Quitting is not the same as freedom

na karmaṇāmanārambhānnaiṣkarmyaṃ puruṣo’aśnutena ca saṃnyasanādeva siddhiṃ samadhigacchati

Not by refraining from action does one reach freedom from action. Not by giving things up alone does one reach perfection.

What it means

Here is the key. The freedom the Gita speaks of is freedom from the binding pull of karma, of action and its results. You do not get there by simply refusing to act. Renunciation has its place, but on its own it is only a change of scenery.

The story

Arjuna has already said he would rather live as a wandering beggar than fight. It sounds holy. Krishna sees what is underneath. The fear and grief would follow Arjuna into the forest. Leaving the battlefield would not leave the battle.

In your life

Daniel quits his city job and moves to the coast to find peace. Three months later, he is anxious about different things. The view changed. He did not. This week, he names the worry he carried with him.