practice for practice’s sake
“You have a right to your actions, but never to your actions’ fruits. Act for the action’s sake. And do not be attached to inaction.”
—- The Bhagavad Gita verse 2.47, translation by Stephen Mitchell
What if I told you there was an ancient teaching. And if you embrace it, you’ll feel more at peace with whatever is happening. the good, the bad, the ugly. If you stay close to the teaching, you’ll have more poise and equanimity.
Are you interested? Yes? Good. Because that’s were the conversation in the Bhagavad Gita is going. The language is a little awkward but I’ll unpack it for you.
Arjuna (our protagonist, who has collapsed, overwhelmed by challenge and difficulty) is pulling himself back together. (read the conversations that matter posts for more background).
In his coaching and coaxing, Krisna arrives at this point: Yoga is skill in action. And to act with skill and integrity, “you’re entitled to your actions, but not the fruits of your actions.”
This is the “language is awkward” moment. Stay with me. It just needs context.
This story comes from an agrarian society. Most people were growing at least some of their food. So the planting of seeds, watching the plant grow, and eventually fruit, was a part of life. An easy and relatable metaphor.
When you plant a seed, you do your best with the action of planting, but then you have to let it go and (hopefully) grow. Mother Nature takes over and then very little is under your control. There may be a storm, a frost or flood. Your crop may be eaten by animals or pests. So much can happen! And because it’s out of your control, over-thinking, worrying, stressing, is a recipe for suffering.
The modern world with all of its technology, including lights, AC and perpetually stocked groceries, gives an illusion of control. There is distance from the wildness and rawness of nature. But, the human tendency to worry, fuss, and fret is still close. Even with all the convenience and comfort, there is tremendous suffering. As Gurumayi would say, “we are tortured and killed by things that aren’t even happening…”
Good news. The Gita gives you a way out. Krisna urges: Do your best. Plant your seed. Let it go and grow. Release expectation and the delusion of control. So simple! And outrageously difficult!
There are hundreds of ways, every day, that you go grasping for the fruit, the outcome, the desired results… rather than focusing on the action. For example:
You do something or say something because you want something in return.
You do something because you want to gain from it.
You have expectations. So. many. expectations.
Why are these problematic?
Are you being sincere and honest when you do or say something because you want something in return?
What happens if you do something and don’t get what you want from it? How do you feel?
And, oh, the expectations… how many times have you been let down, deflated, or disenchanted? Or struggled and fought to make something want you want/expect it to be?
Now, does the Gita believe you’ll stop this very human behavior? No. Absolutely not. AND, the Gita says to watch it. Reduce it. Because the more you focus on your actions, initiate from a pure heart, stay true to aligned motives, release attachment to outcomes, the more peace, clarity, and integrity you will have.
Whew. Yoga is a tall order, isn’t it? You’ll miss the mark regularly. And, every time you aim true, you reduce unnecessary suffering. After consciously practicing this for 15 years, I can wholeheartedly and enthusiastically report, it works. Difficult, undesirable things will still happen AND you can live with any result if you know you did your best, showed up fully, and participated with integrity.
To practice this on the mat, practice for the love of practice. Do the pose for the sake of the pose, without expectations of what it will give you.
To practice off the mat, watch your intentions, expectations, and assumptions. Stay true to the aligned motives.
Yes, yoga asks for heightened self-awareness. It’s not easy but neither is suffering. When you’re skillful, mindful, and intentional, you plant good seeds. Then the fruit of your actions is sweet and you can enjoy fully.
May your practice plant peace.
