Karma Yoga - Manifestation Of Intention

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For many who practice Karma Yoga, they recognize that this form of Yoga is a way to develop a deeper connection to their spirituality. The idea of Karma Yoga, or its intent, is those who practice will receive satisfaction by alleviating the body and mind and through this path will lead to a fulfilled life.

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What to expect from Karma Yoga:

• Cultivate altruistic thinking & pure thoughts

• Understand non-attachment and embody equanimity

• Practise discipline & responsibility

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The Bhagavad-Gita does not preach renunciation of action, but renunciation of attachment to action and desire for its fruit. It advocates both performance of action through knowledge and "Sanyasa" as means for attainment of freedom from the consequences of ones actions.

"Sanyasa" means renunciation of action prompted by desire, while "Tyaga" means abandonment of the fruit of action. Both these are characteristic of a true Karma Yogi. The true Sanyasi is one who does his work without seeking the fruit of his actions, not the one who gives up activity or the sacred fire.

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If actions are performed with desires and attachment, and with egoistic assumption of doership, then one has to assume responsibility for all his actions and also face the consequences of all his actions here and hereafter.

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He must enjoy or suffer from the fruits of his good actions as well as bad actions, accepting either sorrow and suffering or pleasure and happiness emanating from his actions. In both cases he has no real freedom from the laws and jaws of mortal life. He has to subjugate himself to the conditions of mortal life and remain confined to the world of illusion and ignorance.

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It is impossible for one to remain inactive even for a moment or escape from action altogether. The Guna born of nature drive every one coercively to ceaseless activity. Freedom from action cannot be achieved by avoiding action or by mere renunciation of action. He who engages himself in mere meditative practices, restraining his organs of actions is but deluded soul and a hypocrite. By desisting from action, it is not possible to maintain even ones body.

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So the true aspirant who wants to attain union with Brahman should also follow the same path while performing his actions . He must do his enjoined duty without attachment, without any interest whatsoever either in what is done or what is not done, knowing that his right is to work only, but not to the fruit thereof, even minded in success and failure.

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Actions that are performed with egoism, thinking that one is the doer, with a desire to enjoy the fruit of his actions, bind man to bondage and illusion. He who thinks that he is the doer of his actions, is but a deluded soul who does not know the truth about the spheres of Guna and how they are responsible for all binding actions.

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Performing actions out of desire and attachment, with an intention to enjoy the fruit of his actions, such a deluded soul has but to face the consequences of his own actions, both good and the bad. Depending upon the nature of his activities he may gain either sorrow or happiness in this world or heavenly worlds or hellish realms hereafter.

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The enlightened Karma Yogi on the other hand knows what is action in inaction and inaction in action (4.17). He knows who is the real doer and how the Guna drive men to perform actions and how such actions bind men to sorrow and suffering. When he perform his actions he is aware that it is only the senses which are occupied with the object of his senses and thereby remains unconcerned. Thus he actually becomes inactive even while performing actions and remains untouched by the fruits of his actions like the lotus leaf by water.

 

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