Jay: Grandma, I am confused by different terms you used. Please explain to me clearly what is the difference between renunciation (Samnyāsa) and selfless work (KarmaYoga)?
Grandma: Some people think renunciation means walking away from family, home, possessions, and living in a cave or the forest or any other place outside society. But Lord Krishna defined Samnyāsa as giving up selfish motives behind all work (Gita 6.01, 18.02). In KarmaYoga one gives up (selfish) desire of enjoying the results of one’s work. Thus a Samnyāsi is an advanced KarmaYogi who does not do anything for personal benefit. True Samnyāsa is giving up of the ego and it leads to Nirvana or Moksha.
Jay: What is ego, Grandma?
Grandma: Ego generally means pride or very high opinion about oneself. In a spiritual sense in the Gita it means the notion that a person is the doer, owner and enjoyer; when in a true sense Lord is the doer, owner of everything in the cosmos as well as the enjoyer. We all are just His instruments or tools; and trustees of all we own (Gita 11.33). Nirvana is not possible without giving up of the ego. And giving up of the ego is not possible without true spiritual knowledge of the Gita. Lord made ego to run the affairs of the society, but we must give up ego before we leave this world.
Jay: Does that mean I can’t do anything for myself that gives me pleasure?
Grandma: That depends on what kind of pleasure you have in mind. Actions such as smoking, drinking, gambling, and taking drugs appear enjoyable in the beginning, but definitely produce harmful results in the end. Poison may taste delicious when you drink it, but you know its deadly results when it is too late. On the other hand, actions, such as meditation, worship, and helping the needy, seem difficult or boring in the beginning, but give very useful
results in the end (Gita 5.22, 18.38). A very good rule to follow is to avoid any activity that seems pleasurable in the beginning but causes harmful effects in the end.
Jay: What kinds of activities in society are available, Grandma?
Grandma: In the ancient Vedic way of living, activities of human beings were divided into four universal types of human labor described by Lord Krishna (Gita 4.13, 18.41-44). These four divisions Brāhmana, Kshatriya, Vaishya, and Shudra were based on the mental, intellectual, and physical abilities of persons. The worth of the individual not the birth or social level one was born into was the deciding factor. But these four orders are often mistaken for the caste system of modern times in India and elsewhere. The caste system is based on birth only. Those who were interested in learning, teaching, preaching, and guiding people in spiritual matters were called Brāhmanas or intellectuals. Those who could defend the country, establish law and order, prevent crime, and administer justice were called Kshatriyas, the warriors. Those who were good in farming, cattle-raising, business, trade, finance, commerce, and industry were known as Vaishyas or businessmen.
Those who were very good in service and labor work were classed as Shudras or workers. People are born with certain abilities or could develop them through training and effort. Birth into a family at a certain social level, whether high or low, does not decide one’s worth. The four Varna system was work assigned according to individual’s skills and ability. Unfortunately, the four work classifications became degraded into hundreds of rigid castes to the detriment of this great Dharma. Swami Vivekananda considers modern day caste system in India as a big blot on the face of our great way of life (Dharma). Even some of our educated immigrants from India are forming caste-based associations here in the USA !
Jay: How can anybody living and working in society attain liberation?
Grandma: Work becomes worship when done as a service to the Lord and without selfish attachment to the results. If you work honestly for which you are suited, you incur no Kārmic reaction and attain God. If you take on work that was not meant for you, such work produces stress, and you will not be very successful. It is important to find proper work that best suits your own nature. So you should know yourself before you can decide on the job that will be suitable for you (Gita 18.47). Then your work will not produce stress and will encourage creativity. There is no perfect job. Every job has some faults (Gita 18.48). You should not be concerned about such faults in your duty in life. You can attain God by doing your duty with devotion to God and keeping your senses under control by some spiritual practice.
Chapter 18 summary:
Lord Krishna said that there is no real difference between a KarmaYogi and Samnyāsi. A KarmaYogi gives up the selfish attachment to the fruits of work, whereas a Samnyāsi does not work for any personal gain at all. There are two types of pleasures helpful and harmful. Society has different work to suit different people. One should choose work wisely. You can get Godrealization while living in society by following the three D’s Duty, Discipline and Devotion to God.