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Happy new year, sadhu.
I would like to observe a teaching on this chapter from Swamini Atmaprakashananda, a well respected yogin and expert on Vedanta, to provide some perspective to Vajragoni’s excellent analysis: I think a Vedanta view is important because even though the Gita is unique, traditionally it cannot contradict the Upanishads, which Krisha refers to in guiding Arjuna in this chapter.
She opines:
“Krishna makes it very clear that there are only two committed lifestyles: both are to be followed – one after the other, there is no choice there. Which has to be first and which has to follow needs to be very clear…Both lifestyles are equally great because the j~nAna yogi must have lived a karma yoga lifestyle and a karma yogi will definitely be living a life of j~nAna yoga. Nobody is superior here, both lifestyles are equally important, because both lifestyles will bless one with the same fruit: moksha. The ultimate end is the same for the j~nAna yogi and the karma yogi ”
She is firm that the path of the karma yogi prepares the yogin for Jnana Yoga. But this is of no account in my opinion because, as Vajragoni points out, ultimately the two yogas need to be integrated, with thought, word, and deed in alignment. This serene and integrated life leading to emanicpation is only possible through living according to dharma (i.e. “right views”). Karma yoga prepares the mind for knowledge.
She goes on to say: “Ananda [limitlessness] is always there: all that’s needed is a mind that is sharp enough to recognise it.” This seems very relevant to Buddhism.
One more interesting point from this section, she observes a difference between the two stages of yogin in samsara, beyond the greater social obligations of the karma yogin:
“A j~nAni is one who is not shattered emotionally at all, whereas a karma yogi is one who can remain calm, without getting shattered relatively: he or she can still be hurt emotionally, but is trying very hard not to be. He or she is trying to manage, to put up with whatever hardships comes in life with sameness of mind, samatvam yoga.”
This reminds me of what Tozen and some other sources refer to as signs of spiritual progress.