In Hinduism, Anasakti is non-attachment to the fruit or effect of action, a teaching of the Bhagavad Gita. It is renunciation of selfish desires. It is action for the benefit of humanity in a spirit of complete detachment and selflessness. We are engaged in various activities in this world. Through these actions we have expectations of certain desire results. But thinking about our actions, their fruit and the people connected with them, in some way or the other, we get involved or attached to them. Due to this attachment with worldly things, more desires are born and out of non-fulfillment of these desires, anger is born. Anger affects the stability of the mind. It is necessary to cultivate non-attachment through self-control for the peace of mind.
It is true that as long as one lives, one cannot stop
working. Even breathing is an action. Actions performed with desires bind man.
One has to act without attachment to its fruit. It is called nishkama karma in
the Bhagavad Gita. One should act as if one is performing one’s duties in life
and never show any attachment to their fruit.
Mahatma Gandhi wrote his commentary on the Gita under the
name Anasakti Yoga and argued that the Gita taught us to perform selfless
action in the spirit of detachment. It is his contention that one cannot
perform detached action without imbibing the spirit of non-violence and
commitment to truth. One can perform disinterested action when he/she has
exercised control over the senses and imbibed the spirit of universal
friendliness.