Sept. 11, 2025
Acting Without Expectation for the Fruits of Action
reference: Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, Looking from Within, Chapter 5, Attitudes on the Path, pp. 168-169
This episode is also available as a blog post at https://sriaurobindostudies.wordpress.com/2025/09/09/acting-without-expectation-for-the-fruits-of-action/
Video presentations, interviews and podcast episodes are allavailable on the YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@santoshkrinsky871
More information about Sri Aurobindo can be found at www.aurobindo.net
The US editions and links to e-book editions of SriAurobindo’s writings can be found at Lotus Press www.lotuspress.com
1
00:00:00,720 --> 00:00:06,040
The Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 2,
verses 47 to 48, as translated
2
00:00:06,040 --> 00:00:12,200
by Sri Aurobindo states quote
Thou hast a right to action, but
3
00:00:12,200 --> 00:00:15,120
only to action, never to its
fruits.
4
00:00:16,079 --> 00:00:20,560
Let not the fruits of thy works
be thy motive, neither let there
5
00:00:20,560 --> 00:00:26,280
be in thee any attachment to
inactivity fixed in yoga, to thy
6
00:00:26,280 --> 00:00:31,800
actions having abandoned
attachment, having become equal
7
00:00:31,800 --> 00:00:37,440
in failure and success.
For it is equality that is meant
8
00:00:37,440 --> 00:00:39,440
by yoga.
End Quote.
9
00:00:41,720 --> 00:00:45,280
For the most part, we act in the
world an expectation of some
10
00:00:45,280 --> 00:00:47,680
result or benefit accruing to
us.
11
00:00:48,520 --> 00:00:52,680
This benefit may be something
tangible in the form of income,
12
00:00:53,000 --> 00:00:58,000
family or material possessions,
or it may be something not
13
00:00:58,000 --> 00:01:03,320
directly tangible but perceived
as a benefit to our ego or
14
00:01:03,560 --> 00:01:08,440
convertible over time into
tangible results such as social
15
00:01:08,440 --> 00:01:13,040
power, prestige, fame,
gratification of desires,
16
00:01:13,280 --> 00:01:18,040
etcetera.
We become transactional in the
17
00:01:18,040 --> 00:01:22,320
way we perceive things.
If we do something, we want to
18
00:01:22,320 --> 00:01:25,800
get something positive back
sooner or later.
19
00:01:26,920 --> 00:01:29,280
The transactions can be quite
subtle.
20
00:01:30,080 --> 00:01:33,280
In many instances, we enjoy
praise and positive
21
00:01:33,280 --> 00:01:37,440
encouragement from others for
what we do or how we speak or
22
00:01:37,440 --> 00:01:40,360
act.
If we are seeking the fruits of
23
00:01:40,360 --> 00:01:44,560
our acts, we may tend to respond
with a sense of anger,
24
00:01:44,600 --> 00:01:49,760
frustration or hostility of
someone gives us back negative
25
00:01:49,760 --> 00:01:53,440
fruits or feedback such as
direct criticism.
26
00:01:54,440 --> 00:01:57,920
We may then discontinue what we
were doing in relation to those
27
00:01:57,920 --> 00:02:02,160
individuals since the feedback
we received was not encouraging.
28
00:02:03,200 --> 00:02:08,199
The ego will try to ensure that
it gets credit for what it does.
29
00:02:09,280 --> 00:02:12,760
Even anonymous actions can
create a positive feedback to
30
00:02:12,760 --> 00:02:18,080
the ego for its selflessness.
The same type of ego support
31
00:02:18,080 --> 00:02:22,960
that we seek for individually
also applies to the group's
32
00:02:23,360 --> 00:02:26,560
functions and collective efforts
we undertake.
33
00:02:27,360 --> 00:02:31,960
We desire to see the work we are
doing recognized and supported.
34
00:02:33,280 --> 00:02:37,640
In each of these cases, while we
may have larger aspirations,
35
00:02:37,720 --> 00:02:41,960
motives, and goals, the ego
tries to insert itself and gain
36
00:02:41,960 --> 00:02:45,200
benefits, recognition, and
support.
37
00:02:46,200 --> 00:02:50,840
If we become upset or despondent
about a lack of positive
38
00:02:50,840 --> 00:02:55,800
recognition, we can be sure that
the ego is involved.
39
00:02:57,080 --> 00:02:59,760
We train our children to do
positive things through a
40
00:02:59,760 --> 00:03:01,760
process of reward and
punishment.
41
00:03:01,760 --> 00:03:07,720
Generally, we define what is
good and what is bad and assign
42
00:03:07,720 --> 00:03:10,960
results that align with these
good or bad definitions.
43
00:03:11,720 --> 00:03:16,560
We thus create a transactional
viewpoint that expects a return.
