13. Karma Yogi Works with Courage of Authenticity (3.5-3.8)

Kṛṣṇa knows the techniques to achieve success in the inner world and the outer world, both! He is the only Master who is an enlightened being and a king as well. He shows you how to furnish your outer space with Enriching, and how to keep your inner space empty with Completion. That is Life in totality.

The entire Gītā is only about this one idea: how to furnish your outer space with the ultimate luxuries and how to keep your inner space in the ultimate bliss.

Here Kṛṣṇa says, 'Not merely by abstaining from work can one achieve freedom from action. Nor can fulfillment come by giving up action (3.4).' He says, 'Just by outer renunciation, authenticity in action, karma yoga can never be achieved.'

What is authenticity? Building your own identity to the peak possibility and renouncing the identity built on purpose. Renouncing your identity in the inner space, and creating the space of completion and creation is the real thing to be achieved. That is yogaḥ karmasu kauśalam, authenticity in action! Once you have renounced in the inner space, it doesn't matter what you do in the outer world. Nothing will touch you. Let your body-mind work without disturbing your inner space of completion. You don't have to sell your inner space to enjoy the outer place.

Here, Kṛṣṇa assures you, '*'sarvaḥ prakṛti-jair-guṇaiḥ—*by your very nature, your body and mind will work. They know the right thing to do. If you just keep quiet, it is enough.' You never trust your body and mind. You trust your ego and it finally dumps you! Your body and mind will do their work. All you need to do is keep quiet and relax from your ego.

Śrī Kṛṣṇa says, 'A karma yogi, one who lives the path of authenticity in action, is a man who relaxes and works from the space of completion.'

Just relax into your inner space and be complete, you will automatically be guided. Don't bother about the goals, just drop them. The moment you understand the beauty of purposelessness, all wounds in your inner space will be healed. A man who keeps his senses under control but is unable to keep his inner space under control, is called a hypocrite, indriyārthān vimūḍhātmā mithyācāraḥ sa ucyate (3.6), says Kṛṣṇa.

The quality of your life will be judged only based on the quality of your inner space, not the quality of your outer space. If you want inner space, you need to work towards creating it.