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Chapter 5
TWO-FOLD STATE OF AKARMA: YOGA AND SANNYASA
23. The Sannyasi and the Yogi Are One Like Shuka And Janaka
26. That is why the Lord says, ‘एकं सांख्यं च योगं च यः पश्यति स पश्यति’। (‘He truly sees who sees both sankhya and yoga, that is, knowledge and selfless action as one’). He who realises that yoga and sankhya are one understands the true secret. Let a true sannyasi, with mind completely pure and still, dwelling in the divine consciousness, stay amongst us for just a few days. Imagine how much he will illuminate and inspire our lives! His mere sight, mere presence will achieve what good works accumulated over years cannot. Even a look at a photograph can cleanse the mind, pictures of dead persons can arouse devotion and love in the heart and purify it. Imagine then the inspiration one can derive from being in the presence of a living sannyasi! 27. Both the sannyasi and the yogi do loksangraha[1]. In the case of sannyasi action appears to have been renounced, but the apparent inaction is full of action. It is packed with infinite inspiration. A jnani sannyasi and a jnani karmayogi are on the same plane. Terms differ, but meaning is the same. Yoga and sannyasa are two modes of the same reality. A wheel in rapid motion seems at rest. This is the case with a sannyasi. Mahavira, Buddha, Nivrittinath[2] were such realised souls. Although all the activity of such a sannyasi appears to have come to a standstill, he is doing immense work. Thus, a yogi is a sannyasi and a sannyasi is a yogi. These terms are synonymous and interchangeable. |
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