The Ten Commandments of Hinduism, also known as sage Patanjali's Yoga Sutra, Yama and Niyam, are presented together with
Four Basic Paths to God, and 40 selected verses of the Gita to introduce the principles of Hinduism to both the skeptics and serious
seekers. The following excerpts are all from the 4th Edition of our hardcover Bhagavad Gita
The Ten Commandments of Hinduism
according to sage Patanjali (Patanjali's Yoga Sutra 2.30-32), are: (1) Nonviolence. (2)
Truthfulness. (3) Non-stealing. (4) Celibacy or sense control. (5) Non-greed.
(6) Purity of thought, word, and deed. (7) Contentment. (8) Austerity or
renunciation. (9) Study of scriptures, and (10) Surrendering to God with faithful
loving devotion.
People
are born different. Anybody who prescribes one method for all is certainly
deluded because there is no panacea. A single method or system cannot meet the
spiritual needs of all. Hinduism, with its many branches and sub-branches,
offers a very wide choice of spiritual practices to suit persons in any stage
of spiritual development. All paths lead to salvation because they all
culminate in devotion ¾ the intense love of God.
ONE
Focus your mind on Me and let your
intellect dwell upon Me alone through meditation and contemplation. Thereafter,
you shall certainly attain Me.
(12.08)
This
is the path of meditation (See Chapter 6 for more details) for the
contemplative mind. Thinking of a chosen form of God all the time is different
from worshipping that form, but both practices are the same in quality and
effect. In other words, contemplation is also a form of worship.
TWO
If you
are unable to focus your mind steadily on Me, then long to attain Me by
practice of any other spiritual discipline, such as a ritual, or deity worship
that suits you. (12.09)
This
is the path of ritual, prayer, and devotional worship recommended for people
who are emotional, have more faith but less reasoning and intellect (See also
9.32). Constantly contemplate and concentrate your mind on God, using symbols
or mental pictures of a personal God as an aid to develop devotion.
THREE
If you
are unable even to do any spiritual discipline, then dedicate all your work to Me (or do your duty just for Me). You shall attain
perfection by doing your prescribed duty for Me
(without any personal motive, just as an instrument, to serve and please Me).
(12.10)
This
is the path of transcendental knowledge or renunciation, acquired through
contemplation and scriptural study for people who have realized the truth that
we are only divine instruments. (See also 9.27, 18.46).
Lord Himself guides every endeavor of the person who works for the good of
humanity, and success comes to a person who dedicates his or her life to the
service of God.
FOUR
If you
are unable to dedicate your work to Me, then just surrender unto My will with
subdued mind and renounce (the attachment
to and the anxiety for) the fruits of all work (by learning to accept all
results with equanimity as God's grace). (12.11)
This is the path of KarmaYoga, the
selfless service to humanity, discussed in Chapter 3, for householders who
cannot renounce worldly activity and work full-time for God, as discussed in
verse 12.10, above. The main thrust of verses 12.08-11 is that one must
establish some relationship with the Lord ¾ such as the progenitor,
father, mother, beloved, child, savior, guru, master, helper, guest, friend,
and even an enemy.
KarmaYoga,
or the renunciation of attachment to
fruits of work, is not a method of last resort ¾ as it may appear from
verse 12.11. It is explained in the following verse.
KARMA-YOGA IS THE EASIEST
WAY TO START WITH
Knowledge of scriptures is better
than mere ritualistic practice; meditation is better than plain scriptural
knowledge; renunciation of (attachment
to) the fruits of work is better than meditation because peace immediately
follows renunciation of all motives. (See more on renunciation in 18.02, and
18.09) (12.12)
When true knowledge of the Self
increases, all Karma is gradually eliminated because one who is situated in
Self-knowledge thinks he or she is not the doer but an instrument working at
the pleasure of the creator. Such an
action in God-consciousness becomes devotion ¾ free from any Karmic
bondage. Thus, there is no sharp demarcation between the paths of selfless
service, spiritual knowledge, and devotion. Renunciation of attachments and desires is the backbone and the ultimate
goal of any spiritual practice. Renunciation is also relatively easy to practice
and is essence of the teachings of
the Gita.
