14. Do Work with Devotion, Drop Expectation

**Kṛṣṇa says very beautifully, 'By nature, the senses are tuned to be extrovert.' '**Extrovert' is not something negative. Extrovert senses will always be alive, creative and contributing. Kṛṣṇa says, your senses, by nature are programmed to go out, to work. Going out can happen only in two ways: either to enrich or to swindle! Only enriching others is going to transform you.

Here, Kṛṣṇa says to perform work with devotion, with authenticity in our actions, only to enrich, and without attachment to the results, karmendriyaiḥ karma-yogam asaktaḥ sa viśiṣyate (3.7). Work without unnecessarily bothering about the results you expect. Kṛṣṇa says, 'Drop the very desire, drop the very expectation.' He says, 'One who does devotional work with authenticity, without attachment, controlling the senses, is superior to one who merely pretends to be in control of his senses and acts in renunciation, karmendriyaiḥ karma-yogam asaktaḥ sa viśiṣyate (3.7).'

Listen. The senses are extrovert, flowing naturally, purposelessly. It means that you are programmed by nature to be successful. By your very nature, you will act. Be aware that when you are in action, it is the senses acting. Then you will not get attached to the action or its result. Then you are liberated from the bondage of action. Action binds you only when you consider yourself 'the doer' and have expectations about things being a certain way.

Selfless Enriching Liberates (3.9-3.12)

There are two techniques by which one can liberate oneself from attachment to work.

One is by telling oneself, 'I am not the doer.' By reminding yourself that it is the senses and not you who is doing something, you distance yourself from the action. This is what Kṛṣṇa explains in the previous verses. The other way is by surrendering the fruits of one's work to the Divine, to the ultimate life force that is conducting this Universe.

Bhagavān says, 'O Kaunteya, perform your work for Me and you will do it with authenticity, liberated and without attachment, tad-arthaṁ karma kaunteya mukta-saṅgaḥ samācara (3.9).' When you do work as a sincere, humble offering to the Divine, the very attitude of this surrender will make you do the job authentically and you will be liberated. When you are excessively bothered about the results, you actually think that 'you are the doer' of the action!

Surrender, The Ultimate Relaxation

When you see that Existence is purposeless and you are living in the loving, caring arms of Existence, you will relax and surrender to that very Existence. When you are in this relaxed mood, you function at your best without feeling 'the doer' and therefore not worrying about making mistakes. Real surrender happens when this understanding becomes your experience. Utmost integrity and authenticity is enough for

surrender. Surrender has tremendous power, tremendous energy.

Understand, Existence loves you and understands you better than you understand yourself. Have simple trust in Existence, in the intelligence of the life force that is keeping you alive.