Renunciation in Random Thoughts

As i read the Bhagavad Gita, chapter 5 speaks to me. It’s called The Yoga of Renunciation. I don’t know if this will make sense, but what it is talking about is action without desiring the results of the action, also mentioned as selfless action, or non-attachment to results. I think to help process what i am reading, i will include a couple more quotes, like the one last night, then write about it (or not if i have no coherent thoughts to share). These are quotes that make sense to me, and kind of make me feel as if i have already started this path without even knowing anything about it.

”By steadily letting go of the fruits of their actions, yogis attain peace. But unyogic people, motivated my personal desires, are bound to their attachments to their fruits.”

Of course i would struggle with this one, because its difficult to not be motivated by personal desires. Even if my personal desires are not the typical accumulation of wealth or things, i still am pretty attached to the fruits of my sexual/sensual explorations.

”By mentally renouncing the fruits of their actions, yogis’ minds becomes disciplined. This they know themselves to be the Atman (the inner Self), happily abiding in the city of nine gates (the body). They know that they are not the doers who act or cause to act.”

…not the doers who act or cause to act… Inside each of us is our Self, with a capital S because it is the inner core of our being. This inner core to our being is also connected with that of everyone else in the world (but that is not what i am trying to get into). That inner Self is who you are, not the doer, the act-er, or the recipient of all the sensory overload we deal with in our daily lives. It is pure distilled I. But what does that mean? Its your essence. You could call it your soul. With that in mind…

That quote i wrote last night would be inserted right here

”Those who continually think about That (Self), merge with it and settle into it. Whoever knows this as their goal will no longer be subject to rebirth [because] Self-realization dispels any remaining flaws.

Those who have realized the Self see that same Self equally in a humble scholar, a cow, a dog, or a dog -eater.”

And, finally,

”By withdrawing attention from external things, mentally focusing back between the eyebrows and equalizing the in and out breaths (pranayama), thus you control the mind, the sense, and the discerning intellect (buddhi). [Then] by aiming for nothing else but absolute and unconditional freedom (moksha), personal desires, fear, and anger naturally drop away, and you undoubtedly experience final liberation (moksha).”

So, at this point i am not sure i have much to say. This version of the Gita has commentary which kind of translates each of these verse, but i am not sure you really want a recap of a translation, haha. But i will leave you with one line from the translation that can be a quote for my journey thus far, a mile marker so to speak:

Happiness can never come from outside. Even if it seems to be coming from outside, it’s only a reflection of your own inner happiness.