Karma Sannyasa Yoga, Renunciation of action

1. Introduction and summary of Chapter 5 - Yoga of Renunciation of Action (Karma Sannyasa Yoga)
2. Reading the chapter 5 the Yoga of Renunciation of Action (Gandhi's Gita, Sivananda):
3. Key topics of chapter Karma Sannyasa Yoga:
   1. Verses 1-6: Comparison between the Yoga of Knowledge (Jnana/Sankhya) and Yoga of Action (Karma)
   2. Verses 7-12: Profile of the Jnani Yogi and the Karma Yogi
   3. Verses 13-26: The Yoga of Knowledge (Jnana) and the Renunciation of action
   4. Verses 27-29: Introduction to the Yoga of Meditation (Dhyana) and the Yoga of Devotion (Bhakti)
4. Reading the versified adaptation of this chapter
5. Analysis of each shloka and his comments of Chapter 5 (version Gita Makaranadam by Swami Vidya Prakashananda)
6. Readings by Swami Vivekananda and Sri Ramakrishna related to the chapter Karma Sannyasa Yoga
7. Exercises of Chapter 5 - Yoga of Renunciation of Action

Outline of Chapter 5: The Yoga of Renunciation of Action

In Chapter “5- The Yoga of Renunciation of Action of the Bhagavad Gita, Sri Krishna expands the teachings to Arjuna on the different yogas (Paths), and in particular on Sankhya Yoga and Karma Yoga, explained in the previous chapters:

1. Yoga of Knowledge (Sankhya)
   1. Sankhya Yoga Philosophy
2. Yoga of Action
   1. Karma Yoga by Swami Vivekananda
3. Yoga of Knowledge and Renunciation of Action

Swami Sivananda titled this chapter as The Yoga of Renunciation of Action, while Gandhi translated it as: “The Yoga of Renunciation (Sannyasa Yoga).”

Arjuna was still possessed by doubt, despite the unequivocal teachings of Sri Krishna in the previous chapters. Arjuna doubted whether the Path of Action or the Path of Renunciation of Action was better.

Sri Krishna's response was clear: both paths lead to the realization of God ()God, Brahman, Sat-Chit-Ananda, Allah and that the goal is the realization of Atman.

However, Sri Krishna emphasized that Karma Yoga is superior to the Yoga of Renunciation of Action (Karma Sannyasa), although paradoxically there is no difference between the two. For Gandhi:

«Sri Krishna's message is that it is not possible to renounce actions without focusing on the philosophy of selfless action, and that in reality both are one.» Gandhi.

Krishna then explained that true renunciation is not the renunciation of action, but the attachment of pairs of opposite:

Sri Krishna assured that whoever follows the Yoga of Knowledge (Jnana) if he is able to think for the good of the world, he will also obtain the fruit of Karma Yoga by the pure power of his thought. And vice versa, the Karma yogi always absorbed in detached action enjoys the peace of the Jnani Yogi.

«That state (Moksha) reached by men of Knowledge is also reached by men of Action (Karma yogis). Whoever sees the unity of Jnana and Karma, truly sees.» Bhagavad Gita 5-5.

And he also reminded us of the difficulty of achieving renunciation and the importance of Yoga to achieve it:

He who has acquired Brahma-Jnana, or knowledge of Brahman, sees everything as Brahman. In all the different manifestations of nature, he sees Atman, and therefore considers everything equally. For him everything that exists, regardless of its name and form, is made of a single substance: Brahman (Atman). That is why he has love and compassion for all creatures on our planet.

The rest of this summary on the subject “Yoga of Renunciation of Action” is only available to students of the Gita Institute

Chapter 5 verse 19 (Swami Vidya Prakashananda): Karma Sannyasa Yoga

1. Structure of the Bhagavad Gita
2. Bhagavad Gita: The Path of Wisdom
3. Bhagavad Gita and business