Wait or Wait For?

Bhagvad Gita, the Supreme book that encompasses all the learning for peaceful and meaningful existence of mankind has one unique shloka that demystifies the entire objective of existence. It reads:

Karmanye Vadhikaraste, Ma phaleshou kada chana, Ma Karma Phala Hetur Bhurmatey Sangostva Akarmani

A man should just keep on performing his duties without worrying about the outcome of his actions. This was preached to Arjuna by Lord Krishna, who was acting as Arjuna’s charioteer and when Arjuna was facing moral dilemma in killing his near and dear .

A very fine interpretation of the above verse that I came across the other day gave me the fodder for writing this blog. It said, “There is a subtle difference between ‘waiting’ and ‘waiting for’ and in that lies the difference between ‘peaceful progress’ and ‘stressful success. Have you performed the actions that are to be performed…have you done what can be done by you…now wait…. just wait….not ‘for’ this or that or anything, but just wait…. In it, you will discover the key to peaceful progress. ‘Waiting for’ also brings in success, but all that success is too stressful.”

Isn’t the above so very relevant in today’s context when the sole objective of all our actions is for material gain – bigger home, bigger car, more expensive watch and higher status? We do get success but we also build so much stress in our lives that we hardly enjoy the success.

The above was reinforced today when we watched twin daughters of our friend performing Bharat Natyam for the first time on stage. Their Guru said that it was very courageous of some parents to send their children for learning dance form because the only goal to be achieved was the self realisation by the children by learning the dance form and nothing else, while the objective of most parents these days was to see their children securing merits , going to the best colleges and earning 6 figures salary. Some parents just wait to see their children becoming virtuous while some others wait for their children attaining success!

Let’s perform our actions selflessly and just wait rather than wait for the outcome of actions! Relevance of Bhagvad Gita in our day to day existence shall never diminish.