Rightful Action-Basis of Conscious Living
5th Jul 2022 | Author - Viraj Malik
There is absolutely no possibility to avoid action as long as we live. However in everyone's life there are instances where we are confused on the right course of action
So how do we decide what is "rightful action"?
Few of us decide on the basis of our belief system, few of us decide on the basis of advice received, and few of us decide on the spur of the moment. Few of us would even go and refer to timeless manuals like Bhagwat Geeta and see what Lord Krishna said to Arjuna about action when he was in a confused state about whether to fight the battle with his own brothers. The Wisdom of Shree Krishna is documented as dialogues between Arjuna and Krishna and is a timeless classic. In this epic guide, Shree Krishna expounds on Karm Yog, or the Yog of Action, in detail. His teaching to Arjuna on the Yoga of Action can be summarized as follows:
- Nobody can remain without action, even for a moment.
- Karm yogis work diligently to fulfil their responsibilities externally, but internally they are unattached to them, so an action is rightful if we are not attached to the action.
- Karm Yogi remains unattached to the result of action. An action whose motivation is the fruit is not a rightful action.
- All living beings are an integral part of God’s creation and have roles and responsibilities to fulfil. An action which fits our role and is the best course possible in the situation, as per our role and responsibility, is the right action.
Most of our actions are a result of how we react to this world, and for us to react rightfully, we need to develop the right conditions within us. Yoga of any kind works at our being to set these conditions within us and make us more conscious. Combining physical postures with the practice of pranayama and meditation can lead to tremendous benefits like,
- Clear our minds of the conditioning of past-limiting experiences and beliefs.
- Through self-study, we can understand our current state and free ourselves from negative emotions like fear, jealousy, and a craving for physical pleasure.
- Excessive planning, intentions, and expectations of results.
Yoga makes us more alive and even more conscious. Only with conscious living can right action flow, making life enjoyable and effortless.
