Karma Yoga - JeevanInfo-News.Com

A man cannot sit idle without doing actions. He is destined to act either physically or mentally. Even while one is sitting, mental actions are still happening. Right from birth till the last breath, a man is destined to act. In Atharvaveda [ 12.3.48 ], it is mentioned that:

“Paktaram Pakvaha Punara Vishati“

As a man cooks or performs, so does the cook or the does acquire. The essence of this mantra is reflected in the proverb, “As You Sow, So You Reap.”

“Avashyameva Bhoktabhyam Kritam Karma Shubhashubham”

In general, according to the principles of Karma, each one has to reap the seeds of Good or Bad Karma sown, in the form of joy or sorrow respectively. In Mahabharat, there is a reference to Karma:

“Naabhoktam Kshiyate Karma Kalpakotishatayrapi”

Consequences of Unfructified Karma never get destroyed or canceled, even for thousands of crores of Kalpas i.e., in general, Karma does not get exhausted until the Karma perpetrator has reaped the results of their actions. Karma Yoga means Yoga or Union through action. It purifies the heart by teaching the aspirant to act selflessly, without entertaining any thought personal gain or reward. By detaching yourself from the fruits of your actions and offering them up to Ishwar, you learn to sublimate the ego. According to the Bhagavad Gita, “Karma Yoga is the selfless devotion of all inner as well as the outer activities as a Sacrifice to the Ishwara of all works, offered to the eternal as Master of all the soul’s energies and austerities.”

“Karmanyaevadhikarastae Ma Phalaeshu Kadachana,
Ma Karmaphalahaeturbhurma Tae Samgostvakarmani” [ S.B.G.-2.47 ]

You have a right to perform your prescribed duty, but you are not entitled to the fruits of action. Never consider yourself the cause [ Hetu ], of the results of your activities, and never be attached to not doing your duty. That means you should never be inactive or passive in actions. Consider yourself as a tool in the hands of the Supreme Consciousness and dedicate yourself to selfless service as far as you can.

“Siddhyasiddhyo Samo Bhutva Samatvam Yoga Uchyatae” [ S.B.G.-2.48 ]

Be persistent in Yoga. Perform your duty and abandon all attachments to success or failure. Such evenness of mind is Yoga. Yogi is not the one who becomes egoistic, though attains miraculous powers and would not be anxious about their non-attainment. Without having any complaints, he would render his services with utmost devotion, to the lotus feet of the Supreme Ishwara.

Expounding on the importance of Karma, Tulsidasji says:

“Karama Pradhana Bisva Kari Rakha.
Jo Jas Karai So Tas Phalu Chakha.”

It means man’s destiny is decided by the type of Karma s/he is engaged in.

The Rishi of Ishavashyopanishad says:

“Kurvanneveha Karmanijijivishecchatam Samah”

It means ‘Aspire to live for a hundred years by doing Satkarma [ Noble Actions ]’.

The Four Major Laws Of Karma Yoga Are Described In Shrimad Bhagavad Gita As Follows:

1- Work with a sense of duty.
2- Work without getting intensely attached [ Focused Attention ] to the work.
3- Never allow the anxieties about the results to interfere with your mind during the currency of the job.
4- Accept failure and success with equanimity.

Types Of Karma According To Bhagwadgita

The way we do actions depends on our personality. In other words, all our actions are guided by three tendencies namely Sattva, Rajas, and Tamas.

Any action which is undertaken from delusion, without heed to consequence, loss, injury, and ability is declared to be Tamasika Karma.

Action which is done by one craving for desires, or again with egoism or with much effort, is declared to be Rajasika Karma.

He who is free from all material attachments and false ego, who is enthusiastic and resolute and who is indifferent to success or failure, is a Sattvika Karma performer of deeds in the righteous path.

The goal of life is to reach the highest happiness which is the state of total self-satisfaction. It is a state of pure consciousness, a state from where all actions emerge. This is Nishkamya Karma the total non-action/desire less actions. Though this ultimate goal of life is total non-action we cannot reach that stated by surrendering action.

