The Essence of Karma Yoga

[Guest guest]

Namaste!

 

We had a good discussion on Karma. Perhaps we should discuss what

Karma Yoga is.

 

Most traditional commentators on the Gita have a low opinion of Karma

Yoga, which they say is those who are not fit for Gyan or

Bhakti(depending on which school it is). They follow the division of

Vedas into 2:

 

1. Gyan Kanda -which is mainly the Upanishads

2. Karma Kanda- the rest of Vedas, associated with rituals

 

This division of the Vedas is wrong, as it assumes that 90% of the

Vedas are useless, & only the 10% containing Upanishads etc are useful.

 

Most commentators confuse Karma Yoga with Karma Kanda, which is wrong.

Krishna himself goes to lengths to show that doing rituals for

materialistic reasons is not Karma Yoga, yet thats how it is understood.

 

This mistake comes about because commentators have a poor idea of what

Vedic rituals were about(a problem that existed even in Krishnas time,

as Krishna has to clarify this in the Gita).

 

At the other extreme, modern commentators confuse Karma Yoga with

charity, philanthropy etc which good by themselves, are not Karma Yoga.

 

The main Vedic ritual is the Yagya(the fire ritual). Yet the Vedas say

all life is a Yagya.

 

The words Yagya is not just used for ritual, but for journey(towards

enlightenment), climbing hills(each hill represents a spiritual goal.

The Gods only tell that much as will be required for our current goal,

they may hide other knowledge so we dont get distracted), a

battle(against hostile forces that want to stop our progress), &

finally it also means ritual.

 

But this ritual is not just mechanical chanting. Even the Brahmanas,

part of the Vedas that give details of rituals, mention that it is

Brahma who does the sacrifice, & Brahma accepts the sacrifice, the

same idea that Krishna says thousands of years later. Yet the

Brahmanas are dismissed as dead rituals, not fit for Yogis!

 

To know why the ritual was so important, we have to look at the Vedic

mindset. They did not see the world as an illusion, Maya(which

originally meant Magical power of God, not illusion), nor as a place

of misery. They say the world as a place of delight, where God

manifests his power, using his magical power of Maya.

 

The essence of the world was giving, sacrifice. Everything we do

-eating, breathing, moving- we are dependent on others, which maybe

plants, animals, sun, forests, sea etc. The Vedic Rishis found that

life was a process of sacrificing, just as Brahma had sacrificed

himself to create the world.

 

All life is a sacrifice- the Gods provide us with food, water,

comforts. In return its our duty to help those lower than us(plants,

animals) , as well as offering thanks to the Gods. They did this with

Love & enthusiasm, not under some compulsion. As Krishna says in the

Gita, those who accept the sacrifice of the Gods, yet give nothing in

return, are thieves.

 

All life is a ritual- it is a set of acts performed with full

awareness to bring harmony not just for ourself, but the world as

well. In my last post I wrote about doing everything with awareness.

This is possible if we look at everything we do as a sacred ritual, &

aim to please God with it. Tantra took this concept further, & said

even things like sex could be practiced as a sacred ritual, in which

case its negative points(like loss of energy) would be cancelled. But

this concept has been corrupted, with people confusing that Tantra

encourages normal sex for enjoyment, while all Tantra says is- every

act we do, & this includes sex for married couples, should be done as

a sacred act- with humility, full awareness, & bowing to the God within.

 

So for example, eating, a normal act everyone does, can be converted

into a Yagya, or fire ritual. The fire is our digestive fire,

Jatharagni. The sacrifice is the food. The result of the sacrifice is

good health. Before starting eating, mentally bow to God, & chant the

Gayatri mantra. Then with 1st 5 morsels of food chant " Om Pranaya

Swaha! Om Udanaya Swaha! Om Samanaya Swaha! Om Vyanaya Swaha! Om

Apanaya Swaha! " These are the 5 Pran in our body, which are also form

of Agni. After this, we can continue chanting Gayatri mantra with each

bite if we want. But we must eat slowly & with full awareness. At the

end of the meal, we can end with the prayer " I am the food. I am also

the eater of Food. God is food. " , or any other prayer that thanks God.

In this way a simple act of eating has been converted into a powerful

Vedic ritual!

 

This is the Karma Yoga Krishna was talking about- doing everything

with awareness, as a sacrifice to the God within us. By doing

everything with awareness, we are sacrificing to the flame of

awareness in our heart. As I wrote earlier, this flame will burn away

all our negative habits like anger, hatred, & only allow pure feelings

like love to remain.

