Karma Yoga according to Bhagavad Gita - Pravrajika Divyanandaprana

Summary

In this insightful discussion, the concept of karma and karma yoga is explored, emphasizing the importance of intention behind actions. Karma yoga is defined as performing actions with a selfless attitude, leading to spiritual progress. The video explains the three effects of karma: physical, mental (sanskar), and cosmic (karma shay). It outlines key principles of karma yoga, including detachment from personal gains, performing actions with a calm mind, offering actions as a divine service, and viewing individual work as part of a cosmic yagna. The ultimate goal is to perform actions from a place of self-realization, leading to equanimity and spiritual growth.

Takeaways

• 🧘‍♂️ Karma and Karma Yoga: Karma refers to actions and their consequences, while Karma Yoga is the practice of performing actions without attachment to the results, aiming to be in a state of yoga or spiritual alignment.
• 🌟 The Mind and Intention: The state of mind and intention behind an action are crucial; they determine the purity of the action and its spiritual impact, regardless of the action's nature.
• 🍂 Three Effects of Karma: Every action has a physical effect (visible outcome), a mental effect (formation of sanskar or impressions), and a cosmic effect (karma shay, the unseen return of the action's energy).
• 🔄 Newton's Third Law in Karma: The cosmic effect of karma aligns with Newton's third law, suggesting that every action will have an equal and opposite reaction, influencing one's future experiences.
• 🌱 Detachment in Karma Yoga: In Karma Yoga, detachment is from personal gains rather than from action itself. One performs actions but remains unattached to the outcomes or rewards.
• 🌌 Impassioned Action: Karma Yogis perform actions with a calm and composed mind, not driven by passion or excitement, which is a state cultivated through the practice of yoga.
• 🛐 Offering Actions: A Karma Yogi views their actions as an offering to the divine, recognizing that it is the universal principle (prakriti) working through them, not their individual ego.
• 🌀 Individual Work as Cosmic Yagna: Each person's work is part of a larger cosmic process. Understanding this interconnectedness can elevate one's actions to the level of Karma Yoga.
• 🌟 The Broader Perspective: The Bhagavad Gita encourages seeing the bigger picture of life's interconnectedness, which helps in performing actions with a sense of unity and equality.
• 🕊 Equanimity in Action: True Karma Yoga is achieved when one remains equanimous, or balanced, regardless of the action's outcome, focusing on the performance of duty rather than the results.

Q & A

What is the difference between Karma and Karma Yoga?

Karma refers to any action or deed, while Karma Yoga is the practice of performing actions in a state of yoga, meaning with awareness, detachment from personal gain, and a focus on spiritual progress. In Karma Yoga, actions themselves become a means of spiritual growth.

How does intention influence the outcome of karma according to the script?

The intention behind an action is crucial in determining the fruit of karma. A pure and selfless intention leads to positive outcomes and spiritual progress, whereas actions performed with selfish or negative intentions can lead to unrest and negative consequences.

What are the three effects of karma mentioned in the script?

The three effects of karma are: 1) The physical effect, which is the visible result of the action in the outer world; 2) The mental effect, which is the generation of sanskaras (mental impressions) based on the attitude with which the action was performed; and 3) The cosmic effect, or Karma Shay, which is the unseen force set into motion by the action that eventually returns to the doer.

What is meant by 'detachment is of the will and not of action' in the context of Karma Yoga?

This principle means that in Karma Yoga, one should detach from personal gains and selfish desires while still actively performing their duties. The focus should be on the intention behind the action, not the action itself or its outcomes.

Why is calmness important in performing Karma Yoga?

Calmness is important in Karma Yoga because it allows a person to work effectively and productively without being influenced by passion or excitement. This calm and composed mindset comes from the power of yoga and is essential for achieving the desired spiritual progress.

How can one mentally approach their work as part of Karma Yoga?

One can mentally approach their work as part of Karma Yoga by acknowledging that all actions are carried out by Prakriti (nature) through their body and mind, and that they are merely instruments of the divine. By maintaining this mindset, egoism and arrogance are reduced, making the work a form of spiritual offering.

