Hello , I want to first of all want to say that this is a wonderful video, keep up the great work ! As a Hindu , who knows both Sanskrit and English and has studied Vedanta , I feel like the translations you have used misrepresent the tone of the verse and a few words as well, a better translation would be " Your right is for action alone, never for the results. Do not become the agent of the results of action. May you not have any inclination for inaction." Here 'right' is a important word which has been left out in the translation you used. As for the tone , the first part is less of a commandment and more like a 'how-the-world-is-built" kind of tone(i.e. like a scientific/universal law). Krishna is saying that you ~only ever~ have the right to action and under no condition whatsoever do you control the result of your actions. Thus never engage in action by the thirst of the results of the action, and even so never succumb to inaction thinking ''If the results of work be not desired, what is the need of work which involves pain?'.
Thank you so much for this explanation and for being gracious with my attempts at understanding! appreciate you taking the time to type this out. I especially like how you point out the difference between “commandment” and “descriptive” - very helpful. how would you (personally, or as you’ve seen taught in Hinduism generally) go about applying the verse in that sense / what meaning does it carry for your life?
@@timdemoss Personally, for me as a Hindu and in general as a Human Being, this verse is like a guiding principle in life because it helps me to focus on my tasks and current responsibilities. We all know that no one can choose their end or the result of their work, and no king rules forever. The desire for a good outcome is natural, but it shouldn't dictate our work. We must rise above desires and focus on the purpose of our work, finding meaning in it. It's not about seeking happiness but purpose. We need a vision for life, not just favorable desires. This means prioritizing values over desires. This concept is found in Buddhism and other religions, like Christianity too. There is a Buddhist saying that people live in illusions shaped by their values. It is absolutely true because our values shape our perception and goals. We often prioritize based on values, even unconsciously. I am not saying that only Hindu people follow this principle; it is present in other religions as well, such as in Christianity, where it is expressed as "knock, and the door will open; if they ask, they will receive; and if they seek, they will find." It means consulting your inner conscience helps in understanding the value and purpose behind your actions. While we might not achieve desired results, fulfilling our moral responsibilities is inherently valuable. The meaning behind these verses is that chasing outcomes endlessly is not living. True living involves meaningful actions. Growth for the sake of growth is the ideology of cancer cells, and that's why they destroy their host to sustain their own growth. This means sacrifices are necessary for a better life as they will help you in avoiding "Cancer Cell Ideology". As direction and trajectory matter more than the starting point and current position of a person, while embracing challenges and focusing on values creates a fulfilling life. Like seeking something requires understanding your needs first. True artists first focus on their craft, not external rewards and results. Finding purpose in your work leads to inner fulfillment. Ultimately, being a good person, friend, or partner can be as heroic as any grand achievement. Or, I can put it like this, "Sometimes just being a good and decent person, a good friend to a few, a dependable partner to one, a well focused participant in a thoughtfully chosen career. Is as heroic and successful as anyone can truly be - Perhaps some of the most successful among us are those who very few will ever know.". This is a link to a conversation clip from a movie (ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-ykGP3-vnyOU.html). The king in this movie expresses the same concept to his commander, albeit in a different manner. Later in this movie, when this commander was offered the opportunity to become a king by marrying king's sister, he rejected it. The king's sister (Sibylla) asked him, "Wasn't it worth it to do a little evil for a greater good?" See these clips, they include the conversations with the king and Sibylla (king's sister): ru-vid.comWe9cM3HXEWA, ru-vid.comprYPBOhf0S4?si=saAm83Qcj0Y13yqU Thank you for reading. I apologize for the long essay; it was difficult to condense such a complex idea into a few sentences. This concept transcends religious and cultural boundaries. Thank you for your time and for creating such a valuable content.
I am hindu and i have read bhagwad geeta. I definitely have not understood it to its full extent, but its teachings have always guided me whenever i feel anxious.
As someone who's learning french and very apprehensive about all the tasks I have to do and having the urge to learn a new language, it's really easy to focus on becoming fluent. This video serves as a reminder to enjoy the process of studying french as I enjoy my studies on history and philosophy Much love from Brazil, love your channel and keep up the good quality, you'll go far my friend!
This was my first read through & I’m sure I’m missing a lot of key things, but I really enjoyed it. And the introduction at the beginning was super thorough and helpful. Thanks for watching!
something I'd like to eventually achieve is owning a little pottery studio, mostly for my own fun but also so others can enjoy creating. to do so, an action that I could take is just take action...I should probably start MAKING my own pottery instead of just THINKING about making it. reaching the goal would be fun, but honestly the most enjoyable part is just the process of playing and making with clay. :)
oops! I’m trying to solve that problem myself - so far my answer is “start a video series on books” but I think a much more approachable answer would be to read with a pen in hand and mark up the book :) there’s a RU-vidr named Odysseas who has some great videos on this topic.
