Shri Krishna Loves You: What is taamasic behaviour?

  

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|| जय श्री कृष्ण || 

॥ श्रीमद्‍भगवद्‍गीता ॥ 18.7॥ 

_नियतस्य तु सन्न्यासः कर्मणो नोपपद्यते ।_ 

_मोहात्तस्य परित्यागस्तामसः परिकीर्तितः॥_ 

भावार्थ : 

(निषिद्ध और काम्य कर्मों का तो स्वरूप से त्याग करना उचित ही है) परन्तु नियत कर्म का (इसी अध्याय के श्लोक 48 की टिप्पणी में इसका अर्थ देखना चाहिए।) स्वरूप से त्याग करना उचित नहीं है। इसलिए मोह के कारण उसका त्याग कर देना तामस त्याग कहा गया है॥७॥ 


Meaning: 

Indeed, the giving up of an obligatory action is not appropriate. Giving it up out of delusion is declared to be taamasic. 

Explanation: 

Shri Krishna moved the discussion on karma yoga ahead by categorizing the three types of tyaaga, which means giving up or renunciation. He says that when we give up an obligatory action, when we do not perform an obligatory action out of delusion, out of incorrect or error prone knowledge, such renunciation is known as taamasic tyaaga or taamasic renunciation. He says that such behaviour is inappropriate and is not in line with the teachings of karma yoga. Not doing one’s duty is forbidden in karma yoga. 

Where do one's obligatory duties come from? They come from one’s stage in life or aashrama, and one's profession or varna. A householder is obliged to attend to the needs of his spouse, his parents and his children. If he does not attend to his sick parents, or does not help with his child's homework, it is termed as taamasic behaviour. A businessman should strive to generate healthy profits from his business, and donate a portion of his wealth to charity. Not doing so is also considered taamasic. 

Moha or delusion can create all kinds of negative tendencies in us, as we have seen in prior chapters. It can cause heedlessness and carelessness where we do not pay proper attention to the task at hand. It can cause laziness and idleness where our body becomes inert and dull, where we do not want to get up from bed. It is hard to get oneself out of a state of moha. Unless someone who is not taamasic intervenes, we will remain in a state of tamas for a long time.

Chant the mantra you have faith in

Hare Krishna

The Hare Krishna maha-mantra is composed of three Sanskrit words, which are “Hare”, “Krishna” and “Rama”. According to the scriptures “Obstruction or problem can’t come into their lives, who do chant this mantra continuously”. The Great Mantra is:

Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare

Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare

हरे कृष्ण हरे कृष्ण , कृष्ण कृष्ण हरे हरे |

हरे राम हरे राम , राम राम हरे हरे ||