44
00:03:17,840 --> 00:03:21,600
We take this to our more mature
reflections, either as our path
45
00:03:21,600 --> 00:03:26,280
to heaven or hell, or as a
return of karmic consequence
46
00:03:26,280 --> 00:03:31,440
upon us, acting without
expectation of any benefit to
47
00:03:31,440 --> 00:03:35,600
ourselves and regardless of
possible negative consequences
48
00:03:35,600 --> 00:03:39,600
to ourselves, based solely on a
principle to be upheld.
49
00:03:39,600 --> 00:03:45,240
To carry out the larger divine
intention is the attitude of the
50
00:03:45,240 --> 00:03:50,680
divine worker as described in
the Gita, the Mother writes
51
00:03:50,720 --> 00:03:54,040
quote.
When you begin to advance
52
00:03:54,040 --> 00:03:57,720
towards inner and outer
perfection, the difficulties
53
00:03:57,720 --> 00:04:01,920
start at the same time.
I have very often heard people
54
00:04:01,920 --> 00:04:06,160
saying, Oh, now that I am trying
to be good, everybody seems to
55
00:04:06,160 --> 00:04:10,040
be bad to me.
But this is precisely to teach
56
00:04:10,040 --> 00:04:13,520
you that one should not be good
with an interested motive.
57
00:04:14,120 --> 00:04:17,360
One should not be good so that
others will be good to you.
58
00:04:18,160 --> 00:04:20,839
One must be good for the sake of
being good.
59
00:04:21,920 --> 00:04:25,880
It is always the same.
Lesson 1 must do as well as one
60
00:04:25,880 --> 00:04:30,360
can, the best one can, but
without expecting a result,
61
00:04:30,680 --> 00:04:33,560
without doing it with a view to
the result.
62
00:04:34,120 --> 00:04:39,680
Just this attitude to expect a
reward for good action to become
63
00:04:39,680 --> 00:04:43,040
good, because one thinks that
this will make life easier,
64
00:04:43,840 --> 00:04:47,480
takes away all value from the
good action.
65
00:04:48,360 --> 00:04:53,360
You must be good for the love of
goodness, you must be just for
66
00:04:53,360 --> 00:04:59,520
the love of justice, you must be
pure for the love of purity, and
67
00:04:59,520 --> 00:05:03,920
you must be disinterested for
the love of disinterestedness.
68
00:05:04,680 --> 00:05:07,160
Then you are sure to advance on
the way.
69
00:05:08,160 --> 00:05:12,520
End Quote Reference.
Sri Aurobindo and the Mother
70
00:05:12,600 --> 00:05:18,600
looking from Within, Chapter 5.
Attitudes on the Path, pages 168
71
00:05:18,600 --> 00:05:19,840
to 169.
00:00:00,720 --> 00:00:06,040
The Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 2,
verses 47 to 48, as translated
2
00:00:06,040 --> 00:00:12,200
by Sri Aurobindo states quote
Thou hast a right to action, but
3
00:00:12,200 --> 00:00:15,120
only to action, never to its
fruits.
4
00:00:16,079 --> 00:00:20,560
Let not the fruits of thy works
be thy motive, neither let there
5
00:00:20,560 --> 00:00:26,280
be in thee any attachment to
inactivity fixed in yoga, to thy
6
00:00:26,280 --> 00:00:31,800
actions having abandoned
attachment, having become equal
7
00:00:31,800 --> 00:00:37,440
in failure and success.
For it is equality that is meant
8
00:00:37,440 --> 00:00:39,440
by yoga.
End Quote.
9
00:00:41,720 --> 00:00:45,280
For the most part, we act in the
world an expectation of some
10
00:00:45,280 --> 00:00:47,680
result or benefit accruing to
us.
11
00:00:48,520 --> 00:00:52,680
This benefit may be something
tangible in the form of income,
12
00:00:53,000 --> 00:00:58,000
family or material possessions,
or it may be something not
13
00:00:58,000 --> 00:01:03,320
directly tangible but perceived
as a benefit to our ego or
14
00:01:03,560 --> 00:01:08,440
convertible over time into
tangible results such as social
15
00:01:08,440 --> 00:01:13,040
power, prestige, fame,
gratification of desires,
16
00:01:13,280 --> 00:01:18,040
etcetera.
We become transactional in the
17
00:01:18,040 --> 00:01:22,320
way we perceive things.
If we do something, we want to
18
00:01:22,320 --> 00:01:25,800
get something positive back
sooner or later.
19
00:01:26,920 --> 00:01:29,280
The transactions can be quite
subtle.
20
00:01:30,080 --> 00:01:33,280
In many instances, we enjoy
praise and positive
21
00:01:33,280 --> 00:01:37,440
encouragement from others for
what we do or how we speak or
22
00:01:37,440 --> 00:01:40,360
act.
