2. Chapter 5 can be divided into 4 sections :
Yogi , Sannyasi and Jnani (Verse 1-7)
How they relate to action (Verse 8-12)
State of Supreme Being (Verse 13-19)
Renunciation precedes meditation and
realisation
(Verse 20-29)
3. * A seeker embarking on a spiritual journey
with vasanas/desires is termed a yogi
* Through Karma Yoga ,the Path of Action ,he
sheds the bulk of his vasanas
* While doing so he becomes dispassionate
towards the world and becomes an ascetic ,a
sannyasi
* A sannyasi following the Path of Knowledge
,practises contemplation and meditation
untile he reaches the ultimate state of Self
Realisation to become a jnani, an
Enlightened Soul
4. Verse 5 : That state which is reached by the
sankhyas is used by the yogis also ; he who
sees sankhya and yoga as one , he sees
Yogis use organs of action (karma indriyas)
more for their spiritual development
Sanyassis use the organs of perception (jnana
indriyas ) more for their evolution
The masters who have risen to great spiritual
heights have an overall objective view of the
world. They feel nothing but love and
compassion for one and all .
5. Yogi Detaches himself from worldly
entanglements and directs all his physical,
mental and intellectual activities towards his
own self purification
Sannyasi In a state of dispassion dedicates all
his actions to Brahma and acts without any
attachment
Jnani Merges with the Self and realizes that
the Self does not act at all . Remains a silent
witness while the senses contact the sense
objects .
6. V10 He who dedicating his actions to
Brahman ,acts abandoning attachment ,is not
tainted by sin as is a lotus leaf by water
A lotus leaf is born, lives and dies in water.
Yet in its entire life it never gets wet. Its
greasy surface detaches from the water.It is
simultaneously both in and out of the water.
Furthermore it remains ever exposed to the
sun above. The lotus leaf in the pond
compares well with the life of a sannyasi in
the world.The sannyasi is born in the world
and lives and dies in it , but remains totally
detached from it .
7. His focus on the Supreme Self separates him
from the world. His interest and attention
remain ever focused on Brahman, detaching
him from worldly perceptions , emotions and
thoughts.
Living thus in a spirit of total dedication and
detachment he enjoys peace and bliss, free
from sin , free from mental agitation .
8. Self though the primeval cause of actions is
neither liable for the merit or the demerit .
It is neither the actor nor the action nor is it
responsible for the fruits of action .
He whose ignorance has been removed by the
Knowledge of the Self reaches the Supreme state
of Being whence there is no return .
He maintains a universal vision of oneness and
openness and forever transcends the cycle of
birth and death.
9. V15 – The Lord accepts neither the sin nor even
the virtue of anyone ; knowledge is veiled in
ignorance, beings are thereby deluded
The Supreme Reality Brahman is the very
substratum of all activities,whether sinful or
virtuous.Brahman is like a screen in a movie
theatre. Though the base of all movies ,the
screen has nothing to do with what is projected
on it. The screen always remains unaffected by
whatever takes place on it. So too Brahman
remains immaculate. It is the primeval source of
all activities but ever untainted by their nature
and quality .
10. The wise understand the ephemeral nature of
contact born enjoyments and prevent any desire
from developing into an uncontrollable force or
momentum
Instead of indulging in temporary bouts of
sensual pleasure , they divert their interest to
the Self within.
Freeing from desires, subduing the mind and
turning introvert , they begin to revel in the biss
of the Self and become fit for meditation .
11. Unattached to external contacts one finds
the happiness that is in the Self ; uniting
oneself to Brahman by yoga one attains
eternal bliss
The human mind attached to the world
suffers agitations and sorrows. When the
mind turns towards the Self it becomes
peaceful. You gain a relative happiness.
Continue your introvertedness until your
mind completely merges with the Self. You
then attain eternal peace and happiness.
12. True happiness does not lie in the world outside
It is found in the Self within through mental
detachment from the world
The process of finding happiness within one own’s
Self may be difficult to and slow but it cannot be
found anywhere else.
The three yogas karma(action), bhakti(devotion),and
jnana(knowledge)reduce the desires that veil your
Divine Self. With the reduction of desires your mind
withdraws from its preoccupation with the world and
gains equanamity .
Only an equanamious mind can practise single-
pointed meditation and realise the Supreme Self.
You will then reach the abode of Brahman , the state
of eternal bliss. The process may be slow but sure.