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Here, a question arises. What process does a person go through who initially enters the path of Karma Yoga, that is, the yoga of action, and later realizes God through Samkhya Yoga, that is, the yoga of knowledge?
The process that seekers follow can be called "tyaga," which means abandonment. And it can be considered in seven stages.
The first stage is to completely abandon prohibited actions.
This means to completely avoid low acts that are forbidden by scripture, in thought, word, and deed. Theft, adultery, lying, hypocrisy, cunning deception, coercion, violence, consuming prohibited foods, and indulging in frivolous pleasures are examples of the forbidden acts mentioned here.
This is the first stage of abandonment.
The second stage is to abandon actions motivated by desire.
This is about stopping actions performed with selfish motives, such as offerings, charity, ascetic practices, and worship, which are driven by desires. Such actions are often performed to obtain desired objects like a wife, descendants, or wealth, or to be freed from illness or other misfortunes. This is the second stage of renunciation.
However, there is a caution here.
Whether it is a secular obligation or a religious one, even if an action that appears to be based on desire from the outside may cause someone suffering by not doing it, or hinder long-established systems related to actions and rituals. In such cases, there is no problem in performing it selflessly, simply for the sake of society.
In that case, that person would not be considered to have performed an action "motivated by desire."
The third stage is to completely abandon desires for worldly objects.
This is about letting go of the desire to increase things that are given to you, such as honor, fame, social evaluation, the number of wives and descendants, and other temporary possessions. Instead, see them as obstacles that hinder the realization of God.
This is the third stage of abandonment.
The fourth stage is to abandon the habit of seeking service from others based on selfish motives.
Seeking money or physical service from others for one's own satisfaction. Receiving things or services that have been offered without being requested, and using them for one's selfish purposes. Attempting to achieve one's selfish goals through someone else, by any means necessary. All of these are included in receiving service from others with a selfish motive.
These things being abandoned represent the fourth stage of abandonment.
However, there are exceptions to this rule as well.
If physical services or food and drink that one is normally entitled to receive, are refused in a way that causes distress to the other person or hinders the maintenance of social order, then it is not blameworthy to accept them with a selfless heart, solely for the purpose of pleasing the giver.
For example, refusing gifts from one's wife, son, servants, or even food and drink offered by friends and relatives can cause distress to the other person and damage the appropriateness of social behavior.