What does it mean that individual work is part of the cosmic yagna?

This means that all individual actions are part of a larger, interconnected cosmic process. Each person’s work contributes to the overall cosmic order, and recognizing this helps one perform their duties with a sense of unity and purpose, rather than focusing solely on personal outcomes.

How does identification with a higher self influence Karma Yoga?

Identification with the higher self shifts a person’s focus from body-based and ego-driven actions to actions that are aligned with spiritual values. This change in identity leads to actions that are more selfless and spiritually beneficial, transforming ordinary work into Karma Yoga.

What is the significance of the phrase 'yogastha kuru karmani' in the Bhagavad Gita?

'Yogastha kuru karmani' means 'established in yoga, perform action.' It emphasizes the importance of being in a state of union with the higher self before performing any action, ensuring that the actions are guided by wisdom and detachment rather than by ego and desire.

How does the concept of service as worship relate to Karma Yoga?

In Karma Yoga, service to others is seen as worship of the imminent God within all beings. By serving others selflessly, one is not just performing an act of kindness but is also engaging in a spiritual practice that honors the divine presence in all life forms.

Outlines

00:00

🧘‍♂️ Understanding Karma and Karma Yoga

The video script begins by introducing the concept of karma and karma yoga. It explains that karma yoga is not just about performing actions, but doing so in a state of yoga, which implies a spiritual context. The discussion highlights the importance of the intention behind an action and how it can lead to different outcomes, such as clearing the mind or causing restlessness. The script also touches on the three effects of karma: physical, mental (sanskar), and cosmic (karma phal). The physical effect is the tangible result of an action, while the mental effect is the sanskar or imprint it leaves on the mind. The cosmic effect refers to the karmic force that will eventually return to the individual, reflecting the nature of their actions.

05:02

🌟 Principles of Karma Yoga

This section delves into the principles of karma yoga as outlined in the Bhagavad Gita. It emphasizes detachment from personal gains while performing actions, which is key to achieving spiritual progress. The script explains that actions should be performed without attachment to the outcomes, and with a selfless attitude, which purifies the mind and leads to positive karma. The concept of 'seeing action in inaction and inaction in action' is introduced, suggesting that a wise person understands the true nature of action beyond its physical performance. The principles discussed include the importance of performing actions with a detached will, the calm and composed state of a karma yogi, and the idea of actions being offerings to the divine.

10:04

🌈 Karma Yoga and Cosmic Interconnectedness

The third paragraph explores the interconnectedness of all life and how individual actions are part of a larger cosmic process. It uses the metaphor of a young monk embroidering a piece of cloth, unaware that his work contributes to a grand depiction of Buddha, to illustrate how our individual efforts fit into a larger whole. The script encourages viewers to see their work as part of a cosmic yagna, or sacrifice, and to perform their duties with the understanding that they are contributing to the whole. It also discusses the importance of recognizing the unity in all beings and the role of service as a form of worship, aligning with the philosophy of the Bhagavad Gita.

15:07

🕉 Achieving Equanimity through Karma Yoga

The final paragraph focuses on the idea of performing actions while remaining detached from the results, which is central to karma yoga. It discusses the importance of establishing oneself in the state of yoga, which involves deep union with one's higher self. The script explains that when one is established in the self, actions become pure and lead to equanimity, regardless of the outcomes. It also touches on the concept of identifying with a higher identity beyond the individual self, which expands one's sense of being and allows for a more spiritual outlook on life. The video concludes by emphasizing the importance of service as worship and the philosophy of seeing all beings as manifestations of the divine.

Keywords

💡Karma

Karma, in the context of the video, refers to the law of cause and effect where intentional actions lead to corresponding consequences. It is a fundamental concept in Hinduism and Buddhism, suggesting that every action has a reaction. The video emphasizes that the nature of the action's consequences is determined by the intention behind it, not the action itself. For instance, a menial task performed with a pure heart can lead to spiritual progress, while a high-ranking position achieved through arrogance may lead to a restless life.

