Madhvacharya - Philosophy

[Brahmanyan]

Theory of Karma

Without adequate erudition or eloquence to discuss the subject, I wish to post this message, with at-most reverence,

to share the view point of Sri Madhwacharya expressed in his "The Gita Tatparya" a companion volume to his "Gita Bhashya".
This view of great Acharya of "Brahma Vaishnava Sampradaya" is different from bashyas of other great exponents of Gita.

"Here, Karma yoga is explained in a vigorous way. Accordingly there is no freedom from activity.There is only freedom in activity.
The basic rules of Karmayoga are:
(i) Exclusive obligation to act
(II) The absolute forbidding of selfish desires and the fruits of the act.
(III) Surrendering all acts to God and
(IV) Not to be intimidated to inaction.

Gnana, Karma and Bhakthi are not exclusive to one another. All of them go together.Gita teaches us only the Samucchaya of gnana karma and Bhakthi. Social service is to be deemed as service to God, Madhva says so in Gita Tatparya.On the whole Gita is a guide to a robust human life and Bhashya and Tatparya strengthens it with nourishment ".
(from Maadhva Philosophical literature)

Sri Madhwacharya gives an extraordinary definition to the concept of Karma in his
commentary for the following verse in Gita:

Aruruksor muner yogam karma karanamucyate |
yogarudhasya tasyaiva shamah karaNamucyate || 6 - 3 ||

"He says karma is “nana janasya shushrusha” or serving different people is karma for those who are striving in the path of moksha sadhane ! . . . AchArya gave a new dimension to the social face of sadhane which none of the purva Acharyas thought of! Social service is one of the most important aspects of spiritual upliftment".(from Discourse on the Gita (chapter 6) by Shri Bannanje Govindacharya.)
One who is benevolent to all beings makes the Supreme Lord pleased and merciful to that one.

Regards,
Brahmanyan,
Bangalore.

[Padmanabhan.J]

Re: Theory of Karma - Sri Madhvacharya.

Traditionally, it has been said that there are three ways to God: 1. The Bhakti Marga (Path of devotion) 2. The Karma Marga (Path of action) 3. The Jnana Marga (Path of knowledge
There is also another path called as the Raja Marga. but there are not many Gurus to explain and guide one in this path.
Among the three one must not ask which one is the best; rather one must ask which one is the best for me. The journey to God or oneself is made through a three-wheeler. Each wheel represents respectively the Bhakti Marga, the Karma Marga and the Jnana Marga. Based on one’s inclination and aptitude, one can place either of them as the front wheel. But the other two wheels are important too. So, one can choose to sing bhajans and do namasmarana. That does not exempt one from doing service and inquiring into the Reality of the Self. The same holds good for one engaged in service or meditation - no exemption from the other two. This is because, all the three are necessary if one has to proceed towards one’s goal - oneself or God.
When you consider a clock, there are three hands on it. One is a second hand, another is a minute-hand and the third one is the hour-hand. The second-hand travels very fast, moving round the 12 numbers in 60 seconds, while, during this time, the minute hand moves through only the little mark or division. After the minute-hand travels through sixty divisions, the hour hand moves slowly through one hour. Sixty seconds make one minute and sixty minutes make one hour. The second-hand is Karma Yoga or the path of action. It is easy to do a good deed and one has to keep doing them. The minute-hand is Bhakti Yoga or the path of devotion. When one does many good deeds, one gets good and noble thoughts - thoughts worthy of offering to the Lord. The hour-hand is the Jnana Yoga or the path of wisdom.
When one is saturated with many good and noble thoughts, one gets an insight. As you said rightly all the three- action, devotion and knowledge are a must.
One cannot move without the other and one loses meaning without the other! But again there arises a doubt about putting which wheel as front wheel to that ‘Three Wheeler?’

Padmanabhan.J

[Padmanabhan.J]

Re: Theory of Karma - Sri Madhvacharya.

Traditionally, it has been said that there are three ways to God: 1. The Bhakti Marga (Path of devotion) 2. The Karma Marga (Path of action) 3. The Jnana Marga (Path of knowledge
There is also another path called as the Raja Marga. but there are not many Gurus to explain and guide one in this path.
Among the three one must not ask which one is the best; rather one must ask which one is the best for me. The journey to God or oneself is made through a three-wheeler. Each wheel represents respectively the Bhakti Marga, the Karma Marga and the Jnana Marga. Based on one’s inclination and aptitude, one can place either of them as the front wheel. But the other two wheels are important too. So, one can choose to sing bhajans and do namasmarana. That does not exempt one from doing service and inquiring into the Reality of the Self. The same holds good for one engaged in service or meditation - no exemption from the other two. This is because, all the three are necessary if one has to proceed towards one’s goal - oneself or God.
When you consider a clock, there are three hands on it. One is a second hand, another is a minute-hand and the third one is the hour-hand. The second-hand travels very fast, moving round the 12 numbers in 60 seconds, while, during this time, the minute hand moves through only the little mark or division. After the minute-hand travels through sixty divisions, the hour hand moves slowly through one hour. Sixty seconds make one minute and sixty minutes make one hour. The second-hand is Karma Yoga or the path of action. It is easy to do a good deed and one has to keep doing them. The minute-hand is Bhakti Yoga or the path of devotion. When one does many good deeds, one gets good and noble thoughts - thoughts worthy of offering to the Lord. The hour-hand is the Jnana Yoga or the path of wisdom.
When one is saturated with many good and noble thoughts, one gets an insight. As you said rightly all the three- action, devotion and knowledge are a must.
One cannot move without the other and one loses meaning without the other! But again there arises a doubt about putting which wheel as front wheel to that ‘Three Wheeler?’

Padmanabhan.J