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Chapter 5
TWO-FOLD STATE OF AKARMA: YOGA AND SANNYASA
24. But Still Yoga Is Better Than Sannyasa
30. Saguna is superior to nirguna for a man encased in the body, because it is easy. The ingenuity in seeing that the actions leave no trace on the mind even while continuing to do them is better than doing work without acting, because it is easier. In karmayoga there is scope for efforts and practice. In it one can control the organs and then try to withdraw the mind from all the activities gradually. This effort can succeed some day, even if it is not immediately possible. Karmayoga is thus easier to follow. It is its special plus point. Otherwise karmayoga and sannyasa are one and the same in their perfect states. In karmayoga, hectic activity appears on the surface but there is perfect peace within, while in sannyasa there is power of moving the whole world without doing anything. Thus both are not what they appear to be. Perfect karmayoga is sannyasa and perfect sannyasa is karmayoga; there is no difference; but karmayoga is easier for a seeker to follow. 31. Changdeva sent a letter to Jnanadeva. It was nothing but a piece of blank paper, as he could not make up his mind on how to address Jnandeva; Jnanadeva was much younger in years but superior in wisdom. Should he address him respectfully as one addresses an elder or as one addresses a younger person? Unable to decide, he sent the blank letter. It first reached the hands of Nivrittinath. He ‘read’ it and passed it on to Jnanadeva who too ‘read’ it and passed it on to Muktabai, their youngest sister. Reading the letter, Muktabai exclaimed, “Hey, Changdeva, you are so old, but still you are blank[1]!” Nivrittinath had read something different in that letter. He said, “Yes, Changdeva is blank, which means that he is pure and innocent, and therefore deserves to be taught.” So he asked Jnanadeva to send a reply to this letter. Jnanadeva sent a letter comprising 65 small stanzas. This letter is therefore called ‘Changdeva Pasashti.’[2] Such is the charming story of this letter. It is easy to read written words, but difficult to read what is not written. There is no end to reading it. A sannyasi appears to be empty and blank, but he is full of infinite work. |
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