💡Karma Yoga

Karma Yoga is defined in the video as the practice of performing actions without attachment to the results, aligning one's actions with the state of yoga. It is a path towards spiritual growth where every action is done with the intention of selfless service, leading to a state of inner peace and detachment from personal gains. The video explains that Karma Yoga is not about the nature of the work but the mindset with which it is performed, as exemplified by the contrast between a selfless task and a CEO's work driven by ambition.

💡Yoga

Yoga, as mentioned in the video, is a state of deep union with one's higher self, which allows for actions to be performed without attachment or ego. It is the state of being where one performs Karma Yoga, which is distinct from mere physical action. The video suggests that being in a state of yoga can transform any action into a spiritual practice, leading to a purer and more beneficial outcome.

💡Sanskars

Sanskars are the impressions or psychological imprints left in the mind by actions, as explained in the video. They are the mental effects of karma, shaping one's character and influencing future actions. The video discusses how the attitude and intention behind an action determine the type of sanskar formed, which can either purify the mind, like the sanskar of selflessness, or lead to negative traits, such as arrogance.

💡Karma Phal

Karma Phal, or the fruit of action, refers to the cosmic effect of one's actions, as described in the video. It is the principle that whatever energy one puts into the universe through their actions will return to them in some form. This concept is likened to Newton's third law of motion, suggesting that every action will have an equal and opposite reaction, either positive or negative depending on the nature of the action.

💡Detachment

Detachment, in the video, is a key principle of Karma Yoga, meaning to perform actions without being attached to the outcomes or personal gains. It is the state of being where one is not bound by the results of their actions because they are performed without the desire for personal benefit. The video uses the example of a soldier defending their country without personal gain to illustrate detachment in action.

💡Impersonal Action

Impersonal action is the concept of performing actions without ego or personal attachment, as discussed in the video. It is about recognizing that all actions are part of a larger cosmic process and not just individual efforts. The video suggests that this perspective helps in maintaining a calm and composed state while performing actions, which is essential for Karma Yoga.

💡Cosmic Yagna

Cosmic Yagna, as mentioned in the video, is the idea that all individual actions are part of a larger, interconnected cosmic process. It emphasizes the interconnectedness of all life and the unity of existence. The video uses the story of a young monk embroidering a cloth to illustrate how individual actions contribute to a larger, unseen whole, highlighting the importance of seeing the bigger picture in Karma Yoga.

💡Equanimity

Equanimity, in the video, refers to the state of mental balance and composure, where one remains unaffected by the outcomes of their actions. It is the state of being where one performs actions without being swayed by success or failure, a key aspect of Karma Yoga. The video suggests that equanimity is achieved by being established in the true self and performing actions based on a broader, spiritual identity rather than personal desires.

💡Selfless Service

Selfless service is the act of serving others without expecting anything in return, as highlighted in the video. It is a fundamental aspect of Karma Yoga, where actions are performed with the intention of benefiting others rather than oneself. The video emphasizes that selfless service purifies the mind and leads to the creation of positive sanskars, contributing to spiritual growth and a peaceful life.

Highlights

Karma and Karma Yoga are revisited to understand their principles and differences.

Karma Yoga is defined as performing actions in a state of yoga, aligning with spiritual progress.

The Bhagavad-Gita's perspective on seeing action in inaction and vice versa is discussed.

The importance of intention behind actions and its impact on the mind is emphasized.

Three effects of karma are outlined: physical, mental (sanskar), and cosmic (karma shay).

The concept of karma shay, or cosmic effect, is explained as the return of energy put into motion by actions.

Karma Yoga's benefits are described, including positive physical, mental, and cosmic effects.

The first principle of Karma Yoga is detachment of will, not of action.

The power of yoga is said to enable impassioned action without excitement or frenzy.

Performing actions as an offering to the divine is a key aspect of Karma Yoga.

The idea that individual work is part of the cosmic yagna is introduced.

A Buddhist story illustrates the interconnectedness of all actions in the cosmic yagna.

