The spiritual life

114 The SpiritualLife.

heloves. Hethinksofhisbodynotashis,but

as an instrument used by his Lord for the

world'shelping; allhisactionsaredonebecause

they are the dutygiven him byhis Beloved

;

doesheeat, itis not to gratifythe palate,but

tokeepinworkingorderhisLord'sinstrument

;

does he think, it is not for the pleasure of

thinking, butinorderthat hisLord'sworkmay

bethe better done; he merges his life in the

lifehe loves,thinks,works,acts,in union with

thathigherlife, merginghissmallerrillof being

inthelarger stream,and finding a deepjoyin

feelinghimself part of the fuller life. Soitis

written: "Whatsoeverthou doest,whatsoever

thoueatest,whatsoeverthouofferest,whatsoever
thougivest,whatsoeverthou doestof austerity,

OsonofKunti,dothouthatasanofferingunto

Me. Thus shalt thou be liberated from the

bondsofaction (yielding) goodandevilfruits.'

{Bhagavad-Gildy ix. 27, 28.) Where fruits

ofactionarenotdesired,whereactionsaredone

onlyassacrifice,nokarmaismadebytheactor,

andheis not bound by them tothewheel of

birthsanddeaths.

Devotion cleanses the heart. Once again

ShriKrishna teachesus,and thewords at first

seemstrange. "Evenifthemostsinfulworship

me with undivided heart,he too must be ac-