Don’t give up! Develop right attitude for work
By Vivek Sharma
What is the basic thinking of the escapist in the garb of Sannyasi? दुःखमित्येव यत्कर्म, all actions are full of miseries, thinking thus such a person gives up actions.
Actually, why does he give up these actions? Krishna explains ,कायक्लेशभयात्त्यजेत्, he leaves such actions out of bodily discomfort, fear of conflict or fear (and not as an evolved person —who has realised that all actions are carried out by nature and not him and hence he gives up all associations with the outcome thereof).
Observe Closely
If you closely observe all the three are in fact derivatives of one emotion—fear. Such a person leaves actions inferring out of fear that actions discomfort body and hence are the cause of misery and should be given up. He gives up actions inferring out of fear that actions cause conflict within and without. He gives up actions out of pure fear that they may generate a fearful reaction within and without.
The first two are fears related to the body and the mind and the third intellect or perception. The first is triggered by the fear triggered by bodily discomfort—sensory perception and the mind together. The second is triggered by the mind, which out of clouded perception, infers that a particular action is going to cause a conflict within and without. The mind, sensory system and the entire body follows it. The third is pure fear triggered by the intellect or the apparatus of perception that doing actions is going to give mental and bodily discomfort. The intellect, the mind and the entire body follows it. In fact, the end result of all these fear-driven inferences is bodily discomfort.
Because, there is fear behind all such giving up, the benefits of tyag are not available for the person. He suffers after leaving actions and remains in a state of conflict and irresolution.What is the benefit of rightful giving up? It is gaining peace and bliss. How? When there is no doubt in the mind, there is peace and bliss within. There is no misery whatever be the outcome. Krishna says सङ्गं त्यक्त्त्वा फलं चैव स त्यागः सात्त्विको मतः, the true tyag is when one dissociates with the outcome and keeps doing what is to be done. Here Krishna has revealed a principle also. That means when you give up association with or don’t depend upon the outcome of an action, you are actually gaining and preserving energy. Energy gained is manifested as bliss. You are indisputably happy when you feel energised. Isn’t it? That means the benefit of real tyagy is bliss and energy. Krishna clarifies it and says त्यागी सत्त्वसमाविष्टो मेधावी छिन्नसंशयः, the real tyagi is charged with energy (bliss and energy), his intellect is firmed up, his perceptional apparatus is strengthened and through the help of which he resolves all doubts or remains in the state of doubtlessness. Therefore, the real tyagi enjoys bliss and doubtlessness, whereas this benefit is not available for the one whose tyag is out of fear or out of delusion, distraction or negative influence, ( मोहात्तस्य परित्यागस्तामसः परिकीर्तितः, the tyag is tamasi (negative) of the one who gives up action out of delusion, distraction and negative influence).
Krishna says majority of people give up under the influence of a person, perception or emotion. When you are led by an emotion you are passionate. In majority of cases, the emotion which dominates is fear—you give up out of fear. Therefore, the results will only be the byproduct of fear. Because, you are carrying out or manifesting fear and not what you should do.
Let’s get it
Now I give two very crude examples of wrong tyag. You know the truth about things and you know that such and such action alone is bound to take you to success, yet you fearing the bodily discomfort, conflict within (doubt) and without (social resistance) give up rightful action. You will always remain dissatisfied within and face unknown fears thereafter, because you have allowed the fear to take better of you and decide for you. In another example, a person, under his own wrong perception or outside influence (social or personal) gives up rightful action, without even thinking over it, will not gain the benefit of rightful tyag. You will find many examples of it all around. A boy wants to do business. He is inclined to doing it. But, his friend’s influence that it is all a useless exercise as he himself has tried it once and failed, is negative influence. Under this influence if you give up your inclination, you are giving up an action and will not gain benefits of tyag—bliss and doubtlessness. It is better to try and fail rather than believing in others’ experiences and giving up what you really want to do.
Krishna is very clear. He doesn’t want you to give up actions which you are naturally inclined to do. He wants you to have the right attitude, give up the outcome (don’t depend on the outcome ) and keep going, to gain the benefit of it. I repeat, it is better to fail after sincere trials. But, let me tell you, you can’t fail when you make sincere tries at something. Because, the inner drive will then get you to succeed. In that case, you will gain perfection in the action and one day succeed. Here success becomes your target to achieve and not the result you wait for! There is no failure in it. You gain energy, doubtlessness and success, because, you don’t depend upon the outcome and keep on improving your actions. I try. I fail. I try again. I fail. I give up. In fact, it should be I try. I fail. I don’t depend on the failure. I improve my way of carrying out action. I try again and again till I succeed . Failure means nothing but a point to revise how you are doing your action and improve it.