APPENDIX A
Karma Yoga
CHAPTER OBJECTIVES
After studying this chapter, you should be able to:
- Understand the nuances of Karma Yoga as described in the Bhagavad Gita.
- See that these are certain attitudes with which work must be approached.
- See that even work can be spiritually liberating if performed through Karma Yoga.
The Overall Objective of Yoga
To recap, a leader is advised to seek to transcend by clearing up the blockages in perceiving what the Common Soul has to say. And for that he must take to any possible ‘exercise’ that will help him make progress in his journey towards being receptive to the ‘bright heart’ or ‘Common Soul’. Such exercises are called ‘yogas’ and karma yoga is one of them.
‘Yoga’ can be defined as that mental-spiritual posturing (which may also consist of posturing in the physical world) in which there is a human-in-ignorance who takes to yoga at the beginning and even as the yogic process is successfully completed, in the place of the ‘individual personality’ there is a mind-body mechanism in which the ignorance is dispelled; the ‘mind’ or ‘personality’ becomes silent, and the ‘self that animates the mind-body mechanism realizes itself’. Yoga is therefore the ‘exercise’ that catalyses an ignorant individual to transcendence … the experience is hard to explain in words, but one just knows when he gets there; and the manifestations of the Common Soul (godliness) become apparent in his bearing and work.
In any case an inquirer, whenever he takes on the tasks that are assigned to him, must pursue this yoga relentlessly—this is supposed to be the best one can do in any given situation and if transcendence happens, then there is supposedly nothing higher than that.
Karma yoga is an important touchstone of Indian spirituality and this extract from the Bhagavad Gita gives a how-to-do step-by-step guidance for actually practicing it. Practicing it diligently and with the right attitude can give an individual the ultimate fruit of all spiritual practice …
Karma Yoga
When talking of karma yoga it is usual for people to quote one passage from the ‘Bhagavad Gita’ which goes like this …
2.48: ‘Established in yoga, O Dhananjaya (Arjuna), perform actions, giving up attachment, and unconcerned as to success or failure: this equanimity is called yoga’ *
Truly speaking, this is just the punch line; karma yoga, as such, consists of taking to certain mental postures and it is entirely described in a set of passages ranging from 2.39 to 2.53.
The following passage inaugurates this narration:
2.39: ‘The (requisite) mental attitude towards the self has been just taught to you, now hear about it in respect of the way of action (Karma-Yoga), being endowed with which (attitude), O Partha, you will get rid of the bondage if actions’.
Note how the ‘yoga’ is referred to as a ‘mental attitude’ and also note how the consequence is referred to as the point where one gets ‘rid of bondage of actions’, meaning that there is no more judgment on the basis of the results of that action …
Without quoting the actual passages let us consider the steps that constitute karma yoga …
Assurance That There is Nothing to Lose and Everything to Gain
‘You will get rid of the bondage of actions … ’
‘There is no waste of undertaking … ’
‘There is no chance of incurring sin … ’
‘It is a religion, and even a bit of it saves you from great danger.
It has to do with One Pointed Determination and Focus on the Lord
In this exercise (yoga) the mind achieves one pointed determination. The alternate to this is an irresolute thought process which is multi-branched and endless or infinite … This alternate path does not lead to excellence and it does not lead to one-point concentration in God.
Beware of delusion and of wanting enjoyments of fruits of action; especially when people speak flowery words to that effect from the scriptures.
You will come across people who will regard heaven as their highest goal, they will be enamoured by the panegyric statements in the scriptures and of sayings of spiritual masters and will assert that there is nothing else (higher than this). They will quote flowery familiar words from the great texts prescribing numerous kinds of rites that produce birth, actions and their results as a means for enjoying power. But at the same time they will be dull-witted and full of desires and attached to enjoyment and power. Their minds will be carried away by the flowery words … and though they speak of the scriptures they do not have one-pointed determination that can lead to concentration in the Lord. Beware of this pitfall.
What must Your Understanding be in Respect of the Volumes of Knowledge in the Scriptures?
Know that these verses from the scriptures are like small reservoirs and their purpose is served by a large lake … When transcendence is attained in an individual, it forms a huge lake and can serve almost the same purpose as these numerous reservoirs. So be reassured that all that is in the Vedas is taken care of along the path of the person that takes to karma yoga … .
Do the Following and You Need Not Bother Anymore About the Lessons that Come from All the Scriptures
As a summary of all that the scriptures teach you, know that the Vedas elaborate on the three gunas (Sattwa, Rajas and Thamas). All that you need to do is to rise above these three gunas and always be established in goodness (sattwa), regardless of whether you, the individual is blessed with acquisition, preservation and self-possessed … This should the substratum when you take to karma yoga … .
The Attitude When Approaching Action
- You have rights to work but never claim the result.
- As such do not make the result as the motivation for your action.
- And at the same time do not interpret this as you want to be attached to inaction.
Established in yoga perform actions giving up attachment—unconcerned as to success or failure …
This Equanimity is Yoga
Take Refuge in Wisdom
Work done with desire is far inferior to that done with wisdom.
Those who are impelled by desire are miserable.
Endowed with wisdom one gets rid of both good and evil.
Therefore, take to Yoga.
Yoga is Skill in Work
There is No Fear of Evil from Those Who Truly Practice Karma Yoga
Endowed with wisdom
Giving up the fruit resulting from action,
Attaining self-realization
And freed from bondage of birth
Surely
They go to the abode which is free from evil
The Transition Happens in Due Course and the Final Point is When Understanding Rests in the Supreme Self
When your understanding will get beyond the maze of delusion, then you will have attained the indifference to what is to be heard and what is heard.
When your understanding (now) perplexed by hearing will rest in samadhi (the Lord), unwavering and steady, they you shall attain yoga.
Summary
- Yoga leads to one point concentration in the lord and there is nothing to lose.
- Yogic transcendence results in a lake where Vedic sayings are small reservoirs.
- Rights for actions—yes; Rights over results—no; Motivated by results—no.
- Equanimity is yoga.
- Refuge in yoga is refuge in wisdom.
- Yoga is skill in work.
- Yoga is an abode which is free from evil.
- When understanding rests in samadhi you shall attain yoga.
- Having understood the steps involved one must take up his duties in the world with this attitude in mind … he will eventually move into the realm of the ‘heroes’ … into the ‘zone’ … into the world of the charmed and charismatic … .
Exercise
- To practice Karma Yoga, first study the attitudes requirred—before, during and after performing Karma Yoga. Once the approach is clear—the sequence of ideas—execute in the given order. Practice the same on any set of actions that you believe are part of your dharmic responsibilities.
To test whether the set of activities you contemplate is dharmic or not, consult someone who in your view is wise. Ask him/her whether those set of actions are proper and designated for you in that context. Use your common sense at all times. Practice makes one perfect.
- Test Karma Yoga when trying to excel in a sport, in music, dance or art.
- Test Karma Yoga when you perform your duties as employee, student, housewife, husband, suzerain …