The Gita encourages seeing the whole picture of life's interconnectedness.

The concept of performing action with the understanding that one is part of a larger whole is discussed.

The final principle of Karma Yoga is performing actions while established in the true self.

The message of Indian cultural paradigm on expanding one's sense of identity is highlighted.

Vivekananda's philosophy and the principles of Karma Yoga in the Ramakrishna Order are mentioned.

The concept of all service being worship of the imminent God is discussed.

The importance of identifying oneself rightly to perform action as a Karma Yogi is emphasized.

Transcripts

namaste

today we are going to revisit karma

and try to understand more about it and

about the principles of karma yogg

what is the difference between karma and

karma yoga everybody does work

but

karma yoga means

doing karma being in the state of yoga

it can also mean doing karma in such a

way that itself is yoga

so karma yoga is the way

to

move forward in spiritual life

so every action can it be done in that

way what exactly should be the mindset

of a person who's doing the action then

why karma nevada

see the ways of karma are

quite difficult

the bhagavad-gita itself says this and

you know it says

so one who sees action in inaction and

inaction in action

so he is the wise man what do such

statements mean

it means

see the

fruit generated by karma is entirely

under the intention behind the karma

a person may be doing some very menial

task

but

that task itself may be clearing his

mind completely leading him into the

state of yoga

one may be a ceo of a huge company but

so taken up by arrogance and pride and

more achievement more

ambition that he may simply clutter his

mind unnecessarily and lead a very

restless peaceless life

so what is it that

matters finally it is the state of your

mind

and the intention behind the action if

the intention behind the action is

something very pure

then the action will naturally purify

the mind

and the karma fall is actually generated

by

the

attitude the intention behind the action

so there are three effects of karma

which we have discussed earlier also i

will just mention them here

before we go into the actual principles

of karma yoga the first effect of action

is any action will have a physical

effect

isn't it in which you can see in the

outer world well you taught a kid and

the kid did very well in his exams so

the result shows the physical effect of

the work

but the attitude with which you perform

the action

that generates a sanskar in your mind

this sanskar is your gain through that

action suppose you did it with a very

selfless attitude of service

then that that sanskar grit gets created

in your mind the sanskar of selflessness

it will purify the mind suppose you did

it for money

then that particular sanskar

got created in your mind suppose you did

it because somebody asked you to do it

your teacher told you to help that kid

so then that particular sanskar of

obedience will become ingrained in your

mind so your the attitude with which the

intention with which you perform the

action creates generates the sanskar in

your mind

then there is another effect of karma

to the extent you have helped help will

come to you

whenever you require it at any point of

time this it is called actually karma

shy it is the cosmic effect of karma

not just the physical or mental effect

the physical effect was the actual

result of the action which you you can

see the mental effect is the generation

of sanskar in your mind which you may

not see but which you can feel

but karma say the cosmic effect of the

same action karma is something you

cannot see at all

but whatever it's a force you have put

into motion as a result of your work it

will come back to you at some point of

time

so this is like newton's third law of

motion for every action there is equal

and opposite reaction

so this is what is generally called

karma karmaphal or bhagya all this that

people talk of it is this karma shay it

comes back to you in the same

not maybe in the same form but with the

same power

at some if it's a good action good will

come to you if it's a bad action bad

will come to you up as you saw you will

reap like that so this is the third

effect of action which is called

uh the cosmic effect or karma shay

now when you perform karma yoga

not karma merely but karma yoga you see

naturally your physical effect will be

good

but your mental effect also the sanska

generated is that of selflessness as a

result it will take you forward

spiritually and the

uh karma say the the final fruit of the

action

that itself will be only beneficial only

positive

isn't it

you will not generate any negative

effect through that work you may be

doing something very menial but still

because the intention was so pure

because the motive was so pure the

action was selfless so it will generate

only good for you

and this may not be so when you are well

performing a big action but not with the

purest of intentions

so this is how

karma works and that is why one who sees

action and inaction that is why this

kind of a sloka is there in the

bhagavad-gita and one who sees action in

inaction and inaction in action

