Physical Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
In the following famous verse, we are given insight into a prayerful attitude that we can adopt in our daily lives:
कर्मण्येवाधिकारस्ते मा फलेषु कदाचन |
मा कर्मफलहेतुर्भूर्मा ते सङ्गोऽस्त्वकर्मणि || 2.47 ||
karmaṇy-evādhikāras te mā phaleṣhu kadāchana
mā karma-phala-hetur bhūr mā te saṅgo ’stvakarmaṇi
You have command over your actions but never over the results. Do not consider yourself to be in command of results nor should you be attached to inaction.
||Bhagavad Gita 2.47||
To answer the main question regarding prayer, we must first understand the underlying principles of karmaThe force generated by a person's actions in Hinduism that perpetuates transmigration and determines the nature of the person's next existence. yoga.
KarmaThe force generated by a person's actions in Hinduism that perpetuates transmigration and determines the nature of the person's next existence. yoga is a set of attitudes through which your regular everyday activities are converted into a spiritual practice. The basic way it works is by reducing the power of ragaRaga, also known as raaga, is a term meaning "desire," "attraction," "passion" and "attachment." (the compulsion of running towards what you want) and dveshaDvesha (Sanskrit, also dveṣa; Pali: dosa; Tibetan: zhe sdang) - is a Buddhist term that is translated as "hate, aversion". Dvesha (hate, aversion) is the opposite of raga (lust, desire). ... One of the three poisons (Trivisah) within the Mahayana Buddhist tradition. (the compulsion of running away from what you don’t want).
As long as your life is molded by ragaRaga, also known as raaga, is a term meaning "desire," "attraction," "passion" and "attachment." and dveshaDvesha (Sanskrit, also dveṣa; Pali: dosa; Tibetan: zhe sdang) - is a Buddhist term that is translated as "hate, aversion". Dvesha (hate, aversion) is the opposite of raga (lust, desire). ... One of the three poisons (Trivisah) within the Mahayana Buddhist tradition., there is no hope for progress in a spiritual path. RagaRaga, also known as raaga, is a term meaning "desire," "attraction," "passion" and "attachment." and dveshaDvesha (Sanskrit, also dveṣa; Pali: dosa; Tibetan: zhe sdang) - is a Buddhist term that is translated as "hate, aversion". Dvesha (hate, aversion) is the opposite of raga (lust, desire). ... One of the three poisons (Trivisah) within the Mahayana Buddhist tradition. keep you trapped in a life of worldly suffering. Both are instances of kama (desire). Kama compels you to act (karmaThe force generated by a person's actions in Hinduism that perpetuates transmigration and determines the nature of the person's next existence.) to fulfill your desires. You cannot be free of kama until you get rid of avidya (ignorance). There is nothing you need to get for the sake of your wellbeing, and there is nothing that needs to be avoided for the sense of your well-being. This is what it means to be enlightened.
KarmaThe force generated by a person's actions in Hinduism that perpetuates transmigration and determines the nature of the person's next existence. yoga is not what you do, but rather how you approach what you do. If what you do is help people, this is not necessarily karmaThe force generated by a person's actions in Hinduism that perpetuates transmigration and determines the nature of the person's next existence. yoga. If someone helps people to feel good about themselves, or to get paid well, or for recognition… these are not examples of karmaThe force generated by a person's actions in Hinduism that perpetuates transmigration and determines the nature of the person's next existence. yoga. It’s not about your actions, it’s the attitude with which you carry out your daily activities.
Bhagvad Gita – Chapter 2, Verse 47 gives us two crucial aspects of the set of attitudes that form karmaThe force generated by a person's actions in Hinduism that perpetuates transmigration and determines the nature of the person's next existence. yoga. If you have control over your actions but no control over the results, you start to realize the limits of what you can accomplish in life. You start to realize that you are not the master of your life. There are so many factors that you have no control over. This recognition of your fundamental incapacity to create a life of contentment and peace.
As hard or as smart as you work, it is absolutely impossible to create a life of perfect contentment, peace, happiness, and joy. It is simply impossible. This understanding leads to a major conversion in your attitude where you realize that perfect peace and contentment cannot be achieved through worldly efforts, and as a result, your attitude shifts to focus on spiritual growth. You shift to seeking spiritual growth for the sake of mokshaFreedom from the cycle of rebirth by breaking the law of karma itself..
The second attitude conveyed in verse 2.47 is recognizing that you receive the results of your actions from Ishvara’s hands. You are not in control of the consequences of your actions.
To circle back to the main question: suppose whatever you do throughout the day you appreciate the fact that IshvaraIshvara, or Supreme Being, is regarded by some as a person and by others as an impersonal Absolute. The term is particularly used by followers of the Lord Shiva. The comparable term Bhagavan is more commonly used in the Hindu tradition by followers of Vishnu, who consider Ishvara to be identical wit... is the giver of the fruits of actions, which then brings you to a prayerful attitude towards that action. If this becomes your attitude you will have hundreds of thousands of opportunities for prayer daily.
