Reflection: What excuses do you make to justify being attached to the results of your actions?

I feel and know that I can let go of being attached to the results of my actions for selfish reasons. However, the harder part for me to let go is that, I feel that my actions and work has to amount to something and that it should be working toward a goal. And the best way to measure the work done is by the progress/results of the actions. Even trying to maintain a bhakti yoga mindset and dedicating all my actions and results for Bhagwan, I feel that I should have good results to show as this is work done for the Lord. Otherwise I wasted my efforts and the opportunities given to me.

I know I should let go of this as that is the idea of doership and I need to move beyond that. This is what I will put effort toward.

Serving Chinmaya Mission has been ‘work’ without expectations. I have been truly fortunate to be a sevika at CM Cleveland. Our team brings the best in each other and works in sync guided by Vivekji. I am perpetually learning from our CM committee members.

The responsibility assigned to me becomes a work of joy. It helps me engage in self-development and extend my comfort zones. With many years and perhaps lifetimes spent focussing on pleasure, position, and possessions, I see a shift in my attitude and perspective towards higher in the last few years.

How happy our family is when CM members are at our home, how we look forward to our home being an ashram for few days. It is such a beautiful feeling.

Then–
I reminisce that- I was always found in various parties, late-night outs, dance events, and glamorous social galas, and so I used to be aptly called a social butterfly in those old times. Yikes!

Now-
People call me asking- where they should donate, do I have info on charitable organizations, and can I guide them on volunteer opportunities, can I help them with social justice projects and fundraisers or can they host Vivekji?

How did I get so lucky?
Only His grace and guru’s guidance.
Thank you for the opportunity for seva.

1. Pre-Pandemic, donating blood is something i have done without expecting anything in return.
2. Cooking in our Chinmaya Mission once a year and donating the money to our Mission.
3. Painting for fund raising for our Mission. These are done without any desire as these are activities that i love to do!

1. The 3 Rs even after May 20th
2. In an uncontrolled environment, try to regurgitate and bring up some of the SAmAnya DharmAs in every action i am part of.
3. Try to get away from Media for more than an hour before going to bed and substituting by reading.

Hari om Vivekji & fellow LTG seekers

For this question, a recent opportunity presented itself for my virtual participation as a volunteer judge for a college’s Engineering EXPO in the medical device field. This was truly an opportunity to contribute to society/future upcoming students in the BME field/engineering & sciences by judging on innovative prototypes intended to improve human health against various diseases & health related risks. There were zero desires/results involved with this as a result of my time & efforts as a volunteer judge for the community.

The opportunity was a wonderful experience to witness the latest & greatest in the sciences intended to help the community, humanity for the world with low cost solutions & affordable access to all!

Pranams,
Sagar

Hari om Vivekji and fellow LTG seekers

For this question, the opportunity to engage with the world and yet not be caught up with the little things is the sadhana I can practice in order to strengthen this commitment. This allows me to constantly evolve and test myself with various interactions & as a result assess the growth within self-development on a constant basis.

The daily practice I will strengthen my commitment to self-development is through constant remembrance of the scriptures with the following analogy from a prior camp as follows “this Sagar is just the Sakshi nothing more” and not identify/personally attach with the engagements occurring with the world. This will be the focus to the self-development & growth on a daily basis.

Pranams,
Sagar

• Agitation in my mind is due to owning the praises, getting affected by criticism and attachment. Earlier this used to be in my system for weeks and days. But for the past year or so, i put my troubles at Narayana’s feet. This is still there for a day or two and then i am able to overcome it. Trying to not forget my Narayana is main focus.
• Lethargy is work in progress too – i try to find inspiration in my work and this helps time fly by as well as focus more in what i’m doing.
• i think these help increase my sattwa and the plan is to continue doing it for which i need a lot of Narayana’s grace.

• Maybe up until 2 years ago, i would personalize the blame and feel for it for days together which made life unproductive
• Ever since the study and reflection, i am able to pull myself out of the situation. am able to attribute the praise to others who make me challenge myself – the hi-5 challenge has trained me on the 5 earlys.
• i am using the blame to improve myself and not take it to heart. This way i am able to bounce back and not be reeling in the situation. Ever grateful to the grace of my Sadguru and Bhagawan.

Hari om Vivekji and fellow LTG seekers

Over the years, the situations which challenged my perspective helped me grow to not have expectations in what I take part in or am part of. Through this process, I have focused on the doing more so than expecting/materialistic tendencies/rewards in the world overall. As a result of this continued growth, the doing has been more what has mattered and allowing me to remain equipoise in terms of mental balance. Through it, I have only accepted it as grace to those who helped make it happen when praise comes rather than identifying it with individually. The same goes with blame where I consider the perspective from an objective lens & constructive criticism for how the process of doing something can become much better!

Through this, my mental balance has not been greatly affected in situations of praise and blame too seriously and remains calm/balanced-equipoise. Rather it always focus on the objective angle/the doing for what was participated/contributed for at all times. I treat it as prasad in both ways and just continue to do better & improve for all!

Pranams,
Sagar

• When Tamasic, feel sloth like and don’t feel like planning and executing anything. postponing is the attitude
• When Rajasic, feel impulsive and react than respond. So plan is not effectively executed
• When Sattwic, quietude really directs the mind to do the planning effectively and the end result is a lot of satisfaction and close to perfection.