Speaker 1: Light on acts in their consequences. One of the commonest
excuses for wrong doing is that if right were done,
calamity would ensue. Thus the foolish concern themselves not with
the act, but with the consequence of the act, a
foreknowledge of which is assumed. The desire to secure pleasant
results and to escape unpleasant consequences is at the root
of that confusion of mind, which renders men incapable of
distinguishing between good and evil, and prevents them from practicing
the one and abandoning the other. Even when it is
claimed that the wrong thing is done not for one's
self but in order to secure the happiness of others,
the delusion is the same, only it is more subtle
and dangerous. The wise concern themselves with the act and
not with the consequences. They consider not what is pleasant
or unpleasant, but what is right. Thus, doing what is
right only, and not straining after results, they are relieved
of all burdens of doubt, desire, and fear. Nor can
one who so acts ever becomes so involved in inextricable difficulty,
or be troubled with painful perplexity. His course is so simple,
straight and plain, that he can never be confused with
misgivings and uncertainties. Those who so act are said by
Krishna to act without regard to the fruits of action,
And he further declares that those who have thus renounced
results are supremely good, supremely wise. Those who work for
pleasant results only, and who depart from the right path
when their own or other's happiness appears to be at stake,
cannot escape doubt, difficulty, perplexity, and pain. Ever forecasting probable consequences,
they act in one way today and in another way tomorrow.
Unstable and blown about by the changing wind of circumstance,
they become more and more bewildered. The consequences about which
they trouble do not accrue. But they who work for
righteousness only, who are careful to do the right act,
putting away all selfish considerations, all thoughts of results, they
are steadfast, unchanging, untroubled, and at peace amid all vicissitudes,
and the fruits of their acts are ever sweet and blessed.
Even the knowledge which only the righteous possess that wrong
acts can never produce good results, and that right acts
can never bring about bad results, is in itself fraught
with sweet assurance and peace. For whether the fruits of
acts are sought or unsought, they cannot be escaped. Those
who so to self and ignorant of the law of truth,
think they can make their own results, reap the bitter
fruits of self. They who sow to righteousness, knowing themselves
to be the reapers and not the makers of the consequences,
reap the sweet fruits of righteousness. Right is supremely simple
and is without complexity. Error is interminably complex and involves
the mind in confusion. To put away self and passion
and establish oneself and right. Doing this is the highest wisdom.