Mystic Mantra: To lead by example

Na karmanaamanaarambhaannaishkarmyam purushoo-
ashnute
Na cha sannyasanaadeva siddhim samadhigachchhati
— Bhagwad Gita, Chapter 3, Verse 4

Neither does a man become free of karmas, without having stepped into the cycle of karma, nor does he attain ultimate bliss and merger merely by giving up on karma, says Lord Krishna. Often people mistake spirituality for esca-pism. It is not. The Gita holds karma (action) as pradhan (supreme). The body made of the three gunas is designed to perform karmas; it cannot remain inactive even for a nanosecond. Lord Krishna and Lord Ram, when they took birth as human, performed karmas even though they were gods. It is foolish to think that one can escape karma.

The one, who outwardly restrains from senses and actions but dwells upon them in the mind, is a “mithyaachaari”(hypocrite) as per the Gita, because karma is what you do and also what you think. Suppressing desires or running away from them is not the solution, rising to the extent that they stop having an effect on you and you control them (not vice-versa) is yog, and for this one needs to engage in the senses and actions, not for self, but for creation.

The one who performs his duty towards creation, without attachment, rises over karma and achieves finality. The one who engages in living for self or in a life of inaction, wastes his life and birth. Whatever the leaders and role models of the time do, whatever standards they set, the masses follow suit, explains the Gita. Lord Krishna directs the wise to act with detachment for the general good the same way as the unwise act with attachment of self-gratification. That is what Lord Krishna did, Lord Ram did, and have yogis and rishis through time immemorial.

Today, in the heyday of negativity, where cows are slaughtered, dogs are pelted, monkeys are executed, humans are hungry, pollution is at its peak and certain so-called gurus are filling their coffers by promising fulfilment of desires to the masses (in contrast to the Gita), it becomes all the more important for the wise to act.

It is upon the gurus and role models to lead by example, by acting to save animals, human beings and all creatures at large, and steering the masses on the same path. The Gita calls on gurus and yogis to not dissuade the men from action or unsettle their mind which is engaged in the senses, but to rather channelise their actions for the benefit of creation, so they may evolve and end their pain and suffering.