Friday 15 December 2017

The karma yogi and the sanyasi - Vinoba

When talking of the yogi and the sanyasi in the fifth chapter of the Gita, Vinoba said the yogi and sanyasi are the same. He gave the story of Suka and Janaka.

Janaka the Karma-yogi was disciple of Yajnavalkya the Sanyasi; but Sukadeva the Sanyasi was the disciple of this same Janaka. First the Sanyasi, then the Karma- yogi, and then again the Sanyasi.
"Vyasa said to Suka, "Suka, my son, you have, no doubt, attained wisdom, but no Guru has put his seal on you. Go therefore to Janaka". Sukadeva went.

Janaka was sitting on the third floor of his great palace. Suka was a forestdweller.
His eyes drank in the sights of the city as he went along.
Janaka asked him, "Why have you come here?"
Suka answered, "To get knowledge".
Who sent you?"
"Vyasadeva".
"Where do you come from?"
"From the Ashram".
"What did you see in the market on the way?"
'I saw rows upon rows of sweets piled up on all
sides."
"And what else did you see?"
"I saw sugar-dolls walking and talking."
"And what else?"
"For my coming up here, there were solid sugar steps."
"What else did you find?"
"Here too, I see sugar pictures everywhere."
"What do you see now."
"One sugar doll talking to another."
Then Janaka said, "Now you may go. You have attained all wisdom."
Suka had secured what he wanted, a signed certificate from Janaka. The point
is that the Karma-Yogi has accepted as disciple the Sanyasi Suka.

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