he is the wise person

you must understand a few principles of

karma yoga because now we have decided

to dive into it so let's do it

step wise

one of the first principles of karma

yogas

detachment is of the will and not of

action

not from action

when gita is speaking of ana detachment

it is of your will

detachment from personal gains

but action has to be performed

action does not bind i told you the

intention behind the action can bind

so that if you are detached in your will

you don't have to be detached from the

action you perform the action it will

not bind you

it will only

affect you positively it will only bring

good into your life because you have

withdrawn your will from selfish gains

like the example of the soldier which i

gave you

an ordinary man attacking another person

he will be arrested or

for whatever for murder or whatever

reasons

but if a soldier attacks the enemy

soldier

he is awarded

why

it is not for personal gain it is to

maintain

to defend the borders to maintain peace

in the country

so you see when action

is performed with a detached will

detached from selfish gains the effect

of that action is something completely

different

so this is the first law

which we have to understand detachment

is of the will

and not of action

the second uh

principle of karma yoga's

impassioned action

comes through the power of yoga

usually by action we

take it to be action plus passion and a

lot of excitement about it no no no

actually those who are great karma yogis

are very calm

and composed people

continuously they can keep working

effectively productively with a very

calm mind

this comes by the power of yoga

it is not about the excitement and

frenzy of action

with a well-controlled apparatus when

you steadily keep working

productively

then that results naturally in karma

yoga

so this kind of an impersonal attitude

and impassioned action comes through the

power of yoga

the third

while performing the action how exactly

do we make it a

an offering at the feet of the lord a

karma yogg is while you perform the

action you can use a background track

like for example prakriti is doing the

work

isn't it actually prakriti alone is

doing the work through your

instrumentation since you identify with

that instrumentation you feel you are

doing the work you are the agent

but no no no actually it is prakriti

working everything other than the

purusha other than the soul is prakriti

it includes the mind all its different

faculties your thinking feeling willing

the

the body everything is prakriti

this entire world is prakriti

so actually prakriti alone is working

but you attribute that action to

yourself although you are the purusa you

attribute the workings of prakriti to

yourself

so that is why

mentally run this track

like we run three four tracks isn't it

many times when we are doing any work so

you must run this track that prakriti is

working

through this instrumentation

i am the self ever abiding in the source

some such track you can use so that this

egoism and arrogance does not come in

the work

really we are the instruments in the

hands of the divine whether we realize

this or not whether we want this or not

this is the fact of life

so if you have this as a background idea

it will help in your performance of

karma yoga

the fourth principle of karma yoga is

individual work is part of the cosmic

yagna

this also whether you like it or not

this is a fact

because

you are part and parcel of cosmic life

so there is nothing called individual

work

so work with this attitude

that

your job is to renew replenish

rejuvenate life

because you are part and parcel of

cosmic life

see the whole picture

don't see your individual little self

there

there is a very beautiful story you know

based on this

uh it's a buddhist story there was this

young monk

a novice who had just entered a

monastery so he was very young a

teenager

and he he was very dedicated he wanted

to perform a lot of meditative practices

and attain the highest heights of

meditation very sincere little monk

and initially the older monks they gave

him a big job they gave him such a huge

piece of cloth

and they asked him to

put a put a

red

actually he had to thread it embroider a

red patch there

a nice pink colored patch he had to put

but that itself took so many days

so while he was doing that

he was thinking oh i wish i could

meditate why why have i been given this

job

and what does it amount to

and i oh i wish i was in my meditation i

wish i was in my prayer he kept doing

the job thinking of that

and it was such a huge piece of cloth

folded into in so many ways that he

couldn't open and see what exactly was

he was actually threading

embroidering

so after the

piece was done

it took him a few days and then after

those five six days uh he handed it over

to his uh

the older monk and then the older monk

said

my son do you know what you did

and then the entire piece of cloth was

opened up for him it was unfolded uh it

ran to maybe a mile so it was so huge it

was actually

a huge

uh embroidered face

and figure of lord buddha in meditation

and this young monk had made those

perfect lips of buddha

in that pink color thread