If we are seeking the fruits of
23
00:01:40,360 --> 00:01:44,560
our acts, we may tend to respond
with a sense of anger,
24
00:01:44,600 --> 00:01:49,760
frustration or hostility of
someone gives us back negative
25
00:01:49,760 --> 00:01:53,440
fruits or feedback such as
direct criticism.
26
00:01:54,440 --> 00:01:57,920
We may then discontinue what we
were doing in relation to those
27
00:01:57,920 --> 00:02:02,160
individuals since the feedback
we received was not encouraging.
28
00:02:03,200 --> 00:02:08,199
The ego will try to ensure that
it gets credit for what it does.
29
00:02:09,280 --> 00:02:12,760
Even anonymous actions can
create a positive feedback to
30
00:02:12,760 --> 00:02:18,080
the ego for its selflessness.
The same type of ego support
31
00:02:18,080 --> 00:02:22,960
that we seek for individually
also applies to the group's
32
00:02:23,360 --> 00:02:26,560
functions and collective efforts
we undertake.
33
00:02:27,360 --> 00:02:31,960
We desire to see the work we are
doing recognized and supported.
34
00:02:33,280 --> 00:02:37,640
In each of these cases, while we
may have larger aspirations,
35
00:02:37,720 --> 00:02:41,960
motives, and goals, the ego
tries to insert itself and gain
36
00:02:41,960 --> 00:02:45,200
benefits, recognition, and
support.
37
00:02:46,200 --> 00:02:50,840
If we become upset or despondent
about a lack of positive
38
00:02:50,840 --> 00:02:55,800
recognition, we can be sure that
the ego is involved.
39
00:02:57,080 --> 00:02:59,760
We train our children to do
positive things through a
40
00:02:59,760 --> 00:03:01,760
process of reward and
punishment.
41
00:03:01,760 --> 00:03:07,720
Generally, we define what is
good and what is bad and assign
42
00:03:07,720 --> 00:03:10,960
results that align with these
good or bad definitions.
43
00:03:11,720 --> 00:03:16,560
We thus create a transactional
viewpoint that expects a return.
44
00:03:17,840 --> 00:03:21,600
We take this to our more mature
reflections, either as our path
45
00:03:21,600 --> 00:03:26,280
to heaven or hell, or as a
return of karmic consequence
46
00:03:26,280 --> 00:03:31,440
upon us, acting without
expectation of any benefit to
47
00:03:31,440 --> 00:03:35,600
ourselves and regardless of
possible negative consequences
48
00:03:35,600 --> 00:03:39,600
to ourselves, based solely on a
principle to be upheld.
49
00:03:39,600 --> 00:03:45,240
To carry out the larger divine
intention is the attitude of the
50
00:03:45,240 --> 00:03:50,680
divine worker as described in
the Gita, the Mother writes
51
00:03:50,720 --> 00:03:54,040
quote.
When you begin to advance
52
00:03:54,040 --> 00:03:57,720
towards inner and outer
perfection, the difficulties
53
00:03:57,720 --> 00:04:01,920
start at the same time.
I have very often heard people
54
00:04:01,920 --> 00:04:06,160
saying, Oh, now that I am trying
to be good, everybody seems to
55
00:04:06,160 --> 00:04:10,040
be bad to me.
But this is precisely to teach
56
00:04:10,040 --> 00:04:13,520
you that one should not be good
with an interested motive.
57
00:04:14,120 --> 00:04:17,360
One should not be good so that
others will be good to you.
58
00:04:18,160 --> 00:04:20,839
One must be good for the sake of
being good.
59
00:04:21,920 --> 00:04:25,880
It is always the same.
Lesson 1 must do as well as one
60
00:04:25,880 --> 00:04:30,360
can, the best one can, but
without expecting a result,
61
00:04:30,680 --> 00:04:33,560
without doing it with a view to
the result.
62
00:04:34,120 --> 00:04:39,680
Just this attitude to expect a
reward for good action to become
63
00:04:39,680 --> 00:04:43,040
good, because one thinks that
this will make life easier,
64
00:04:43,840 --> 00:04:47,480
takes away all value from the
good action.
65
00:04:48,360 --> 00:04:53,360
You must be good for the love of
goodness, you must be just for
66
00:04:53,360 --> 00:04:59,520
the love of justice, you must be
pure for the love of purity, and
67
00:04:59,520 --> 00:05:03,920
you must be disinterested for
the love of disinterestedness.
68
00:05:04,680 --> 00:05:07,160
Then you are sure to advance on
the way.
69
00:05:08,160 --> 00:05:12,520
End Quote Reference.
Sri Aurobindo and the Mother
70
00:05:12,600 --> 00:05:18,600
looking from Within, Chapter 5.
Attitudes on the Path, pages 168
71
00:05:18,600 --> 00:05:19,840
to 169.
