What are the two roles that we naturally assign to ourselves?

As discussed, the first two purushārtha are about our wellbeing and enjoyment; this indicates that our role is to be an enjoyer or the ‘bhoktā’. In everything we only seek enjoyment. Of course, sometimes we do face hardship and suffer. So, the term bhoktā must typically to be taken for an ‘experiencer’ of both joy and sorrow. However, as we are discussing our goals, it is fine to define the role bhoktā for an enjoyer.

We also assume the role of a doer or the performer of actions. We always work either knowingly or unknowingly. Even when we sleep, part of our body is doing some action. So, another role for us is being the ‘kartā‘ or the doer.

These two roles bhoktā and kartā or the enjoyer and doer are not disconnected. We are taught, and, we learn in life, that only by effort, we get anything we want. We also learn if there is an effort, there is always some effect or outcome. So, these two roles augur each other.
But we also see gaps! Many a times, we get enjoyment without any effort on our part. On the other hand, our actions don’t always yield the results.

Why, and how do we ensure that we excel in both these roles?

(to be continued – Mee. Rajagopalan)

(to be continued – Mee. Rajagopalan – 20/05/2017)