Gist of
Karma Yoga
1. Karma Yoga is selfless service unto humanity. The important point is to serve humanity without any attachment or egoism. The central teaching of the Gita is non-attachment to work. Lord Krishna says: “Work incessantly. Your duty is to work but not expect the fruits thereof.”
2. The mind is so
framed that it cannot work without expectation of fruits or anticipation of
rewards or even appreciation. You will have to train the mind to work
disinterestedly. Worldly people cannot understand the spirit of Nishkamya Karma
Yoga as their minds are charged or saturated with impurities. Do vigorous
service for some time. You will grasp the spirit of Nishkamya service.
3. A Karma Yogi
should be absolutely free from greed, lust, anger and egoism. Then only he can
do real useful service. Even if there are traces of these Doshas, he should try
to remove them one by one.
4. A Karma Yogi
should have an amiable, loving, social nature. He should have perfect
adaptability, tolerance, sympathy, cosmic love and mercy. He should be able to
adjust himself to the ways and habits of others. He should have an
all-embracing and all-inclusive heart and equal vision. He should have a cool
and balanced mind. He should rejoice in the welfare of others. He should have
all the organs under perfect control. He should lead a very simple life. He
should bear insult, disrespect, dishonour, censure infamy, disgrace, harsh
words, heat and cold and the pain of diseases. He should have power of
endurance. He should have absolute faith in himself, in God, in scriptures and
in the words of his Guru. Such a man becomes a good Karma Yogi and reaches the
Goal quickly.
5. The man who
serves the world really serves himself. That man who helps others really helps
himself. This is an important point. When you serve a man, when you serve your
country, always think that the Lord has given you a rare opportunity to
improve, correct and mould yourself by service. Be grateful to that man who has
given you a chance to serve him.
6. Karma Yoga
prepares the mind for the reception of Light or Knowledge. It expands the heart
and breaks all barriers that stand in the way of unity or oneness. Karma Yoga
is the effective Sadhana for Chitta Suddhi.
7. By doing
selfless service you purify your heart. Egoism, hatred, jealousy, idea of
superiority and all the kindred negative qualities will vanish. Humility, pure
love, sympathy, tolerance, and mercy will be developed. Sense of separateness
will be annihilated. Selfishness will be eradicated. You will get a broad and
liberal outlook of life. You will begin to feel oneness and unity. Eventually
you will attain knowledge of the Self. You will realise ‘One in All’ and ‘All
in One.’ You will feel unbounded joy. World is nothing but manifestation of
God. Service of humanity and country is service of God. Service is worship.
8. Generally
people are impatient and they expect Siddhis after doing a little service. The
real Karma Yogi who serves the people with humility and Atma Bhava (seeing God
in every face) becomes a real ruler of the world. He is honoured and respected
by all. The more service you do with Atma Bhava, the more power, energy, and
capacity you will get. Practise this and feel.
9. When the
thought of doing good to others becomes part and parcel of a man’s very being, then
he will not entertain any least motive at all. He takes immense delight in
serving others, in doing good to others. There is peculiar joy and Ananda in
the vigorous Nishkamya service. He gets inner spiritual strength and power by
performing motiveless and selfless actions.
10. Never grumble
or murmur when you do service to others. Take delight in service. Be ever ready
to serve others. Watch for opportunities to serve. Never miss a single
opportunity. Create opportunities. Create field of good service.
11. In the
practice of Nishkamya Karma Yoga, there is no loss of effort. There is no harm.
There is no transgression also. Even a little of this practice can protect you
from great fear of birth and death with its concomitant evils. You will reap
the fruits of Karma Yoga, viz., Jnana. There is no uncertainty here. The path
of Karma Yoga eventually leads to the attainment of Bliss of the Self.
Continue to read:
Easy Steps
to Yoga by Swami Sivananda
The mortal and the Immortal by Swami
Krishnananda
Sadhana and
The Divine Life Society by Swami Chidananda
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