Bhagavad Gita Chapter 18: Liberation Through Renunciation and Surrender

<p>Proceeding further, Krishna distinguished between Sanyas and Tyag. “Renouncing the desire-driven actions is Sanyas, while ceding the fruits of actions is Tyag. But never abandon the purifying sacrifice, charity, and penance; instead, do these with no expectations. Likewise, perform duties but relinquish rewards- this is the good-natured, true renunciation.</p> <p>Any action through body, speech, or mind consists of 5 factors- the body, soul, senses, efforts, and providence. Those devoid of the ‘doer-ego’ don’t kill anyone even when they slay someone.  </p> <p>Sankhya philosophy speaks of knowledge, action, and the doer. Good knowledge sees an undivided reality in all lives, whereas the passionate or ignorant see only the manifold or fragmented entities. Likewise, only attachment-free action is good, while the selfish or deluded ones are otherwise. And similar is the differentiation between the good, passionate, and ignorant doers.”</p> <p>Then Krishna moves on to intellect and resolve and the distinction between the 3 modes.</p> <p>“Intellect that discriminates between the binding and liberating aspects, and the mind-sustaining resolve developed by Yog, are good-natured, whereas those otherwise, to the passion and ignorance modes. Likewise, happiness born of pure intellect located in self-knowledge that tastes like nectar, in the end, is good, but happiness through sense objects that feels like poison at the end is of passion-mode, while that from sleep is in ignorance-mode.      </p> <p>The 4 categories of people are classified as per their qualities and not by birth; those on top have tranquility and wisdom as their attributes; the next, valor and leadership; the third, agriculture and commerce as their duties; and the last, service. By performing their natural occupations, people can attain perfection, while those mastering their minds and renouncing desires reach the height of perfection with freedom from action.       </p> <p>By the likes of purifying intellect, restraining senses, overcoming likes-dislik