Upadesa Saram - Post 4

Verse 2

कृतिमहोदधौ पतनकारणम् |

फलमशाश्वतं गतिनिरोधकम् || २ ||

kṛtimahodadhau patanakāraṇam |

phalamaśāśvataṁ gatinirodhakam || 2 ||

The non-eternal result, the cause of the falling into the great ocean of action, Is the obstruction of progress. 

What is meant here is that even if the desired results are produced for the enjoyment of the doer, the hidden result of the action is its power to bind us. This is what we examine in this verse – the stealthy way in which Actions have the power to trap us into a vicious circle from which it appears impossible to escape. 

What is this power of action? 

Impermanent Results: 

The results of actions, being finite in nature, become the cause for further falling rather than release. 

They give a further lease of life to the problem instead of solving the problem.

The Karma phala gained in one life gives rise to another body in next life which in turn causes further actions. 

Sometimes, it becomes difficult even to conclude whether something which a man undergoes or does is a cause for an action or the result of an action.

For eg, our mind moves in a particular action and propels us to act in a particular manner, say, it forces us to take to alcohol or to some immoral act. 

Whether we say that this is a result of our past action that our mind is acting in this way so that we suffer OR do we say that this is a fresh cause / new action for us to suffer in future?

Ramana says that by action, one falls into this ocean of samsara which is nothing but a chain of action- reaction- action.

Analyzing action in this way, we discover that actions alone can never enlighten us, but thrust us into deeper ignorance. The problem becomes more vicious. The impermanence of results is treacherous. We see that actions have the power to bind us from “head to foot”. 

Some materialists would say, “So what is the problem with a temporary result? We can do the action again and again to get the result.”

If the result brings us Sukha or happiness, it is repeated again and again. The only way we think we can be happy is to repeat that action – ad infinitum! In this way Karma rules over our life, enslaving us to it. This is the “barrier to progress” that is given as the title of this verse. This is what is meant when we say Action is not so innocent as it may appear. 

With repetition of an act comes firm attachment to it. The desire gets concretized. It is now no longer superficial but has become a Vasana (or deeper impressions), an inborn tendency which we have to live with until we heal ourselves of it through some spiritual means. 

If action thus keeps producing limited results and binds us to this samsara, is there any way that we look at our action, we prepare for action which can purify our mind and prepare us for a higher spiritual goal?

We will see about this in the next verse.

Love.