To pray without ceasing doesn’t mean to keep your hands folded throughout the day, it means to adopt this attitude where you recognize IshvaraIshvara, or Supreme Being, is regarded by some as a person and by others as an impersonal Absolute. The term is particularly used by followers of the Lord Shiva. The comparable term Bhagavan is more commonly used in the Hindu tradition by followers of Vishnu, who consider Ishvara to be identical wit... as the giver of actions. It means you maintain this prayerful attitude throughout the day that allows you to let go of the attachment to the outcome of your actions.
In the next verse, Krishna says to Arjuna:
योगस्थ: कुरु कर्माणि सङ्गं त्यक्त्वा धनञ्जय |
सिद्ध्यसिद्ध्यो: समो भूत्वा समत्वं योग उच्यते || 2.48||
yoga-sthaḥ kuru karmāṇi saṅgaṁ tyaktvā dhanañjaya
siddhy-asiddhyoḥ samo bhūtvā samatvaṁ yoga uchyate
Being steadfast in karmaThe force generated by a person's actions in Hinduism that perpetuates transmigration and determines the nature of the person's next existence. yoga, performing actions without attachment, O Arjuna, treating success and failure alike, karmaThe force generated by a person's actions in Hinduism that perpetuates transmigration and determines the nature of the person's next existence. yoga is called equanimity.
||Bhagavad Gita 2.48||
In other words, carry out your duties throughout the day without desire. When you recognize that all your worldly efforts will never add up to perfect contentment and peace, your attitude shifts. It means you are no longer driven by ragaRaga, also known as raaga, is a term meaning "desire," "attraction," "passion" and "attachment." and dveshaDvesha (Sanskrit, also dveṣa; Pali: dosa; Tibetan: zhe sdang) - is a Buddhist term that is translated as "hate, aversion". Dvesha (hate, aversion) is the opposite of raga (lust, desire). ... One of the three poisons (Trivisah) within the Mahayana Buddhist tradition. because it is futile to burn yourself out with worldly activities once you know you will never gain peace and contentment through external means. The way you overcome attachment (sangha), ragaRaga, also known as raaga, is a term meaning "desire," "attraction," "passion" and "attachment." , and dveshaDvesha (Sanskrit, also dveṣa; Pali: dosa; Tibetan: zhe sdang) - is a Buddhist term that is translated as "hate, aversion". Dvesha (hate, aversion) is the opposite of raga (lust, desire). ... One of the three poisons (Trivisah) within the Mahayana Buddhist tradition. is through recognizing that all your worldly efforts will never bring you perfect bliss.
You cannot give up attachment as a matter of will. Suppose someone drinks a lot of tea, and this person comes to believe that they are so attached to drinking tea that it will be an obstacle to spiritual growth. This person decides to give up their tea. The next morning, the person can think of nothing but tea. You can stop drinking tea, but you cannot stop desiring tea. The point is that the desire or ragaRaga, also known as raaga, is a term meaning "desire," "attraction," "passion" and "attachment." and dveshaDvesha (Sanskrit, also dveṣa; Pali: dosa; Tibetan: zhe sdang) - is a Buddhist term that is translated as "hate, aversion". Dvesha (hate, aversion) is the opposite of raga (lust, desire). ... One of the three poisons (Trivisah) within the Mahayana Buddhist tradition. are not a matter of will. You cannot choose to give up desire. However, you can overcome desire through discernment or through understanding the limitations of that worldly desire.
In conventional life, it’s absolutely impossible to treat success and failure the same. KarmaThe force generated by a person's actions in Hinduism that perpetuates transmigration and determines the nature of the person's next existence. yoga requires this attitude adjustment where you realize that conventional life doesn’t lead to peace and contentment. With that understanding, you engage in your actions without being driven by the results. Your priorities shift to the extent that your priority is mokshaFreedom from the cycle of rebirth by breaking the law of karma itself..
Suppose there is a politician that is a perfect karmaThe force generated by a person's actions in Hinduism that perpetuates transmigration and determines the nature of the person's next existence. yogi, and this politician wants to get reelected. But as a perfect karmaThe force generated by a person's actions in Hinduism that perpetuates transmigration and determines the nature of the person's next existence. yogi their ultimate goal is not to get reelected—it is mokshaFreedom from the cycle of rebirth by breaking the law of karma itself.. So, when the election comes along, whether or not the politician gets reelected does not make any difference. KarmaThe force generated by a person's actions in Hinduism that perpetuates transmigration and determines the nature of the person's next existence. yoga is said to be equanimity by treating success and failure alike. That politician is not driven by worldly success, but spiritual growth that ultimately leading to mokshaFreedom from the cycle of rebirth by breaking the law of karma itself..
