Practicing Gita Teachings to Please God, A Spiritual Approach to Selfless Action
Why in News?
The Bhagavad Gita, one of India’s most sacred texts, continues to serve as a beacon of moral clarity, spiritual wisdom, and practical guidance for leading a meaningful life. A recent opinion article by spiritual teacher Ajit Kumar Bishnoi sheds light on how the teachings of the Gita can be applied in everyday life to genuinely please God by relinquishing the fruits of action. His insights hold relevance in today’s age, where self-interest often dominates and spiritual foundations are overlooked.
Introduction
In a society heavily driven by material success, competition, and ego, the Bhagavad Gita stands as a spiritual lighthouse reminding individuals of higher values—duty, selfless service, and inner renunciation. Ajit Kumar Bishnoi’s article presents a deep dive into how renouncing the fruits of action, as emphasized by Lord Krishna, is the pathway to spiritual elevation and divine connection. According to the Gita, offering the results of our work to God selflessly is not only noble but essential for inner peace, fulfillment, and true success.
Key Teachings from the Gita
Lord Krishna, through the Bhagavad Gita, encourages individuals to focus on their karma (action) while relinquishing the fruits or outcomes of those actions. Bishnoi highlights several verses to explain this core teaching:
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Gita 18.9: “When prescribed work is done considering that as duty only, and by renouncing attachment and the fruit of action also, that relinquishment is considered to be in goodness.”
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Gita 18.2: “Lord Krishna declares the relinquishment of the fruits of all acts as tyaga (renunciation).”
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Gita 12.12: “Knowledge is superior to practice; meditation is superior to knowledge; giving up the fruit of action is superior to meditation.”
These verses indicate the spiritual hierarchy of values where giving up the fruits of action is the most supreme. Why? Because when actions are performed not for personal gain but for the welfare of others or in service to God, they transcend selfish desire and become acts of devotion.
Understanding the Fruits of Action
Bishnoi explains that God is not interested in material offerings—He owns everything already. What pleases God is when our material possessions are used to serve others in His name. This transforms mundane acts into sacred service.
The fruits of action can be divided into two major categories:
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Material Fruits: This includes possessions such as:
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Old phones
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Unused clothes
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Household items
Giving these up to serve others—especially those in need—brings us closer to divine grace.
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Spiritual Fruits: These are even more powerful and include our:
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Time
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Energy
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Mind
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Talents
When these are offered to help others or connect with God, it deepens our spirituality and aligns us with divine purpose.
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Senses and Renunciation
The article moves into an insightful discussion on how pleasures affect the mind and spiritual growth. Humans have ten senses: five knowledge-gathering senses (eyes, ears, nose, tongue, skin) and five working senses (speech, hands, feet, genitals, anus). Each of these can lead to pleasure, but that pleasure varies based on the dominant guna (mode of nature):
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Sattva (Goodness): Pleasures are serene, such as appreciating natural beauty, art, and calmness.
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Rajas (Passion): Pleasures are action-driven like sports, thrill, and sensual experiences.
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Tamas (Ignorance): Pleasures are destructive and vulgar—violence, obscenity, addictions.
Bishnoi warns against becoming enslaved to the lower modes of pleasure, especially sensual pleasures, which are personal and fleeting. Instead, the control and mastery of senses lead to a more balanced and meaningful life.
Mind, Ego, and Intelligence
The Gita places importance on self-mastery of the inner faculties—the mind, ego (ahankara), and intelligence (buddhi). A controlled mind enables peace, while elevated intelligence gives meaning to life. Moreover, curbing ego makes individuals more receptive to spiritual learning. Awareness, mindfulness, and inner presence cultivate a sense of purpose and significance.
Detachment from Materialism
Bishnoi brings attention to how attachment to the material world leads to an endless cycle of desire, birth, and death. The way out is to:
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Observe the gross fruits of action
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Sacrifice time to help others
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Support society through noble deeds
He emphasizes that service to others, whether as parents, volunteers, or social workers, is the true expression of renunciation.
True Charity and the Gita’s Definition
The Gita (17.20) redefines charity: It must be given without expectation of return, to a worthy recipient, and at the right time and place. Quality charity includes both:
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Material needs (e.g., donations, food, shelter)
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Emotional/spiritual support (e.g., time, attention, empathy)
Importantly, the intent behind the act matters more than the act itself. Overcoming our fault-finding nature is essential to making service meaningful. Appreciation of others, especially close ones, should be heartfelt and vocal.
Personal Application by the Author
Ajit Kumar Bishnoi humbly shares how he applied this wisdom in his own life:
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Despite many responsibilities, he regularly sets aside time to connect with God through spiritual practices like writing books and articles.
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With divine blessings, he was able to distribute spiritual books in 1,000 schools in Delhi.
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He expresses deep gratitude that he can support his family both materially and spiritually.
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He meditates upon Gita 18.69: “No one among men pleases Me more than he, nor will there ever be one dearer to Me on earth.”
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All his efforts—writing, serving, sharing—are offered as devotion to God, not for personal gain.
This shows a practical and humble example of living Gita’s wisdom in the real world.
Challenges and the Way Forward
Despite the powerful teachings of the Gita, there are real-life challenges in implementing them:
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Material Attachment: People often find it hard to give up comfort or possessions.
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Ego and Recognition: Many seek validation for good deeds, which contradicts selfless service.
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Lack of Awareness: The true meaning of spiritual practices is often misunderstood or neglected.
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Distracted Living: Time and attention are scattered due to digital distractions and fast-paced lifestyles.
The way forward lies in:
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Cultivating daily mindfulness and introspection.
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Engaging in service without expectation.
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Prioritizing spiritual learning and reflection.
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Following simple practices of appreciation and sacrifice.
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Making small, consistent efforts toward self-improvement.
Conclusion
The timeless wisdom of the Bhagavad Gita, as interpreted by Ajit Kumar Bishnoi, calls for a shift from ego-driven action to God-driven service. Pleasing God is not about grand rituals or donations, but about:
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Renouncing fruits of action
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Controlling the senses
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Serving others with love and humility
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Offering everything to the Divine
In a world filled with noise and materialism, these teachings offer a silent revolution—one that transforms the self and uplifts society. Whether through giving up old possessions, devoting time to family, or writing books that touch lives, every action done with detachment and devotion is a step closer to divinity.
Five Questions and Answers
Q1. What is the central message of the article?
A: The central message is to follow the Gita’s teaching of renouncing the fruits of action and offering one’s work to God selflessly in order to attain spiritual fulfillment and divine grace.
Q2. How does the Gita categorize pleasures?
A: The Gita categorizes pleasures based on the three gunas: sattva (peaceful), rajas (passionate), and tamas (destructive), with the highest form being serene and sense-controlled.
Q3. What does the Gita say about charity?
A: Charity must be given without expectation, to a deserving recipient, and with the right attitude. Such charity is considered to be in the mode of goodness (Gita 17.20).
Q4. What practical steps does Ajit Kumar Bishnoi take to live these teachings?
A: He dedicates his time to spiritual practices, writes books and articles, serves society by distributing spiritual books, and offers all his work to God.
Q5. Why is renouncing the fruits of action considered superior?
A: Because it removes ego and personal desire, aligning the person with higher spiritual goals and making their actions a form of devotion and selfless service.
