideal is Self-realization. When your thoughts are anchored in the higher while you act in the world, the lower desires get starved and fall away.
Tapa is going through the discipline required in order to achieve the ideal. A sportsperson has to keep fit, a musician needs to do riaz, a student must study. Only then will you achieve the goal. When your mind is focused on investing your energies towards the ideal you will not indulge in anything that takes you away from the goal. The lower desires thus vanish.
Having given all that is needed for you to transform from an ordinary mortal to the extraordinary immortal Krishna asks you to do as you wish. For the Gita is not a compilation of commandments, it is a presentation of facts. It is now up to you to decide which way to go – remain imprisoned in the world or take off into the realm of the Spirit.
