A |
According some schools of Indian
thought, notably those preceding the Bhagavad-Gita, every human
action is motivated by a need or desire. As Buddha has noted, this
invariably leads to attachment, sorrow and acts as an impediment to
moksha. The solution, this school says, is Sanyasa or the
renunciation.
Sanyasa involves detachment from mundane things of life (like
food, sex, family) and striving for an eternal life through prayer
and sacrifice. In today's India, Sadhus, Bhikshus and other
ascetics follow Sanyasa.
Relinquishment or Tyaga, on the other hand, involves
giving up the fruits of action. One is not supposed to give up
positive things of life like charity, penance, and pursuit of
knowledge, but must be actively engaged in. However, one should not
expect any fruits of such action.
It is considered by the followers of this post-Gita school of
thought, that in fact, the humans have no control whatsoever on the
results of such action; only the Supreme Soul has control. One is to
perform his/her duty devotionally and relinquish the results.
Most popular exponents of this thought have been Swami
Vivekananda, Balgangadhar Tilak, and notably, Mahatma
Gandhi |