The twenty-first in a series of talks by Swami Nirmalananda Giri (Abbot George Burke) on the Bhagavad Gita, India’s most famous scripture: the unforgettable dialog between Sri Krishna and Arjuna about the essence of spiritual life.
In this talk, starting with Chapter 4:22, Swamiji discusses the spiritual qualities needed for success in yoga, how to dissolve karma, the prayer used by monks before meals, the different types of offerings in spiritual life, plus other aspects of Krishna’a teachings in the Gita.
Here are the Gita verses (4:22–4:28) covered in this talk:
Content with what comes unbidden, beyond the pairs of opposites and free from envy, the same in success or failure, even though acting, he is not bound. (4:22)
The karma of one who is free from attachment, whose thought is established in knowledge, undertaking action for sacrifice, is wholly dissolved. (4:23)
Brahman is the offering, Brahman is the oblation poured out by Brahman into the fire of Brahman. Brahman is to be attained by him who always sees Brahman in action. (4:24)
Some yogis offer sacrifice to the gods alone, while others offer the Self as sacrifice unto the Self into the fire that is Brahman. (4:25)
Others offer senses such as hearing into the fires of restraint; others, sound; and others objects of the senses into the fire of the senses. (4:26)
Some offer all the actions of the senses and the functions of the life force (prana) into the fire of the yoga of self-restraint, which is enkindled by knowledge. (4:27)
Those whose sacrifices take the form of yoga offer material possessions and tapasya as sacrifices; while ascetics with stringent vows offer self-analysis and knowledge as sacrifice. (4:28)
Summary of Swami Nirmalananda’s Talk on Qualities for Success in Yoga:
- Contentment with What Comes Unbidden: Success in spiritual life involves being content with what life brings, even if not actively sought. This reflects an acceptance of life’s events as outcomes of past actions (karma), without resistance or attachment.
- Beyond Pairs of Opposites: One should transcend dualities like pleasure and pain, success and failure, seeing these as parts of the divine play or drama. This detachment helps in recognizing the divine in all circumstances.
- Freedom from Envy: Envy, or coveting what others have, binds one to the material world. Freedom from envy signifies an inner peace and satisfaction with one’s own path and lot in life.
- Consistency in Success or Failure: Acting without being bound by the results, maintaining equanimity whether one succeeds or fails, is key. This mindset prevents the creation of new karma through mental and emotional reactions.
- Acting Without Binding Karma: Physical actions are not the primary factor karma; it is the mental and emotional state during action that creates karma. Acting with a mind focused on divine consciousness minimizes karmic accumulation.
- Sacrifice and Offering to Brahman: All actions should be viewed as offerings to Brahman (the Ultimate Reality). This includes offering the self into the self, which is the highest form of yoga, leading to spiritual liberation.
- Control of Senses and Prana: Offering the functions of the senses and life force (prana) to self-restraint, kindled by true spiritual knowledge, aids in detaching from worldly distractions and focusing on the divine.
- Self-Analysis and Knowledge as Sacrifice: Advanced practitioners use self-analysis to transcend lower self-identities, offering this understanding back to the Divine. This process is crucial for spiritual growth, avoiding intellectual ego traps.
- Awareness of Spiritual Vulnerability: Despite spiritual progress, one must remain vigilant against potential spiritual downfall due to ego or distraction, emphasizing the importance of ongoing practice and awareness.
Swami Nirmalananda emphasizes these qualities not just as prerequisites but as ongoing practices essential for spiritual success, illustrating that spiritual life is about transformation through awareness and dedication to a higher consciousness.
