Talks on the Gita -Vinoba 184

Chapter 15 THE INTEGRAL YOGA: SEEING THE LORD EVERYWHERE 86. The Mark Of Jnana: Seeing The Purusha Everywhere 15. Till now, we have seen that bhakti should be combined with karma. But it is also necessary to have jnana (knowledge) fused with them. The Gita is not otherwise satisfied. This does not mean that these three things are distinct from each other. We use different terms for them for the sake of convenience only. Karma and bhakti are one and the same; there is thus no question of combining bhakti with karma. The same is true about jnana. How can we have jnana? The Gita says, “You will have it when you see the Purusha everywhere.” The eternal servant is Purusha; the Lord, the recipient of service, the Purushottam, is also Purusha and the creation which flows continuously, takes different forms and provides different things for worship, is also Purusha—all are different forms of Purusha only. 16. What is implied in having this outlook? It implies an attitude of perfect and flawless service to all. If your sandals squeak, oil them. Keep them in good condition. The Lord is present in them too. The spinning wheel is a means of service. Lubricate it regularly. Otherwise it will refuse to let you spin. It too is Purusha. It should be kept neat and clean and in working order. The whole creation should be seen as full of consciousness; do not look upon it as inert. Nothing is inert, nothing is devoid of His presence. The spinning wheel that hums melodiously is not inert; it is the Lord’s idol. On the Pola day we worship the oxen, shedding our pride. This is not an ordinary thing. In fact, we should always have the Pola spirit in mind while taking due work from them; it should not be restricted to a single day. An ox too is a form of the Lord. We should also take due care of the plough and the agricultural implements. All the means of service are sacred. How grand this vision is! Worship does not mean offering flowers etc. to the idol; keeping anything neat and clean and tidy is its worship—be it a lamp, a scythe or a door hinge. The means of worship should be spotless and faultless. Divine consciousness pervades everything. When we have this vision, jnana will enter into our karma.