80 The Spiritual Life.
menttotransitorythings,becausetheywillbring
mebacktobirth;" itisthejoyousrenunciation
ofonewhoseesbeyondhimthemightyHelpers
ofman,andwho, desiring toserveThem, can-
notcareforthethings thatholdhimback,and
offersalltoThem-notsternly,inorderthathe
maybe free,but full of joy, inorder that he
may give everything to Them; not cutting
asunder desire with an axe as you might cut
thechainthat binds you,butburnmgupdesire
in the fire of devotion,because that fire burns
up everythingwhich is not one with its heat
and with its flame. And so he is free from
Karma,freebecause hedesiresnothing saveto
serve, save to help, save to reach onward to
union with his Lord, and outward to union
withmen. Andthisservicewillindeeddetach
him from the senses, it will detach him from
the mind; but the very detachment will be
that he may serve better. For this is the
lesson which is learnt by the devotee: that
while it is his duty to act, because withoutactiontheworldcouldnotgoon,whileitishis
dutyto act inthevery spot inwhich he finds
himself, because there lies the duty forwhich
he has come to birth,and which he therefore
shouldperfectlydischarge,heyetseeksnofruit
of action. Realisingthatheishereforaction,