Does Karma Yoga Apply to YOU? Watch Lord Krishna's Answer by Swami Mukundanand
1 the vedas are talking of do your duty, but at the same time keep your mind in God and then Krishna ends the gita “sarva dharman paritaya….”Arjun, just give up all this and just surrender and devote yourself to Me”
& https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQMzaa15yIc&t=313 2 so now imagine three clearly distinct levels of instructions in the same one Bhagavad-Gita and the same thing with our scriptures, the more you read the scriptures the more confused you become, I approached them for knowledge and what I got was doubt so, what should i do Bhagavad-Gita chapter 3 Karma Yoga Verse 17 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQMzaa15yIc&t=27 & https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQMzaa15yIc&t=180 3 “BG 3.17 But those who rejoice in the self, who are illumined and fully satisfied in the self, for them, there is no duty”. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQMzaa15yIc&t=80 https://vedabase.io/en/library/bg/3/17/ 4 having talked all the while about duty, duty, duty, He now comes to this point saying that those who are illumined for them there is no duty, that is what makes philosophy so complex - if there was one single instruction, we could universally accept it and implement it but our vedas abound in this you are going in this direction and suddenly there is a diversion and then there is another diversion and another diversion, so the poor traveler becomes confused so what should I do https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQMzaa15yIc&t=133 5 well the fact is the vedas are and the vedic literature are presenting subtle knowledge, so that knowledge is subtle it has got numerous branches to it, it's like you can't fit the same shirt to everyone, similarly the same instruction doesn't fit everyone, different shlokas for different folks, everybody is at a different level of enlightenment, at a different level of growth, different level of purification https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQMzaa15yIc&t=173 6 Now if there was one uniform instruction it would not work for all of them, there are people for whom the instruction is, you take the rosary beads, take the mala and chant on it the name of God, that is a valid bona fide instruction but there are people who have discarded the mala and they are chanting with their breath, with every breath, well, that is suitable for them now they find that the mala is an encumbrance (hindrance) because they wish to take the name of God always and there is no need to count, you don't count how many times you take the name of your beloved, they want to take it always that is their stage and then there are people who are not taking the name of God why because their minds are naturally absorbed in God, the name was the means, they have reached the goal of absorption in God, they don't feel the need of it so there are all different categories of people, now you try to fit everybody in one instruction it is not possible, so the vedas they recognize this variety and they cater to it, that is the beauty of it https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQMzaa15yIc&t=215 7 here theory does not result in understanding, a realization is needed, so approach a guru who has realized this knowledge, and through him you will be able to clarify all these doubts and get a true understanding , when the theory is clarified, the practical will be easy and if there is doubt in the theory, you will be confused at the time of the practical https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQMzaa15yIc&t=229 8 now here shri Krishna is the guru of Arjuna because arjuna has surrendered to him so although He is God, He is now in His divine leela as guru and He is enlightening Arjun, so having spoken throughout this chapter about duties he now turns the topic and says Arjun, those who are enlightened, have no duties, why not, because they are now directly performing the higher duty, there is one karma, the actions, and there is the other – devotion, so they have got hold of bhakti (devotion), now that duty is immaterial to them as they are discharging a higher duty https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQMzaa15yIc&t=469 9 these worldly duties like I said were meant for our gradual elevation, they have reached that point, they have passed through the university of the world, like you have a university, for the students in the university it is obligatory for them to follow the rules of the university, if they don't have sufficient attendance they will not be allowed to take the Exam, they must attend the classes. they must submit their homeworks because they are students, now somebody who has passed the university Now, that person if the professor says I don't see you in college ?, what is this Mr Professor, tell these things to your Students, don't tell them to me as I'm already a graduate, this university is not applicable and relevant to me any longer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQMzaa15yIc&t=528 10 similarly the vedas