Gita for Youth - Yoga of Spiritual Wisdom and Realization (Jnana Yoga) - sacrifice (Yajna)

Types of Sacrifices

There are various kinds of sacrifices. In fact all actions can be classified as sacrifices. Some yogis (desiring fruits like heaven and material well being) offer oblations unto various gods while others, the wise ones (sans any desire), offer them to the supreme.

Others meditate by offering the various sense organs into the fire of self control, while still others worship by offering the objects of the senses like smell, touch, sound etc. into the fire of the sense organs.

The worships performed and sacrifices performed are of various kinds. While some persons may control their senses by turning them away from the resp. objects of senses through a complete control of the mind and the sense organs, there are some who would despite the temptations of the sense objects, remain equipoise. Some Yogis, despite the pangs of hunger and the temptation of nicely prepared food, may not be attracted by good food, while others may remain indifferent to the very taste of the food itself, i.e. good or bad does not matter to them. All what matters to them is God and the ways and means of obtaining Him. Thus senses or the sense objects which are biggest obstacles in the path of God realization are sacrificed for the sake of the eternal truth.

There are still others who would sacrifice all actions related to sense organs and life into the fire of self control. These master Yogis, meditate by being detached from all external influences and their temptations, ever immersed in the thought of God.

Sri Krishna then illustrated the various forms of sacrifices that are performed – the sacrifice of material offerings, the sacrifice done through the performance of Yoga, or ascetic penances, or the sacrifice of gaining wisdom through study of Vedas, all performed by ascetics and sages.

Another form of sacrifice is the Pranayama, an intrinsic part of Raja Yoga, whereby the Prana or the vital force within the body is controlled by various means. Pranayama consists of three steps to control the life force and the mind – Rechaka or breathing out, Puraka or breathing in, and Kumbhaka or holding the breath within. These three steps are synchronized carefully as if they are harmonious and complement one another. This is the sacrifice of the vital forces in the fire of the vital forces, for the purpose of controlling the life forces and bodily functions.

There are still others who would, through various ascetic practices like moderate eating (fasting), sacrifice a part of their life force into the fire of asceticism. All these sacrifices destroy sin.

Sacrifice denotes an activity towards realization of God in a step by step way, through renunciation. The renunciation can be of various forms – of material objects, of sense objects and temptations, of external objects of attraction and selfish actions, of nourishment of body and life forces, of idleness of mind and intellect. Every sacrifice is thus a way by which accumulated sins get destroyed through penance and austerities. One who accepts sacrifices as a way of life and thereby sustain themselves, progresses towards the path of realizing the eternal Brahman. Others who avoid sacrifices and indulge only in self pleasures by pursuing selfish actions have no place in this world and hereafter.

In the 3^rd chapter we have seen how sacrifices are an intrinsic way of living in harmony with the community, by giving and receiving. One who does not follow that mode of life and lives entirely selfishly without contributing to the society lives a vain life. Such a person is the real sinner who only receives and does not give. Every form of giving is an oblation to a certain form of fire, be it fire of life forces or fire of knowledge or the fire of self control and renunciation. Lord Krishna elaborates further on the principle of sacrifices as to how these are essential to the realization of the Supreme Truth. In the 3^rd Chapter He also explains that the sacrifices without desire for fruits are the best means of obtaining true knowledge and here He explains the various means for the same.

“All the sacrifices are spread from the mouth of the Brahman, but know them to be born of action. Such knowledge leads to liberation. Of all forms of sacrifices, better than sacrifice of material offerings, is the sacrifice that cultivates wisdom. All actions (performed without desire) culminate into wisdom. Such knowledge is only to be gained by a worthy disciple through devotion, sincere questions and service from a preceptor who would himself possess the supreme knowledge. Possessing this knowledge, Oh Pandava, you shall never be deluded again. By the help of this knowledge (of Brahman), you will see your Self in all beings, i.e. Me in all and all in Me.”

Lord Krishna establishes again, as in 3^rd chapter, that all sacrifices and all actions have their root in the eternal imperishable Brahman. However here He imparts a special knowledge, that all actions, if performed without desire results in purification of the mind and spirit and through that purification process one is able to get hold of special knowledge. The dirt and grime that covers the mirror gets cleaned through such unselfish and noble work. However, to get the true knowledge one must approach a preceptor who is himself possessor of that knowledge in the true spirit of humility and service.