Doing
one's duty, earning wealth, material enjoyment, and attaining salvation are the
four noble goals of human life for the householder in the Vedic tradition. Lord
Rama said: One who is engaged only in sense gratification, abandoning duty and
earning wealth, soon gets into trouble (VR 2.53.13). One who uses duty, earning
wealth, and enjoying sensual pleasure in a balanced manner without any one of
the three being harmed by the other two attains salvation (MB 9.60.22). A person
completely involved in acquiring and preserving material wealth and possessions
has no time for Self-realization (MB 12.07.41). One can obtain all four noble
goals by devotion to the Lord (VP 1.18.24). One should first follow Dharma by
doing one’s duty righteously. Then one should earn money and make economic
progress, fulfill all noble material and spiritual desires with the money
earned, and progress towards salvation, the only noble goal of human birth.
As
human beings are always afraid of death, a rich
person is always afraid of the tax collector, thieves, relatives, and natural
disasters (MB 3.02.39). There is great pain in accumulating, protecting, and
losing wealth. The desire for wealth accumulation is never satisfied;
therefore, the wise consider contentment as the supreme pleasure (MB 3.02.46).
People are never satisfied with wealth and material possessions (KaU 1.27). One should always remember that we are just the
trustees of all wealth and possessions.
(Hinduism/Gita in Nutshell For Daily Reading and Contemplation)
King inquired: Sanjaya, please tell me, in details, what did my people and the Pandavas do in the battlefield before the war started? (1.01)
Sanjaya said: O King, Lord Krishna spoke these words to Arjuna whose eyes were tearful and downcast, and who was overwhelmed with compassion and despair. (2.01)
Lord Krishna said: You grieve for those who are not worthy of grief, and yet speak words of wisdom. The wise grieves neither for the living nor for the dead. (2.11)
Just as the soul acquires a childhood body, a youth body, and an old age body during this life; similarly, the soul acquires another body after death. This should not delude the wise. (2.13)
Just as a person puts on new garments after discarding the old ones; similarly, the living entity or the individual soul acquires new bodies after casting away the old bodies. (2.22)
Treating pleasure and pain, gain and loss, and victory and defeat alike, engage yourself in your duty. By doing your duty this way you will not incur sin. (2.38)
You have control over doing your respective duty only, but no control or claim over the results. The fruits of work should not be your motive, and you should never be inactive. (2.47)
A Karma-yogi or the selfless person becomes free from both vice and virtue in this life itself. Therefore, strive for selfless service. Working to the best of one’s abilities without becoming selfishly attached to the fruits of work is called Karma-yoga or Seva. (2.50)
Because the mind, when controlled by the roving senses, steals away the intellect as a storm takes away a boat on the sea from its destination ¾
the spiritual shore of peace and happiness. (2.67)
The forces of Nature do all works. But due to delusion of ignorance people assume themselves to be the doer. (3.27)
Thus, knowing the Self to be superior to the intellect, and controlling the mind by the intellect that is purified by spiritual practices, one must kill this mighty enemy, lust, O Arjuna. (3.43)
Whenever there is a decline of Dharma (Righteousness) and a predominance of Adharma (Unrighteousness), O Arjuna, then I manifest Myself. I appear from time to time for protecting the good, for transforming the wicked, and for establishing world order (Dharma). (4.07-08)
I created the four divisions of human society based on aptitude and vocation. Though I am the author of this system of the division of labor, one should know that I do nothing directly and I am eternal. (4.13)
The one who sees inaction in action, and action in inaction, is a wise person. Such a person is a yogi and has accomplished everything. (4.18)
Spirit shall be realized by the one who considers everything as a manifestation or an act of the Spirit. (4.24)
Verily, there is no purifier in this world like the true knowledge of the Supreme Being. One discovers this knowledge within, naturally, in course of time when one's mind is cleansed of selfishness by Karma-yoga. (4.38)
