Srimad Bhagavat Gita commentary chapter 18 verse 25

 Chapter 18 verse 25               

“That action is declared to be in the mode of ignorance, which is begun out of delusion, without thought to one’s own ability, and disregarding consequences, loss, and injury to others.” 

Actions which have no connection to reality, started and undertaken with no regard to one’s health condition, financial condition and mental make-up or ability, which ignores the consequence and effect on others, is considered actions of ignorance. Bhagwan notes that such actions leads to decay of the person’s spiritual progress as well as the general decay of society itself. Metaphorically, it has been stated in the scriptures that such persons are relegated to the seven nether worlds. These worlds could be just construed as baser aspects of our mental state which doesn’t lend itself to a happy existence.

 

Srimad Bhagavat Gita commentary chapter 18 verse 24

Chapter 18 verse 24               

“Action that is prompted by selfish desire, enacted with pride, and full of stress, is in the nature of passion.” 

A lot of us in the corporate and business world as well as several other walks of life are driven by mode of passion or rajas. What are some of the traits exhibited in rajas? Constant worry for particular results of action, stress about outcome, pride in doer ship of action, selfish expectation of recognition of the work done and acknowledgement of help rendered. We want people to notice our presence in everything and “ego” takes a hurt if they don’t. We bring our ego to the center of the activity. A spiritual guide of mine used to chide me for this mode of mine and asked if everything I do is a project with a particular result to be obtained. It was a rude awakening then but I often catch myself getting into this mode. It is with divine grace and our own effort that we can get out completely from this mode and do activities with mode of purity.

Srimad Bhagavat Gita commentary chapter 18 verse 23

 Chapter 18 verse 23               

“Action that is in accordance with the scriptures, which is free from attachment and aversion, and which is done without desire for rewards, is in the mode of goodness.”

What is right, pure action? It could be very subjective. Bhagwan provides an unequivocal statement of purity in action. Purity has 3 criteria-needs to be in according to the Vedas (replace that with any other Divine scripture), drop the doer ship and desire for the result of the action and finally action is done free from any attachment or aversion towards that action. This debate or question has arisen in various ages, societies and people and have been provided different answers. Bhagwan’s answer is satisfying and the absolute truth since it is complete. What one doesn’t follow any scriptures to guide their action? What should one do? Following dharma-doing the right thing which supports the ability of the human being to attain divinity is the right action. Centering ourselves and mentally answering this question would prevent us from performing the inappropriate action at any time.

Srimad Bhagavat Gita commentary chapter 18 verse 22

 Chapter 18 verse 22               

“That knowledge is said to be in the mode of ignorance where one is engrossed in a fragmental concept as if it encompasses the whole, and which is neither grounded in reason nor based on the truth.” 

“Ekam Sat, Vipraha Bahuda Vadanthi-There is one absolute truth, the wise talk about it in various ways”. This is the best summary of various true religions which highlights and promotes universal values such as love, compassion, truth and non-violence of body and mind. When partial or incomplete knowledge of the world and what is not true becomes the basis of existence, then the person’s actions emanating from this incomplete knowledge is said to be performed in the mode of ignorance or tāmasa and would drag one down the dreary path of sorrow and strife.

Srimad Bhagavat Gita commentary chapter 18 verse 21

 Chapter 18 verse 21               

“That knowledge is to be considered in the mode of passion by which one sees the manifold living entities in diverse bodies as individual and unconnected.” 

There are a few concepts in sanatana dharma stated such as matam and varna. Matam stands for opinion and later morphed to religion and sects. Varna stands for divisions in society based on dispositions of division of labor and path of least resistance for that individual to attain bliss and peace in their lives. Varna has been morphed to caste and discrimination over time. This decay or need to find differences between human beings is not restricted to sanatana dharma society but all through the world due to the mode of passion in which a lot of us operate. Rājasic tendencies force us to look at the world in the differences which exists in our own minds- by country, caste, religion, sex, background, origin of birth etc. Let us search for the absolute truth around us. Loving and Serving all is the highest service and behavior we all can have. 

Srimad Bhagavat Gita commentary chapter 18 verse 20

 Chapter 18 verse 20               

“Understand that knowledge to be in the mode of goodness by which a person sees one undivided imperishable reality within all diverse living beings.” 

That knowledge or wisdom which enables the person to view all creation as manifestation of the Supreme Divine and sees divinity in all sentient beings is said to be of pure or Sāttvik nature. The parochial differences don’t mean anything to this person and they are considered wise beings. I haven’t come across any great spiritual stalwart in the Sanatana dharma tradition who hasn’t welcomed all beings irrespective of religion and disposition into the path of spiritual seeking. That state clearly displays wisdom of the highest order.

Srimad Bhagavat Gita commentary chapter 18 verse 19

 Chapter 18 verse 19               

“Knowledge, action, and the doer are declared to be of three kinds in the Sānkhya philosophy, distinguished according to the three modes of material nature. Listen, and I will explain their distinctions to you.” 

All the three factors which induce action is also of three modes of material nature. These three modes would distinguish all actions done by human beings. Sānkhya philosophy is one of the six core philosophies in sanatana dharma and covers the distinction between the immutable soul-purusha and material world-prakriti. It was postulated by Sage Kapila, an incarnation of Bhagwan Vishnu per Srimad Bhagavatam. Bhagwan Sri Krishna oftens refers to Sānkhya as basis of knowledge of the soul and the material world. Sānkhya, however doesn’t recognize the supreme soul or Paramatma-the philosophy is also called Nir-Iswara Sānkhya. The other 5 philosophies are Vaisesika, Nyaya, Sa-Isvara Sānkhya, Purva mimamsa, Uttara mimamsa (otherwise called Vedanta!). We will now explore the three modes of knowledge, action and doer in the next verses.