Devotion brings knowledge into action and action into
knowledge by Chaitanya Charan Das Based on Bhagavad Gita Chapter 04
In Vedic wisdom, two main paths are the path of action,
karma-yoga, and the path of knowledge, jnana-yoga.
Gita wisdom explains how the strengths of both these paths
are integrated in bhakti-yoga, which is the path of not just devotion, but of
devotion that integrates action and knowledge.
Devotion brings knowledge into action: The Gita explains how
action can be infused with knowledge so that it leads not to bondage but to
liberation. It (04.23) urges us to act in knowledge with the mood of sacrifice.
Later it (09.24) reveals the object of sacrifice to be Krishna. And it (18.57)
conclusively integrates both these insights when it urges us to use our
intelligence for offering our work to Krishna. Such intellectually illumined
and devotionally directed actions are liberating.
Devotion brings action into knowledge: The path of knowledge
holds that because action causes bondage, we should give up all action to
become free from bondage. But the Gita (03.05) declares that staying inactive
as a sustained manner of living is impossible. The Gita (05.06) further asserts
that mere renunciation without action breeds misery, whereas action
spiritualized by yoga makes liberation joyfully attainable. And conclusively
(18.54) it conveys how jnana-yoga culminates not in inaction, but in pure
devotion and its associated selfless action: After jnana-yogis have attained
the perfection of equal vision, they attain pure devotion. Thus, devotional
action comprises the post-graduation stage of jnana-yoga.
When our action is thus guided by knowledge and our
knowledge is enlivened by action and when both are permeated with the intention
of love – love for the Supreme and love for all living beings in relationship
with the Supreme – we can naturally and efficaciously move towards life’s
supreme perfection.
As bhakti-yoga synthesizes and synergizes the strengths of
both karma-yoga and jnana-yoga, it embodies the perfection of yoga.
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