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Chapter 5
TWO-FOLD STATE OF AKARMA: YOGA AND SANNYASA
18. The Nature Of The State Of Akarma
9. Once a gentleman wrote to me, “We have decided to recite Ramanama (Lord Rama’s Name) a certain number of times. Please join us and inform us how much japa you are going to do daily.” The gentleman was acting according to his lights. I do not mean to disparage him. But should we count how many times we have taken the name of the Lord? Ramanama is not a thing to be counted. A mother cares for her child. Does she publish a report on it? Were she to do so, we could just say, ‘Thank you’, and be free from our obligations to her. But a mother does not submit any report. She rather says, “What have I done? I have done nothing. Is this a burden to me?” Karma ceases to be karma when one does it with full dedication and with the aid of vikarma. Karma then becomes akarma. There is then no question of any strain or tension to anything untoward. 10. It is impossible to describe this state. One can at best give a rough idea. The sun rises daily. But does it rise to remove darkness, urge the birds to fly and set men working? It just rises and that is all. Its very existence makes all the world go round. But it is not aware of it. If you thank him for dispelling darkness, he would be at a loss to understand what you are saying. He will say, “Have I really done so? Please bring a little darkness. If I could dispel it, then only I would claim any credit for doing so.” Can we carry darkness to the sun? The existence of the sun dispels darkness and brings light. Some may read good books in that light and some may read bad ones; some may harm others while some may help others; the sun is not in any way responsible for the merits or sins committed in his light. He will say, “Light is my nature. What else but light could there be in me? I am not conscious of giving light. For me, to be means to shine. I do not feel any strain in giving light. I do not feel that I am doing anything.” Giving light is natural to the sun. Same is the case with the saints also. Their very existence is enlightening. If you praise a man of wisdom for his truthfulness, he would say, “If I adhere to the truth, what is so special about it? What else can I do?” Untruth just cannot exist in such a man. |
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