Karma yoga is the path of action, it is also a path that leads to moksha (self-realisation)
It is not an easy path, karma can be done through thought action & speech, in this path we need to surrender totally, it is all about selfless acts and not expecting the fruit of action.
In Bhagavad-Gita, Sri Krishna says,
One who performs all his actions with an attitude of detachment, by not expecting the fruit of the action that person is free from all sufferings. This makes a man free from all attachments & thereby it brings firmness & steadiness.
In my view, only yogic practices can help one to walk on the path of karma yoga.
The practices of Raja yoga, and Bhakti yoga can help us to work on the path of karma yoga.
My experience
I was not aware of this during my teens or in twenty’s none of us are aware. I had lots of expectations from friends and family & society anything I did I expected some result out of it and sometimes the result gave me happiness, and sadness. With all these experiences there came a time when I was tired of all the expectations, I just gave up easily, Ups & downs taught me that there is a fault in me, and I cannot blame anyone for my expectations I need to work on myself. At that particular point in time, I felt let me give up everything leave everything and move away from everyone and go to some Guru’s ashram and settle there give up everything and renunciate.
But karma never leaves us, we are born out of our desires and we need to bear the fruit of our past karma. Something else was destined for me and that changed my life it got some peace in life, but you see desires & expectations our never-ending and they lead to expectations, life was all good but expectations were there, once again when they were not fulfilled and the same thing went on at emotional level, But this time it was the path of yoga (the yogic practices) helped me to overcome all my desires and expectations.
During this time, it was my strong devotion (Bhakti) towards Shiva and Raja yoga which showed the path of truth and gave me strength, wisdom, and courage to overcome all the dualities of the mind. At the same time, it was a learning process too.
In my thirties I learnt about selfless action, performing all action not expecting its fruit and surrendering totally to the feet of the divine, (Shiva).
The practice of Raja yoga & Bhakti yoga helped me to overcome all this, it supported me and it is still supporting me to understand my actions and then act. Earlier I use to react but now I respond or I keep quiet.
Today I am nearing forty and my sadhana, guru bhakti is helping, me on the path of karma yoga, it is the Bhagavad-Gita which is showing me the path of karma yoga, bhakti yoga, raja yoga & jnana yoga.
I believe in Nishkaam karma i.e., Performing all the actions and duties with detachment, as giving up of action is not the solution towards misery and to seek happiness. Face the problems do not run away from them they are all about learning and becoming stronger, Discharge the responsibilities in an yogic way.
We do not think before doing karma(performing an action) we blindly speak something, do something and it’s all done in ignorance at last we suffer.
So, its always better to perform our actions consciously through (thought, action, or speech) with complete awareness and for the betterment of society, and to not expect the fruit of our actions, we need to bring love & joy in any actions we perform but do not expect the result, Just perform the right action with the right intention and leave it what must come will come and accept what comes to us with love and joy.
So, its always better to perform our actions consciously through (thought, action, or speech) with complete awareness and for the betterment of society, and to not expect the fruit of our actions, we need to bring love & joy in any actions we perform but do not expect the result, Just perform the right action with the right intention and leave it what must come will come and accept what comes to us with love and joy.
A MESSAGE
Today As a yoga teacher whatever actions are performed by me I do not expect anything in return. eg. I take it as I am the messenger of yoga my karma is to teach yoga as a duty towards society (lokah sangraha).
So I perform my duty and surrender and have faith in my teachings and practice.
I would like to add one thing remember we are just playing our roles, the role of a son/daughter, mother/father, teacher so on…. we are just performing our duties and responsibilities, if actions are performed by us with this intention there will be no pain & pleasure every living being will live in harmony and peace and make this world a better place.
In Bhagavad-Gita, Shri Krishna speaks about the types of activities performed by us according to our Prakriti (nature)
न हि कश्चित्क्षणमपि जातु तिष्ठत्यकर्मकृत् |
कार्यते ह्यवश: कर्म सर्व: प्रकृतिजैर्गुणै: || 5||
na hi kaśhchit kṣhaṇam api jātu tiṣhṭhatyakarma-kṛit
kāryate hyavaśhaḥ karma sarvaḥ prakṛiti-jair guṇaiḥ
No one can remain without action even for a moment. Indeed, all beings are compelled to act by their qualities born of material nature
(the three guṇas).
Our Prakriti (nature) is made up of three types of Guna’s they are
Rajas – Incentives
Tamas-Drowsiness, fear, delusion& confusion
Sattva – compassion, sharing, control over senses
We perform actions according to our Guna’s and at the same time bear the fruit of our actions accordingly.
In my next blog the one after jnana yoga I will be coming up with this, all about the three Guna’s and karma yoga.
Take Away:
Do not expect any fruit in return as nothing belongs to us in this material world everything is temporary.
Only then can you live life in peace and harmony Let your intentions be good towards each living being,
There is a beautiful saying,
We have come empty hand we have to go empty hand why worry? So at last be compassionate, and caring, towards each being.
Finally, Bhagavad-Gita says
, योग: कर्मसु कौशलम्(yogah karmasu kausalam)
“Yoga is a skill in action
The kausalam is the skill that reduces the intensity of attachment, strong likes, and dislikes.
It is the skill that transforms ordinary karma into yoga.”
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