Spiritual aspirants have this doubt - If all this is God’s effort why should we put in our individual effort. This question is answered through the story of two frogs below. This same question is also asked by lazy people and given as an argument to their laziness.
He helps those who help themselves by accepting His commands. He wants us to work without the anxiety for the fruits of actions, if we are worried about the fruits of action our work will not be done sincerely. It should not be renunciation of action but renunciation in action.
In sixth chapter of Bhagavad Gita Sri Krishna says.
In sixth chapter of Bhagavad Gita Sri Krishna says.
anasritaha karma phalam = don’t expect the fruits
karyam karma karotiyaha = but do the work
This is what is called Nishkama Karma.
Story of Two Frogs
Once two frogs took a stroll to a dairy farm. Accidentally both of them fell into a bucket of cream.
One frog said to the other “There is no way of getting out of this, cream is too slimy to jump out and too thick to swim. This is the end of us and so let us die”.
The second frog said “No, we should keep on trying. Let us keep on paddling”.
The other frog did not want to put any effort even while dying. It was so lazy, sank down and died.
The frog without anticipating any fruits of its action kept on paddling, and paddling till morning, by which time it became a great sight to see as the frog was sitting on a ball of butter which floats naturally and enjoying a hearty meal of the flies that were attracted towards the butter.
This story illustrates nishkama karma preached by Lord Krishna.
This story illustrates nishkama karma preached by Lord Krishna.
Of course if we have adamantine faith in Him and trust Him to help us in every activity of ours, including food then self effort is not needed. But if we want to help ourselves when it comes to eating, enjoying etc; He expects us to help ourselves with everything else.
Candle lit and left in the air is an example often quoted. Would God keep the candle glowing if left in the air? For most of us this cannot happen, but if we have adamantine faith in Him, in every conceivable activity of ours, He Himself will help the candle to glow by putting an unseen protection or you will enclose it with a glass shield and you think that you are protecting the light. But do not forget that He gave the knowledge to do that.
It can ultimately be concluded that every effort is from Him only and for Him alone.
To quote Bhagavad Gita again.
“karmanye vadhikarasthe” - You do the work that is recommended to you without expecting any rewards.
“ma phalesu kadhachna” - I Bless you with its fruits.
Chinna Jeeyar Swamiji – Source Bhakthi Nivedana Feb – March 2012 Issue