05th Feb 2006
What’s the connection between work and results?
If you’ve read the Bhagavad-Gita, you’ll know that the quote below comes from a conversation between Arjuna, one of five Pandava brothers, and the god, Lord Krishna. Arjuna is deeply troubled because he is about to go into battle and fight some of his relatives. He does not know whether to renounce fighting altogether (and be killed) or fight. The entire Gita is about this dilemma of what exactly is right action in the world.
You have the right to work, but never to the fruit of the work. You should never engage in action for the sake of reward, nor should you long for inaction.
-Bhagavad Gita 2:47
For Arjuna, this is part of what encourages him to understand that this particular battle is part of his karma and an obligation. He must complete this work, but he must not expect certain results.
In other words, the fruits of your work (money, fame, popularity, paying off your credit card) should never be the goals of your work.
