Philosophies of India

SR No.: 007309
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Heinrich Zimmer, Joseph Campbell
Publisher: Routledge and Kegan Paul Ltd
Publication Year: 1953
Total Pages: 709
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 34 MB

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THE FOUNDATIONS OF INDIAN PHILOSOPHY (nitya-anitya-vastu-viveka).' "Brahman alone,” we read, "is the permanent substance, everything else is transient.” 10 All objects in this world that are pleasant to the senses, garlands of flowers. perfunes, beautiful woinen, gratifications of every kind, are merely transient; they come as the result of our actions (karına). But the pleasures of the next world 100 are non-eternal and thc mere result of acts.
An unwavering disregard for all such illusoriness, once it has been recognized as such, is the second requisite of the student of Vedānta. He must renounce, sincerely and efficaciously, every possible fruit of his virtuous acts. This is true renunciation: ihānuträrthaphalabhogavirāgaḥ, "indifference (virāgnḥ) to the enjoyment (bhoga) of the fruits (phala) of action (artha) whether here (iha) or in the world to come (amutra).” 11
The third of the ncccssary means is concentration, and this is discussed under the heading of “The Six Treasures," the first of which is sama, “mental quictness, pacification of the passions." 1% sama is the attitude, or mode of behavior, that keeps the mind from being troubled by sense objects-the only sense activity permitted to the student of philosophy being that of listening eagerly to the words of his guru. The sccond treasure, dama, stands for a second stage of self-restraint, "the subjuga
9 1b. 15. 10 lb. 16. 11 Ib. 17.
Renunciation of the fruits of action is the basic formula of Karma Yoga, the way of release through action, which has received its classic statement in Bhagavad Gita 3. All actions are to be performed as pertaining to one's duty (dharma), enacted as the role of an actor on the stage of life. They belong to the play (lila), not to the actor's real Sell (alman). "Therclore always do without attachment the work you have to do; for a man who does his work without attachment attains the supreme" (Bhagavad Gitā 3. 19). Cf. infra, pp. 386-389.
12 Vedāntasāra 18-19.
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