Equanimity does not mean that everything in this world is okay. People living in poverty and suffering from disease are not okay. People being deprived of proper education is not okay. Equanimity is specifically towards your worldly activities. You can be successful or unsuccessful in any endeavor knowing that your ultimate goal is spiritual growth and not the successful outcome of your endeavor.
Suppose you want pure water so you distill the water. You get rid of more and more alcohol every ten minutes of boiling. The water becomes purer and purer. At which point does it become perfectly pure? When do you get rid of the last molecule of alcohol?
Statistically speaking, you never get rid of the last molecule. You approach purity, but you never quite get there. That’s the problem of worldly effort. Worldly effort can approach a condition of perfect peace and contentment but can never reach there because the effort to achieve the state of perfection is infinite. And an infinite amount of effort is simply not possible. Therefore, Arjuna should seek refuge in the teachings of karmaThe force generated by a person's actions in Hinduism that perpetuates transmigration and determines the nature of the person's next existence. yoga rather than be motivated by results.
बुद्धियुक्तो जहातीह उभे सुकृतदुष्कृते |
तस्माद्योगाय युज्यस्व योग: कर्मसु कौशलम् || 2.50||
buddhi-yukto jahātīha ubhe sukṛita-duṣhkṛite
tasmād yogāya yujyasva yogaḥ karmasu kauśhalam
Engaged in karmaThe force generated by a person's actions in Hinduism that perpetuates transmigration and determines the nature of the person's next existence. yoga, one abandons in life both good and bad karmas. Therefore, be engaged in karmaThe force generated by a person's actions in Hinduism that perpetuates transmigration and determines the nature of the person's next existence. yoga. KarmaThe force generated by a person's actions in Hinduism that perpetuates transmigration and determines the nature of the person's next existence. yoga is being skillful in actions.
|| Bhagavad Gita 2.50||
Most people are focused on perfect happiness and contentment here in this life, but there are also people who are focused on the next life. If those people were karmaThe force generated by a person's actions in Hinduism that perpetuates transmigration and determines the nature of the person's next existence. yogis, they would stop worrying so much about the next life. It’s a very worldly attitude to focus on accumulating religious merit and avoiding religious demerit, but this is not a spiritual attitude at all. When you adopt the attitudes of karmaThe force generated by a person's actions in Hinduism that perpetuates transmigration and determines the nature of the person's next existence. yoga you give up focusing your goal on the next life and instead focus on the ultimate goal of life: mokshaFreedom from the cycle of rebirth by breaking the law of karma itself..
The skill is not the skill of doing the action, rather it is the attitude with which the action is being done. Yoga is a particular skill brought into the performance of an action, and here the skill is one of attitude. To be engaged in your actions not driven by ragaRaga, also known as raaga, is a term meaning "desire," "attraction," "passion" and "attachment." or dveshaDvesha (Sanskrit, also dveṣa; Pali: dosa; Tibetan: zhe sdang) - is a Buddhist term that is translated as "hate, aversion". Dvesha (hate, aversion) is the opposite of raga (lust, desire). ... One of the three poisons (Trivisah) within the Mahayana Buddhist tradition. as conventional karmaThe force generated by a person's actions in Hinduism that perpetuates transmigration and determines the nature of the person's next existence. is, but to be engaged in activities based on the attitudes of karmaThe force generated by a person's actions in Hinduism that perpetuates transmigration and determines the nature of the person's next existence. yoga.
The attitude of karmaThe force generated by a person's actions in Hinduism that perpetuates transmigration and determines the nature of the person's next existence. yoga is that your ultimate goal is not being successful in whatever deeds you are doing but recognizing that your ultimate goal is mokshaFreedom from the cycle of rebirth by breaking the law of karma itself.. With mokshaFreedom from the cycle of rebirth by breaking the law of karma itself. as your overriding priority in life, your attitude gets tremendously transformed. The pressure is off. You are not driven by ragaRaga, also known as raaga, is a term meaning "desire," "attraction," "passion" and "attachment." and dveshaDvesha (Sanskrit, also dveṣa; Pali: dosa; Tibetan: zhe sdang) - is a Buddhist term that is translated as "hate, aversion". Dvesha (hate, aversion) is the opposite of raga (lust, desire). ... One of the three poisons (Trivisah) within the Mahayana Buddhist tradition.. You are driven to gain spiritual growth.
We can maintain a prayerful attitude throughout the day by recognizing that we decide how we act, but we do not have power over the results of our actions. In remembering this, our attitude towards everything we do undergoes a shift towards letting go of expectations. As a result, we adopt a healthier attitude and are better equipped to handle whatever comes our way.