he had been asked to actually fill the

thread with

stitches and that was the beautiful

perfectly calm compost

lips of the buddha

so as soon as he saw this he saw the

whole picture he was simply delighted

that

my action was towards this i did not

know it

so also we do not know the whole picture

this cosmic yagna is taking place in

this world we are all

part and parcel of this yet doing our

own little duties

it is all you see the final

yagna the the offering is going to go in

the final oven

it will be the purna there

so we but we don't know it

and we see only our little individual

duties our individual stance so the gita

encourages us to see the whole picture

everything about you

is a result of the activities of others

please check this out and see in your

life

the food you eat the water you drink the

air we breathe

and

the the kind of lifestyle we have the

relationships we have

it is all

it only shows the interconnectedness of

all life

life is interconnected

and

at its foundation it's a unitary whole

our individual distinctions and

differentiations are mind made

and to the extent we identify only with

the body and mind complex we will appear

more and more differentiated in

individuals

but the more spiritual we become in our

outlook

we will see the unity and we will see

the equality in everything

and that is when your karma becomes

karma yoga

so you see these are some of the

principles of karma yoga the bhagavad

gita is insistent on this

perform yoga perform action

completely based upon

yoga

in the state of yoga see this is the

meaning yoga's third guru karmani

getting yourself established in the stem

of in the state of yoga in the state of

deep union with your higher self

then you perform action

yogas

remain detached from merely body based

intentions body based activities body

based relationships

because that actually does not define

you

okay for a certain need it was done it

was made but your duty consciousness

should

rise far above your individual

consciousness

then

siddhi siddhi or bhuta that is when

whether you achieve

the

result of your action or not you will

remain the same

because to action alone you have the

right and not to the fruit thereof

so

then you will remain equanimous

no matter what the result of your action

samathwam yoguchi this samatham this

equanimity is what is called yoga

so you see this is only possible when

we are well established in the self

and not merely our

thought based emotion based

perverse will based

activities

body-based

identities when we are above all this

when we are well established in the self

then only action actually becomes karma

yoga

you become yogastha this word is used

again and again

that establish yourself in the yoga

in yoga first

this is used again and again the yukta

one who has established himself in the

knowledge of the self again and again it

is referred to in the bhagavad gita for

this very reason

that your very paradigm of thinking

feeling and willing will change once you

are established in the true self

otherwise you will be functioning based

on your false identity

isn't it isn't this natural in everyday

life

please tell me once you are identified

with some particular thing

your intellect and your will will only

hover around protecting that thing

and you will leave aside everything else

this is the power of identification

so that is why before you identify with

something

first

get knowledge of your true being you

must know where to identify

and then your very think thought and

decision will be different

this is the huge message being given to

us and that is why you know the general

philosophy of the

indian cultural paradigm was always

you move from the individual to

a higher identity a wider identity say

family based from there you move to a

even bigger identity a national identity

to that you move to a global identity

which means your your sense of being has

expanded

when you touch consciousness this

happens naturally because it is only one

consciousness that is expressing itself

through so many bodies and minds

through so many nationalities so through

so many ideologies it is only one being

expressing himself through all these 7.5

billion people on the planet

and through everything all living forms

actually

so to be become spiritual means this to

enter the heart of reality and function

in this world as a karma yogi

not to give up action and run away

somewhere that will lead to nothing

and action will happen

physical or mental action will

continuously go on the only choice you

have is to identify yourself rightly or

wrongly

and accordingly perform action

so vivekananda gave out this philosophy

in a huge form that is why this is the

basis of the ramakrishna order

the great prince principles of karma

yoga

and all service that is why to

whomsoever in whatever form it is

nothing but worship of the imminent god

god is not just transcendent

he is imminent in his creation

he is the self in all beings so you are

only worshiping god when you serve

another

so all service is worship of the

imminent god this is the great

philosophy of the bhagavad-gita itself

so we will end this

discussion here and proceed further in

the next video om shanti shanti shanti