258. Sins and Suffering

 

One of the common fears of humanity is about committing sins (paap). Every culture has evolved around the concept of sin, and the common belief is that all our suffering is due to sins committed in this life or previous ones. Religions thrive on our guilt of committing sins. Even Arjuna’s despondency is because of his belief that he will incur sin by slaying his elders, teachers and relatives. That’s why Krishna elaborates on this issue on various occasions in the Bhagavad Gita.

Firstly, Paramatma takes no account of anyone’s virtue or sin. It is the problem of human beings who are deluded as their knowledge is covered by moha (delusion or ignorance) (5.15). Secondly, one hoping for nothing, with a controlled mind and body, doing mere bodily actions, incurs no sin (4.21). Even if we are the most sinful of sinners, we shall safely cross the sea of sin by the raft of wisdom (4.36). The wisdom is realising ‘That’ by which we will see all beings in the self (4.35).

Thirdly, for karma yogi, no sin would be committed if karma is performed by treating pleasure-pain; gain-loss; and victory-defeat with equipoise (2.38). Krishna calls this equanimity as parama bhakti (supreme devotion) (18.54). Finally, Krishna says, “Abandon all dharmas and take refuge in Me alone. I will liberate you from all sins, grieve not” (18.66).

While learning addition, a child may say that two plus two equals five and this cannot be termed a sin - it is simply ignorance. Similarly, what we call sin is merely an ignorant action arising when knowledge is veiled by moha (delusion). One way to remove this ignorance is to light a candle of wisdom and another path is taking refuge in Paramatma. Suffering disappears once this is realised.