Gita Acharan

  K rishna says that we have the right to do karma (action) but have no right over karma-phal (fruits of action) (2.47). This does not mean that we gravitate towards akarma , which is inaction or mere reaction to circumstances. In a sense this verse talks of awareness and compassion - awareness that karma and karma-phal are separate and compassion towards others as well as ourselves. Krishna says that without performing karma , our survival is impossible as the maintenance of the physical body requires karma like eating etc. (3.8). The gunas ( satva, rajo and tamo ) constantly drive us towards karma (3.5). Hence, there is hardly any place for akarma . The literal meaning of akarma is inaction. But the context suggests that it connotes reaction. For example, if we observe our tendencies while going through the news, we’ll realise that several reactions are generated in us. This happens when we see, hear or read about our beliefs like religion, caste, nationality...

  K rishna says that we have the right to perform karma (action) but have no right over karma-phal (fruits of action) (2.47). If one of our loved ones required surgery, we would look for a competent surgeon with character. His competence would ensure the success of the surgery and his character would ensure that he wouldn’t undertake any unnecessary surgery. In short, we are scouting for a surgeon who is a karma yogi . The two takeaways from this situation help us understand the verse better. We expect all our service providers to be karma yogis and that they should give us the best results that we can hope for. If we apply the same principle of samatva (equanimity) to ourselves, we too should be karma yogis while providing service to other people in our daily life. This verse encourages us to give our best in all that we do - be it in our work or in our family life. Krishna assures us that small steps in the practice of karma yoga bring us closer to samatva by p...