But, true renunciation, O Arjuna, is difficult to attain without Karma-yoga. A sage equipped with Karma-yoga quickly attains Nirvana. (5.06)
One who does all work as an offering to God — abandoning selfish attachment to the results — remains untouched by Karmic reaction or sin as a lotus leaf never gets wet by water. (5.10)
Those who perceive Me in everything and behold everything in Me, are not separated from Me, and I am not separated from them. (6.30)
Four types of virtuous ones worship or seek Me, O Arjuna. They are: The distressed, the seeker of Self-knowledge, the seeker of wealth, and the enlightened one who has experienced the Supreme. (7.16)
After many births the enlightened one resorts to Me by realizing that everything is, indeed, My (or Supreme Being’s) manifestation. Such a great soul is very rare. (7.19)
The ignorant ones — unable to understand My immutable, incomparable, incomprehensible, and transcendental form — assume that I, the Supreme Being, am formless and take forms or incarnate. (7.24)
Remembering whatever object one leaves the body at the end of life, one attains that object. Thought of whatever object prevails during one's lifetime, one remembers only that object at the end of life and achieves it. (8.06)
Therefore, always remember Me and do your duty. You shall certainly attain Me if your mind and intellect are ever focused on Me. (8.07)
I am easily attainable, O Arjuna, by that ever steadfast devotee who always thinks of Me and whose mind does not go elsewhere. (8.14)
I personally take care of both spiritual and material welfare of those ever-steadfast devotees who always remember and adore Me with single-minded contemplation. (9.22)
Whosoever offers Me a leaf, a flower, a fruit, or water with devotion; I accept and eat the offering of devotion by the pure-hearted. (9.26)
Engage your mind in always thinking of Me, be devoted to Me, worship Me, and bow down to Me. Thus uniting yourself with Me by setting Me as the supreme goal and the sole refuge, you shall certainly come to Me. (9.34)
I am the origin of all. Everything emanates from Me. The wise ones who understand this adore Me with love and devotion. (10.08)
The one who does all works for Me, and to whom I am the supreme goal; who is my devotee, who has no attachment, and is free from enmity towards any being; attains Me, O Arjuna. (11.55)
Therefore, focus your mind on Me, and let your intellect dwell upon Me alone through meditation and contemplation. Thereafter you shall certainly attain Me. (12.08)
The one who sees the same eternal Supreme Lord dwelling as Spirit equally within all mortal beings truly sees. (13.27)
The one who offers service to Me with love and unswerving devotion transcends three modes of material Nature, and becomes fit for Nirvana, or salvation. (14.26)
I am seated in the inner psyche of all beings. The memory, Self-knowledge, and the removal of doubts and wrong notions about God come from Me. I am verily that which is to be known by the study of all the Vedas. I am, indeed, the author as well as the student of the Vedas. (15.15)
Lust, anger, and greed are the three gates of hell leading to the downfall (or bondage) of the individual. Therefore, one must learn to give up these three. (16.21)
Speech that is non-offensive, truthful, pleasant, beneficial, and is used for the regular study of scriptures is called the austerity of word. (17.15)
By devotion one truly understands what and who I am in essence. Having known Me in essence, one immediately merges with Me. (18.55)
The Supreme Lord — as the controller abiding in the inner psyche of all beings — causes them to work out their Karma like a puppet (of Karma created by the free will) mounted on a machine. (18.61)
Set aside all meritorious deeds and religious rituals, and just surrender completely to My will with firm faith and loving devotion. I shall liberate you from all sins, the bonds of Karma. Do not grieve. (18.66)
The one who shall propagate this supreme secret philosophy (or the transcendental knowledge of the Gita) amongst My devotees, shall be performing the highest devotional service to Me, and shall certainly come to Me. No other person shall do a more pleasing service to Me, and no one on the earth shall be more dear to Me. (18.68-69)
Wherever there will be both Krishna, the Lord of yoga, or Dharma in the form of the scriptures, and Arjuna with the weapons of duty and protection; there will be everlasting prosperity, victory, happiness, and morality. This is my conviction. (18.78)
