|
Chapter 12
It is very necessary to understand, the true nature of renunciation. The self cannot be renounced by us, nor can anything which is not ours, be renounced. For example the light and heat of the sun, cannot be separated from it, nor can it be said that dark and cold, are separated from the sun, because they are ever separate. Therefore, only whatever is not ours, but we have assumed it as ours, by an error, is renounced.
The soul is sentient and imperishable, while the world is insentient and perishable. But the soul (having forgotten God, Whose fragment It is) accepts the world as Its. Therefore, there is need for renouncing the assumed affinity, for the world.
Affinity with the worldly objects, is limited, because these objects, are limited. But their renunciation is limitless. Renunciation immediately leads to God-realization, because God is also limitless, as He knows no limit of clime, time, objects and individuals. The limitless Lord, is not realized because of our attachment for limited objects.
By renunciation of fruit of action, the assumed affinity for the world is renounced. Therefore, the true nature of renunciation, is the renunciation of the assumed affinity for actions, and their fruits.
Even the fruit of such spiritual activities such as adoration, meditation and trance etc., should be renounced, because so long as, these are done for one's self, the individuality subsists. Thus one suffers delay, in being free from bondage. Real renunciation, consists in renouncing affinity, even for the propensity of renunciation. Here the term 'peace', stands for Supreme Peace or God-realization.
Renunciation of fruit of action, is better than practice or knowledge, or meditation. So long as, a striver remains attached to fruit of action, he (because of the dependence on matter) cannot be liberated (Gita 5/12).
|
|