Sri Ramakrishna

Sri Ramakrishna used to emphasize that renunciation of unreal represents the
true significance of the Bhagavad Gita: ―If the word ‗Gita‘ is rapidly repeated it would
sound ‗Tagi, Tagi…‘ And Tagi is a modification of Tyagi—the man of renunciation.
renunciation of the phenomenal existence is the gist of the Gita (op. cit.,
Chidbhavananda, 2000, p. 170). It must be pointed out that dispassion does not mean
relinquishing one‘s duties. As Iyer (1980a, p. xix) points out: ―Neglect of one‘s duties,
on the pretext of detachment means nothing but selfishness and love of inactivity.‖ In
the ultimate analysis, renunciation is an inner, mental act and should not be confused
with outward tokens of abandonment. True renunciation is the renunciation of
kartapann—the deeply ingrained sense of doership. Only then, the actions do not bind a
man: na karma lipyatenare (Isa Upanisad, 2). This is the high art of ―inaction in action
and action in inaction‖ that the Gita (4.18) declares to be the way of the wise ones
(brahm-jnanis). Sri RamanaMaharshi once said: ―An atmajnani alone can be a good
karma yogi. (Maharshi’s Gospel, p. 16)