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.
