May 14, 2011
I came across an interesting post titled "Dharma's Good News: You Are Not a Sinner!" by Rajiv Malhotra.
This brought to mind how in the Bhagavad Geeta, Śrī Kṛṣṇa, effectively redefines sin. In Geeta 3-9, Śrī Kṛṣṇa states that any action performed for a higher purpose (for the sake of yaGYa; in the Geeta, yaGYa is not merely as Vedic ritual but anything done selflessly), liberates the doer while anything done selfishly binds the doer. Śrī Kṛṣṇa drives home the point by going further in the 13th verse:
यज्ञशिष्टाशिनः सन्तो मुच्यन्ते सर्वकिल्बिषैः |
भुञ्जते ते त्वघं पापा ये पचन्त्यात्मकारणात् ||३-१३||
yaGYashishhTaashinaH santo muchyante sarvakilbishhaiH .
bhuJNjate te tvaghaM paapaa ye pachantyaatmakaaraNaat.h .. 3-13..
The righteous, who eat the "remnants of the sacrifices" are freed from all sins; but those sinful ones, who cook food (only) for their own sake, verily eat but sin. 3-13
According to Śrī Kṛṣṇa, anyone who works selfishly with no intention or desire to share the fruits of his work is a sinner whereas anyone who works selflessly for a higher purpose and shares the results of this collective action is freed from sin. Swami Chinmayananda is his commentary declares, "Śrī Kṛṣṇa seems to be against the principle of arrogation of wealth, and of hoarding the same, motivated by lust of lucre, meant mainly for selfish enjoyment, utterly regardless of the privations and poverty of the unfortunate folks around in the community."
Śrī Kṛṣṇa then describes (3-14 & 3-15) the beauty of 'sacrifice' as witnessed in the circle of life in nature - All beings are sustained by food, food is born of rain, rain is born of 'sacrifice'. Consider this: - Rain is the result of water giving up its 'nature' to form the clouds; When the clouds gives up 'its nature', humans are blessed by rain - creating a beautiful chain of 'sacrificing one's own nature for the sake of another'. This 'sacrifice' is the gift of the Creator himself. He concludes this discussion by stating emphatically in the 17th verse:
एवं प्रवर्तितं चक्रं नानुवर्तयतीह यः |
अघायुरिन्द्रियारामो मोघं पार्थ स जीवति ||३-१६||
yastvaatmaratireva syaadaatmatR^iptashcha maanavaH .
aatmanyeva cha santushhTastasya kaaryaM na vidyate .. 3-17..
He who does not follow here this revolving wheel (of 'sacrifice'), is of a sinful life, rejoicing in the senses. He lives in vain, O Son of Pritha. 3-17.
Once again, the implication is clear. That individual who does not do his/her bit in sustaining the this wheel of sacrifice that sustains life, is selfish and a sinner - the person's is considered to be living in vain.
This redefinition is amazingly relevant today. Sin has little to do with one's religion or belief system. It has everything to do with "how selfless / self-centered am I?"
An atheist who volunteers at the homeless shelter, the 'infidel lawyer' who is fighting for the rights of those in oppressed societies, the little girl who donates her pocket money in response to a natural disaster - all these people are fulfilling their purpose as human beings.
On the other hand, however religious one is, if one does not have compassion, or cannot be counted upon to think of one's higher purpose, that individual is leading a sinful life! Of course, the glory of the Geeta is that Śrī Kṛṣṇa doesn't even condemn such a person. He, too, can start this minute by focusing on the higher purpose in life.
What a refreshingly human and redeeming view of sin!
Hari Om and Namaskaar until the next post.
I came across an interesting post titled "Dharma's Good News: You Are Not a Sinner!" by Rajiv Malhotra.
This brought to mind how in the Bhagavad Geeta, Śrī Kṛṣṇa, effectively redefines sin. In Geeta 3-9, Śrī Kṛṣṇa states that any action performed for a higher purpose (for the sake of yaGYa; in the Geeta, yaGYa is not merely as Vedic ritual but anything done selflessly), liberates the doer while anything done selfishly binds the doer. Śrī Kṛṣṇa drives home the point by going further in the 13th verse:
यज्ञशिष्टाशिनः सन्तो मुच्यन्ते सर्वकिल्बिषैः |
भुञ्जते ते त्वघं पापा ये पचन्त्यात्मकारणात् ||३-१३||
yaGYashishhTaashinaH santo muchyante sarvakilbishhaiH .
bhuJNjate te tvaghaM paapaa ye pachantyaatmakaaraNaat.h .. 3-13..
The righteous, who eat the "remnants of the sacrifices" are freed from all sins; but those sinful ones, who cook food (only) for their own sake, verily eat but sin. 3-13
According to Śrī Kṛṣṇa, anyone who works selfishly with no intention or desire to share the fruits of his work is a sinner whereas anyone who works selflessly for a higher purpose and shares the results of this collective action is freed from sin. Swami Chinmayananda is his commentary declares, "Śrī Kṛṣṇa seems to be against the principle of arrogation of wealth, and of hoarding the same, motivated by lust of lucre, meant mainly for selfish enjoyment, utterly regardless of the privations and poverty of the unfortunate folks around in the community."
Śrī Kṛṣṇa then describes (3-14 & 3-15) the beauty of 'sacrifice' as witnessed in the circle of life in nature - All beings are sustained by food, food is born of rain, rain is born of 'sacrifice'. Consider this: - Rain is the result of water giving up its 'nature' to form the clouds; When the clouds gives up 'its nature', humans are blessed by rain - creating a beautiful chain of 'sacrificing one's own nature for the sake of another'. This 'sacrifice' is the gift of the Creator himself. He concludes this discussion by stating emphatically in the 17th verse:
एवं प्रवर्तितं चक्रं नानुवर्तयतीह यः |
अघायुरिन्द्रियारामो मोघं पार्थ स जीवति ||३-१६||
yastvaatmaratireva syaadaatmatR^iptashcha maanavaH .
aatmanyeva cha santushhTastasya kaaryaM na vidyate .. 3-17..
He who does not follow here this revolving wheel (of 'sacrifice'), is of a sinful life, rejoicing in the senses. He lives in vain, O Son of Pritha. 3-17.
Once again, the implication is clear. That individual who does not do his/her bit in sustaining the this wheel of sacrifice that sustains life, is selfish and a sinner - the person's is considered to be living in vain.
This redefinition is amazingly relevant today. Sin has little to do with one's religion or belief system. It has everything to do with "how selfless / self-centered am I?"
An atheist who volunteers at the homeless shelter, the 'infidel lawyer' who is fighting for the rights of those in oppressed societies, the little girl who donates her pocket money in response to a natural disaster - all these people are fulfilling their purpose as human beings.
On the other hand, however religious one is, if one does not have compassion, or cannot be counted upon to think of one's higher purpose, that individual is leading a sinful life! Of course, the glory of the Geeta is that Śrī Kṛṣṇa doesn't even condemn such a person. He, too, can start this minute by focusing on the higher purpose in life.
What a refreshingly human and redeeming view of sin!
Hari Om and Namaskaar until the next post.
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