How to Do Karma Yoga
Talk by Hansaji J. Yogendra
Yoga means a balanced state of mind (Samatva), the correct coordination between mind and body. Yoga means full concentration. It is any activity that is taken up is to be carried out involving the body, mind, feelings and intelligence. When the term Karma Yoga is used, it is clear that Karma is to be done. Karma means work or activity but how to do the Karma is important. Therein comes Yoga. Now the principle of how to do any work is given clearly in the Bhagavad Gita. The entire Bhagavad Gita is based on this issue.
There are 4 points with regard to what should one do when doing Karma:
1) Work is to be done with concentration.
2) While doing work one should remain in the present and not think about the past or future.
3) Work must be done with a positive feeling/attitude. You must not entertain feelings/thoughts like why am I doing this work, what kind of work is this, etc. You should really enjoy the work and be totally engrossed in it. When a person is positive, he is creative, otherwise creativity does not come. There will be progress. A negative person does work only for the sake of doing it; there is no progress.
4) You have a right only on the work and not on the results. Do Karma (work) but do not think/hope for the fruits/results.
The 4th point is the main point. Throughout the day we do so many activities. We may be doing something for ourselves or for others. But the trend these days is result-oriented work. Work is done keeping the results in mind. This is wrong thinking. You can do planning and see that work is done systematically but do not become anxious about the result of the work. Anxiety for results disturbs concentration. We have to surrender the results to God.
There is an interesting story in the Mahabharata. Arjuna's son was lured and trapped in the Chakravyu and killed mercilessly. Arjuna was very angry with a king who was the first to injure his son with an arrow. He vowed to kill that king before the end of the day. He said that if I don't kill this king by the end of the evening, I will burn myself. Here is an instance of a person doing result-oriented work. He has kept a goal before him and he is working towards it.
But here some trouble crops up. The Kauravas saw to it that the king did not come in front of Arjuna. They kept him hiding in such a way that Arjuna could not see him. So how was Arjuna going to kill him? The day progressed and Arjuna's attention kept on riveting towards the setting sun. His anxiety and tension rose higher and higher. In such a state of mind the concentration becomes poor. He was concentrating but there was also pressure from his inner psychology. But Arjuna was wise to have Lord Krishna along with him who was directing him. With the help of Krishna, a cloud comes and covers the Sun. The Kauravas think that the night has set in and so they come laughing in front of Arjuna. The king first comes before him and says, “I am still alive and now you die.” As soon as the king comes in front of Arjuna, Krishna moves the cloud aside. The day had not yet ended and Krishna tells Arjuna to go ahead and kill the king.
So, this was the story. But the message in it is worth understanding. We should give full attention to the work we do and the expectation of the results should not be there in the mind to such an extent that we ruin ourselves. We have to leave results to God. It is only Krishna who gives and takes. We cannot do anything. So, concentrate fully on your work and do your duty. That is why the word Dharma is used.
How to Do Karma Yoga
Talk by Hansaji J. Yogendra
Yoga means a balanced state of mind (Samatva), the correct coordination between mind and body. Yoga means full concentration. It is any activity that is taken up is to be carried out involving the body, mind, feelings and intelligence. When the term Karma Yoga is used, it is clear that Karma is to be done. Karma means work or activity but how to do the Karma is important. Therein comes Yoga. Now the principle of how to do any work is given clearly in the Bhagavad Gita. The entire Bhagavad Gita is based on this issue.
There are 4 points with regard to what should one do when doing Karma:
1) Work is to be done with concentration.
2) While doing work one should remain in the present and not think about the past or future.
3) Work must be done with a positive feeling/attitude. You must not entertain feelings/thoughts like why am I doing this work, what kind of work is this, etc. You should really enjoy the work and be totally engrossed in it. When a person is positive, he is creative, otherwise creativity does not come. There will be progress. A negative person does work only for the sake of doing it; there is no progress.
4) You have a right only on the work and not on the results. Do Karma (work) but do not think/hope for the fruits/results.
The 4th point is the main point. Throughout the day we do so many activities. We may be doing something for ourselves or for others. But the trend these days is result-oriented work. Work is done keeping the results in mind. This is wrong thinking. You can do planning and see that work is done systematically but do not become anxious about the result of the work. Anxiety for results disturbs concentration. We have to surrender the results to God.
There is an interesting story in the Mahabharata. Arjuna's son was lured and trapped in the Chakravyu and killed mercilessly. Arjuna was very angry with a king who was the first to injure his son with an arrow. He vowed to kill that king before the end of the day. He said that if I don't kill this king by the end of the evening, I will burn myself. Here is an instance of a person doing result-oriented work. He has kept a goal before him and he is working towards it.
But here some trouble crops up. The Kauravas saw to it that the king did not come in front of Arjuna. They kept him hiding in such a way that Arjuna could not see him. So how was Arjuna going to kill him? The day progressed and Arjuna's attention kept on riveting towards the setting sun. His anxiety and tension rose higher and higher. In such a state of mind the concentration becomes poor. He was concentrating but there was also pressure from his inner psychology. But Arjuna was wise to have Lord Krishna along with him who was directing him. With the help of Krishna, a cloud comes and covers the Sun. The Kauravas think that the night has set in and so they come laughing in front of Arjuna. The king first comes before him and says, “I am still alive and now you die.” As soon as the king comes in front of Arjuna, Krishna moves the cloud aside. The day had not yet ended and Krishna tells Arjuna to go ahead and kill the king.
So, this was the story. But the message in it is worth understanding. We should give full attention to the work we do and the expectation of the results should not be there in the mind to such an extent that we ruin ourselves. We have to leave results to God. It is only Krishna who gives and takes. We cannot do anything. So, concentrate fully on your work and do your duty. That is why the word Dharma is used.