are meant for us conditioned souls, to help us get enlightened, they are not for the enlightened souls, the vedas are saying the enlightened soul places his feet on the head of the vedas and walks, so the rules of the vedas are not applicable to the God realized souls, you can't ask the God realized saints that this is the code of conduct in the world, why are you not following it ? the God realized says I am not of this world, I am directly with God. God himself is not obliged to follow dharma, we people we get confused shri Krishna why did he steal butter Himself, He has instructed in the bhagavad-gita you must not steal anything and Himself He goes to the house of gopis to steal butter, He has no respect for the rules, what kind of God is He ? the rules are not for Him the rules are for us https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQMzaa15yIc&t=596 11 even in the world, it is the same there are a set of rules for the children, they are not applicable to the adults, the father says beta it's your exam Tomorrow, sit and study I and mummy will watch the television, the child says, papa, what is this you? say something and do something else, you are watching the television and making me Study, I will also sit and do exactly what you are doing, the father says my child at your stage, this is your duty when you grow up and you have a job then you can also sit comfortably and watch the movie https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQMzaa15yIc&t=685 12 you can't copy what i am doing, now if we eliminate all these classes and say well you know we should all do the same thing, that is incorrect, rules of the vedas were created for us for our purification, once the soul is with God, the vedas return that soul who has attained God is now “Krit” (कृत), “Krit” (कृत) is work that is done & “krity” (कृत्य) is to do, so he has already done what he had to do because he has attained what he had to Attain, so now those shastras which were saying this is right & this is wrong, that this is vidhi (विधि- “what to do”) this is nished (निषेद- “what NOT to do”), they (vedas) all return saying that he has gone beyond our territory, he has now gone to God https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQMzaa15yIc&t=728 13 just like you know, a pandit ji, he gets a boy and a girl married, so he says alright now hold the hands, now recite the mantras, throw water like this, circle around the fire, the ceremony is over, he says i declare you husband and Wife, i am now going his work is finished, let's say after five years, the wife says you know pandit ji, all those vows you made my husband took, he's not following them, now whether you both follow or don't follow that is your concern, my job is complete, my job was to unite you as husband wife after that, it is your lookout https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQMzaa15yIc&t=809 14 similarly the vedas are like that pandit ji, the soul is to be united with God, once that is done, the vedas say now our work is over now don't call us back https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQMzaa15yIc&t=894 15 so Krishna makes it very clear, Arjuna i have told you all these duties, now don't apply them But Guruji you know you are telling us to do this and you are not doing the same thing, guruji is at a different level because whatever he is doing, he is doing for the welfare of the souls, so that is why shri Krishna says Arjun, those souls who have got enlightened, for them, there is no duty but then this creates the confusion that what is Arjun supposed to do because shri Krishna gave one instruction then He gave the other, so for Arjun what is the appropriate path now should he accept his duty or reject it ? ultimately Arjun you know he may pretend to be in ignorance but he's actually God realized so Arjun can say well in that case I have no duty so i don't have to fight this war, so shri Krishna is going to resolve this in the coming verses in a very beautiful and convincing manner so we will look into that https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQMzaa15yIc&t=867 Transcript Intro 0:03 the vedas are talking of do your duty 0:06 do your duty but at the same time keep 0:10 your mind in God and then He ends the 0:13 gita “sarva dharman paritaya….” 0:20 Arjun, just give up all this and just surrender and devote yourself 0:24 to me 0:25 you don't need to consider any of this 0:27 so now i imagine three clearly distinct 0:31 levels of instructions in the same one Bhagavad-Gita 0:35 and the same thing with our scriptures 0:47 the more you read the scriptures the 0:49 more confused you become i approached 0:52 them for knowledge and what i got was 0:55 doubt 0:57 if there was one single instruction we 1:00 could universally accept it and 1:03 implement it but our vedas abound in 1:06 this you're going in this direction and 1:08 suddenly there's a diversion and then 1:10 there is another diversion and another 1:12 diversion so the poor traveler becomes 1:14 confused 1:16 so what should i do 1:20 bhagavad-gita chapter 3 karma yoga Verse 17 1:24 verse chanting is followed