Karma Yoga
"Transform adverse conditions into the path to enlightenment. Apply meditation to whatever circumstances you meet."
Geshe Kelsang Gyatso, BuddhismKarma Yoga is the path of action through selfless service. By performing ones duty without attachment or desire for the results of ones action, karma yoga purifies the mind. When the mind and heart are purified the Karma Yogi becomes an instrument through which the divine work is performed.
Karma means "action." It is the total of all of our works, both good, bad and mixed which an individual performs in this lifetime. It is these actions that will determine our future existence, both in this life time and the next.
On the path of Karma Yoga students treat everyone they meet during their daily life as a manifestation of God - and seek the best way to serve them. The karma yogi selflessly serves those that he or she encounters without seeking the results or fruits of their actions (money, thanks or gratitude). The individual does not shun the results, but equally receives both the positive and negative results of their actions. The "positive" and "negative" we encounter, as well as our reactions to them are feedback from the universe that we can use as tools for our growth.
Karma Yoga is considered a much more difficult path than that of retiring to "the caves" to meditate - for it is in our daily life that we encounter the obstacles that lead us to further growth. It is easy to say that one has mastered anger when they do not interact with other humans. To keep one's mind peaceful while being challenged to anger time and time again is truly a difficult task and an inspiration to others.
How do we know when we have found the work or service that is best suited for our nature? The Bhagavad Gita tells us that we will feel full of energy and enthusiasm for our tasks, we will look forward to each day and feel that each setback is merely a stumbling block designed for our learning and growth. When we are performing work that is not suited to us we become easily fatigued, cranky, count the minutes until our work is done and become physically ill.
To Learn More About Karma-Yoga:
- Swami Vivekanada
(1982) Karma-Yoga and Bhakti-Yoga
NY: Ramakrishna-Vivekananda Center- Swami Sivananda
(1995) Practice of Karma Yoga
India: The Divine Life Society- Video: Swami Satchidananda
(1988) Service and Surrender
Va: Shakticom- Video: Swami Satchidanada
(1998) Living Selflessly
Va: Shakticom
