Detachment vs. Karma

This is beautiful. I wrote the post on detachment vs. indifference and while i was writing it, i was thinking, but i must focus on action vs. non-action also. And i thought i would do so in the next post. And i got a beautiful reminder through a comment that this indeed needs discussion. Thank you!

There is a difference between detachment and not doing anything. We need to perform deeds in our lifetime - it is the very purpose for which we are born. This is commonly called our karma which in Hindi means simply 'karm' or deeds. We are the only living beings capable of performing actions in a mindful manner. Animals can perform actions (plants cannot) but animals rely only on instinct. Humans instead have instinct, intuition and intellect with which to perform actions. Hence action is an important and expected part of our lives. Action in turn should be determined by dharma or duty. I must perform those actions which are my duty. Duties are towards myself, my family, near and dear ones, work, society, nation and world at large. Hence karma follows from dharma and detachment flows from karma. These are the holy trinity on earth as far as we humans are concerned. Dharma, Karma and Detachment are our guiding principles. 

Once we have done our duty through our deeds, we can move to detachment. But never before! A simplistic example will help clarify. Should i be writing this blog? Yes! Because i deeply feel the need to and it is my karma. Should i be expecting followers and positive comments? No! That is detachment. But detachment could not come before karma or before i wrote the post! Then it would be simple laziness or indifference or tamas in my mind and body. That is not desirable in a human - because humans were born to act and perform duty. So in the end it is a beautiful circular argument. Like all things in life that are circular, the question becomes the answer and the answer the question and so on...! 

Comments

[Srinivasan]

Very well thought out and explained. You have explained the main theme of the Gits.

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