by 1:25 translation and commentary by swami 1:28 mukundananda 1:34 yes Bhagavad Gita Chapter 3 Verse 17 Chanting 1:51 me 1:55 “BG 3.17 But those who rejoice in the self, who are illumined and fully satisfied in the self, for them, there is no duty”. Bhagavad Gita Chapter 3 Verse 17 Translation by Swami Mukundananda 2:13 having talked all the while about duty 2:16 duty duty 2:18 he now comes to this point saying that Does Karma Yog apply to you? Lord Krishna answers 2:21 those who are illumined for them there 2:23 is no duty 2:26 that is what makes philosophy so complex 2:30 if there was one single instruction we 2:34 could universally accept it and 2:36 implement it 2:38 but our vedas abound in this you are 2:41 going in this direction and suddenly 2:43 there is a diversion 2:44 and then there is another diversion and 2:46 another diversion so the poor traveler 2:49 becomes confused 2:50 so what should i do 2:53 well the fact is 2:54 the vedas are and the vedic literature 2:57 are presenting subtle knowledge 3:01 so that knowledge is subtle it has got 3:04 numerous branches to it 3:09 it's like 3:10 you can't fit the same shirt to everyone 3:15 similarly the same instruction doesn't 3:18 fit everyone 3:21 different shlokas for different folks 3:26 everybody is at a different level of 3:28 enlightenment at a different level of 3:32 growth different level of purification 3:35 Now if there was one uniform instruction 3:39 it would not work for all of them 3:43 there are people 3:44 for whom the instruction is you take the 3:47 rosary beads take the mala 3:50 and chant on it the name of God 3:55 that is a valid bona fide instruction 3:59 but there are people 4:01 who have discarded the mala 4:04 and they are chanting with their breath 4:07 with every breath 4:09 well that is suitable for them 4:14 now they find that the mala is an 4:16 encumbrance 4:19 because they wish to take the name of 4:21 God always and there is no need to count 4:24 you don't count how many times you take 4:26 the name of your beloved 4:32 they want to take it always 4:35 that is their stage and then there are 4:37 people who are not taking the name of 4:39 God 4:40 why because their minds are naturally 4:43 absorbed in God 4:45 the name was the means they have reached 4:48 the goal of 4:48 absorption in God 4:50 they don't feel the need of it 4:52 so there are all different categories of 4:55 people now you try to fit everybody in 4:57 one instruction it is not possible 5:02 so the vedas they recognize 5:06 this variety 5:08 and they cater to it 5:10 that is the beauty of it 5:13 so if the whole philosophy is so aligned 5:17 you have the varnasrama system the vedas 5:21 are talking of do your duty that's it 5:25 and then the bhagavad-gita also shri 5:27 Krishna starts with that but then he 5:29 moves to karma yoga 5:32 do your duty 5:34 but at the same time keep your mind in 5:37 God 5:39 and then he ends the gita and karma 5:41 sannyas 5:48 “sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam sharanam vraja aham-tvam sarva-papebhyo mokshayishyami ma shuchah” Arjun, give up all 5:50 this and just surrender and devote 5:54 yourself to me 5:57 you don't need to consider any of these 6:00 so now i imagine 6:01 three clearly distinct levels of 6:05 instruction the same one bhagavad-gita 6:09 and the same thing with our scriptures 6:12 so that is why 6:14 it is said that these scriptures 6:18 must be understood with the help of a 6:21 guru 6:25 if we try from our part we will 6:28 naturally become confused 6:40 the more you read the scriptures the 6:42 more confused you become i approached 6:45 them for knowledge and what i got was 6:48 doubt 6:49 here theory 6:51 does not result in understanding 6:56 a realization is needed 6:59 so approach a guru who has realized this 7:03 knowledge 7:05 and through him you will be able to 7:08 clarify all these doubts 7:11 and get a true understanding 7:14 and move on this process in a proper 7:19 manner 7:20 when the theory is clarified the 7:24 practical will be easy 7:27 and if there is doubt in the theory 7:31 you will be confused at the time of the 7:33 practical 7:35 so 7:36 it is important to clarify this 7:39 that is why the vedas tell us 7:43 you use the scriptures 7:45 and understand them through the guru 7:49 now here shri Krishna is the guru of 7:51 arjuna 7:53 because arjuna has surrendered to him so 7:55 although he is God he is now in his 7:58 divine leela as guru and he is 8:01 enlightening Arjun 8:02 so having spoken throughout this chapter 8:06 about duties 8:09 he now 8:10 turns the topic and says arjun those who 8:13 are enlightened have no duties 8:17 why not 8:19 because 8:20 they are now directly performing the 8:23 higher duty 8:26 there is one karma 8:28 the actions 8:30 and there is the other devotion 8:34 so they have got hold of bhakti devotion 8:39 now that duty is immaterial to them 8:43 they are discharging a higher duty 8:48 these worldly duties like i said were 8:51 meant for our gradual elevation 8:55 they have reached that point 8:58 they have passed through the university 9:01 of the world 9:03 like you have a university 9:06 