The essence of converting Kamya Karma into Karma Yoga is in cutting out the strong attachment to fruits of action, which continuously lead us to unceasing work. Asanga, non-attachment is the key. Unattached work is the process. It is this detachment that counts in Karma Yoga. It is that special attitude, a skill that converts Kamya Karma to Karma Yoga.

Essence Of Karmayoga

“Karmanyevadhikaraste Ma Phalesu Kadacana.
Ma Karmaphalaheturbhurma Te Sangostvakarmani” [ S.B.G.-2.47 ]

Seek to perform your duty, but lay no claim to its fruits. Be you not the producer of the fruits of karma; neither shall you lean towards inaction.

Again the point to be noted is that the strong attachments should be diffused. It is this skill in action which characterizes Karma. [ S.B.G.-2.50 ]

Yoga is skill in action. The Kau’salam is the skill with which one reduces the intensity of attachment, strong likes, and dislikes. It is this skill that transforms ordinary karma into Yoga. Kaushalam in action is to learn the skill to work with lesser attachment. Relaxed action, calm steady work is the key.

“Samatva Yoga Ucyate” [ S.B.G.-2.48 ]

Yoga is equanimity, evenness, steady like a rock, unperturbed by the results he moves to reach the goal. He learns that skill by which he does not get emotionally disturbed, yet retaining the sensitiveness and the sharpness of his faculties. Thus it is evident that the core of Karma Yoga is in unattached action.

Yajnas

The way of Yajna concretizes the concept of unattached action, which is the core of Karmayoga. Yajna can easily be practiced even by an ignorant one in society.

Yajna is a systematic process of offering and the best means to express gratitude, as discovered, designed, developed, and propagated by our Rishis. Vedas describes Yajna as:

“Yajnove Shresthatamam Karma” [ Taittiriya Brahaman – 3.2.1.4 ]

It means performing daily Yajna is the greatest of all karma. It is a voluntary offering of one’s best possessions into the ceremonial fire, with the attitude that there is a significant contribution by every Being in enabling a person to acquire wealth, belongings, and possessions. Offering includes set proportion of Samidha [ twigs that have the least carbon emission like Peepal, Mango, Bel, etc. ] to light the fire in the Yajna Kunda [ a device to light the fire for the Yajna and is specially designed with specification and significance according to the scriptures ]. Ghee made of cow’s milk, medicinal herbs, sweet rice pudding, etc. is offered [ as Aahuti ]. Chanting of Vedic hymns with utmost devotion and gratitude, as a reminder to ruminate on the essence of the wisdom and knowledge required for Mukti. The smoke from this sacred fire provides pulmonary inhalation of medicinal smoke and is considered therapeutic. Vedic chanting has the potential to energize the endocrine glands and thereby harmonize the secretion of hormones, stroking and energizing the Marma centers and enhancing memory and concentration.

By performing Yajna daily, the Sadhaka develops the attitude of care for all beings and this feeling motivates him/her to perform actions that are auspicious for all.

Secrets Of Karma Yoga

1- Perform The Action.
2- Being Fixed In Yoga.
3- Renouncing Attachments.
4- Even Minded In Success And Failure.

Gita doesn’t define that Karma as work done to perfection is verily Yoga [ Samatva Buddhi ], But it advocates that Yoga is the dexterity in performing actions. Yogah Karmasu Kausalam, when you perform an action with an equanimous attitude [ Yoga ], then such an action does not bind a man into bondage, even though the nature of karma is to bind.

“Karmanyakarma Yah Pasyedakarmani Ca Karma Yah.
Sa Buddhimganmanusyejsu As Yuktah Krtsankarmakrt” [ S.B.G.-4.18 ]

He who sees the action of Jivatma in inaction and Parmatma’s inaction in action, he is wise among men, he is a Yogi/Yukta [ one who performs actions with an equanimous attitude ] and accomplisher of everything. In such accomplished men, all impressions of actions are burnt by the fire of knowledge. One who performs actions with this knowledge attains Jnana and in this fire of knowledge, all impressions of actions are burnt.

“Sarvami Karmkhilami Prtha Jane Parisampyate.” [ S.B.G.-4.33 ]