now the students in the university 9:09 it is obligatory for them to follow the 9:12 rules of the university 9:15 if they don't have sufficient attendance 9:18 they will not be allowed to take the 9:20 exam 9:23 they must attend the classes they must 9:25 submit their homeworks because they are 9:27 students 9:29 now somebody has passed the university 9:33 now that person if the professor says i 9:37 don't see you in college 9:39 what is this 9:41 mr professor tell these things to your 9:44 students don't tell them to me 9:46 i'm already a graduate 9:49 this university is not applicable and 9:52 relevant to me any longer 9:56 similarly the vedas are meant for us 10:00 conditioned souls 10:02 to help us get enlightened 10:04 they are not for the enlightened souls 10:07 verse 10:10 the vedas are saying the enlightened 10:13 soul places his feet on the head of the 10:17 vedas and walks 10:19 so the rules of the vedas are not 10:22 applicable to the God realized souls 10:26 you can't ask the God realized saints 10:28 this is the code of conduct in the world 10:32 why are you not following it 10:36 the God realized says i am not of 10:38 this world 10:40 i am directly with God 10:44 God himself is not obliged to follow 10:47 dharma 10:50 we people 10:51 we get confused 10:53 shri Krishna 10:55 why did he steal butter 10:58 himself he has instructed in the 11:00 bhagavad-gita 11:02 verse 11:08 you must not steal anything 11:11 and himself he goes to the house of 11:13 gopis to steal butter he has no respect 11:17 for the rules what kind of God is he 11:21 the rules are not for him 11:23 the rules are for us 11:25 even in the world it is the same there 11:27 are a set of rules for the children they 11:30 are not applicable to the adults 11:33 the father says beta it's your exam 11:36 tomorrow sit and study i and mummy will 11:39 watch the television 11:43 the child says papa what is this you say 11:46 something and do something you are 11:47 watching the television and making me 11:49 study i will also sit and do exactly 11:52 what you are doing 11:54 the father says my child 11:56 at your stage this is your duty 12:00 when you grow up and you have a job 12:03 then you can also sit comfortably and 12:06 watch the movie 12:08 but you can't copy what i am doing 12:13 now if we eliminate all these classes 12:16 and say well you know we should all do 12:17 the same thing 12:19 that is incorrect 12:22 rules of the vedas 12:24 were created for us for our purification 12:29 once the soul is with God 12:33 the vedas return 12:36 verse 12:53 that soul who has attained God 12:57 is now 13:00 “Krit” (कृत) 13:01 “Krit” (कृत) is 13:02 work that is done “krity” (कृत्य) is to do, so he 13:06 has already done what he had to do 13:09 because he has attained what he had to 13:12 attain 13:13 so 13:16 now those shastras which were saying this 13:18 is right this is wrong this is vidhi (विधि- “what to do”) 13:20 this is nished (निषेद- “what NOT to do”), they (vedas) all return he has 13:23 gone beyond our territory 13:26 he has now gone to God 13:29 just like you know a pandit ji 13:32 he gets a boy and a girl married 13:35 so he says alright now hold the hands 13:38 all right now recite the mantras 13:41 throw water like this 13:43 circle around the fire the ceremony is 13:46 over he says i declare you husband and 13:48 wife i am now going 13:50 his work is finished 13:52 let's say after five years the wife says 13:54 you know pandit ji all those 13:56 vows you made my husband take he's not 13:59 following them 14:02 now whether you both follow don't follow 14:04 that is your concern 14:06 my job is complete 14:09 my job was to unite you as husband wife 14:12 after that it is your lookout 14:14 similarly the vedas are like that 14:16 pandit ji 14:18 the soul is to be united with God 14:22 once that is done 14:24 the vedas say now our work is over now 14:27 don't call us back 14:30 so shri Krishna makes it very clear 14:32 arjuna i have told you all these 14:35 duties now don't apply them 14:38 guruji you know you are telling us 14:40 to do this and you are not doing it 14:43 guruji is at a different level 14:46 because whatever he is doing is doing 14:48 for the welfare of the souls 14:52 so that is why shri Krishna says arjun 14:56 those souls 14:58 who have got enlightened 15:00 for them 15:01 there is no duty 15:05 but then this creates the confusion that 15:07 what is arjun supposed to do 15:11 because shri Krishna gave one 15:12 instruction then he gave the other 15:14 so for arjun what is the appropriate 15:17 path now should he accept his duty or 15:19 reject it 15:20 ultimately arjun you know he may pretend 15:23 to be in ignorance but he's actually God 15:25 realized so arjun can say well in that 15:27 case i have no duty so i don't have to 15:30 fight this war 15:32 so shri Krishna is going to resolve this 15:34 in the coming verses in a very beautiful 15:37 and convincing manner 15:39 so we will look into that but not today 15:42 tomorrow Standby link (in case youtube link does not work): Does Karma Yoga Apply to YOU Watch Lord Krishna's Answer Swami Mukundananda Bhagavad Gita.mp4