 

As we can see now, this Karma Yoga is not inferior to Gyan or Bhakti,

nor is it easier. In fact it is quiet difficult. When you start it,

for 1st few days you will be very enthusiastic, then the mind will

become tired, & either stop or start doing things mechanically, which

is how rituals get lost/corrupted. The solution is- Karma cannot be

practiced in isolation- it must be practiced with devotion to

God(Bhakti), & knowledge of our True Self as Beings of Love &

Light(Gyan Yoga). Only then is enlightenment possible.

 

with love

Shantnu

[Guest guest]

, shanracer <no_reply wrote:

>> Most traditional commentators on the Gita have a low opinion of

Karma

> Yoga, which they say is those who are not fit for Gyan or

> Bhakti(depending on which school it is). They follow the division of

> Vedas into 2:

>

 

thanks shantanu, this is altogether new insight into the concept of

Karma yoga. But you only gave an example of eating food.

 

Is there a general true definition of Karma Yoga ?

 

Aum

[Guest guest]

, shanracer <no_reply wrote:

 

Dear Shantanuji,

 

Namaste!

 

Your article on karma yoga made an interesting reading though it

was incomplete (Gustaki Maaf) as far as explaining the eating of

first 5 morsel of food.

 

The first 5 morsels of food referred as NAYWALA should be consumed

in following way. The staple food of north indians is wheat while

in the south it is rice. East and west is again rice and wheat

respectively.

 

So north indians should make 5 small pieces of chappati/roti/

nan/puri whatever. The south indian does not face this problem

as rice is small in size and can be conveniently held between

fingers to form the different five mudras.

 

So the first mudra is Pran mudra so take a grain of two of rice/

chappati piece in between little finger plus ring finger and the

thumb and then place it in mouth saying OM PRANAYA SWAHA.

 

Then again take rice/chappati with ring finger plus middle finger

and the thumb and then place it in the mouth saying OM APANAYA SWAHA.

 

Next third mudra is formed by taking rice/chappati between middle

finger plus forefinger and the thumb saying OM VYANAYA SWAHA.

 

Fourth morsel is taking rice/chappati between ring finger, middle

finger, forefinger and the thumb saying OM UDANAYA SWAHA.

 

And lastly 5th morsel is taken by holding rice/chappati between

little finger, ring finger, middle finger plus forefinger along

with thumb and saying OM SAMANAYA SWAHA.

 

In the book Yogic mudra by Upadhya from Delhi says the sequence is

important and the benefits are not only health but wealth as well &

any person who visit this house who eats in the above manner always

find the food eaten here as most tasty.

 

With warm wishes,

 

Sudhakar

HARI OM TAT SAT! Cheers! )

 

> Namaste!

>

> We had a good discussion on Karma. Perhaps we should discuss what

> Karma Yoga is.

[Guest guest]

, shanracer <no_reply wrote:

>

>>

> This is the Karma Yoga Krishna was talking about- doing everything

> with awareness,

> all our negative habits like anger, hatred, & only allow pure feelings

> like love to remain.

>

>

wonder ful shantnu ji, it was supplepentary information on law of

karma. again all i have picked up the essence of karm yoga is to be

aware of everything we do and observe sakshi bhava. once again thankyou

so much for inspiration.

 

regards

 

so hum...

[Guest guest]

, " spbyoga9 " <spbyoga9 wrote:

 

> Your article on karma yoga made an interesting reading though it

> was incomplete (Gustaki Maaf) as far as explaining the eating of

> first 5 morsel of food.

 

Sudhakarji, its not the action thats important, but the feeling its

done with. The point is to do everything with awareness- not replace

awareness with yet another mechanical act.

 

with love

Shantnu

[Guest guest]

, aumji <no_reply wrote:

 

> Is there a general true definition of Karma Yoga ?

 

Yes Aumji. The real Karma Yoga is to live in the Divine presence 24

hours a day, & let it work through you. Many people intrepret the

Gitas teaching as " Dedicate all actions to God " , but this is just the

1st step. Dedicating actions means, you do what you want, but dedicate

results to God, which maybe ok for beginners, but is not the real

Karma Yoga.

 

The real Karma Yoga is to realise that it is God that working through

us, that they are his actions in the 1st place. Just living with this

awareness that we are merely Gods tools is Karma Yoga. The real Karma

Yogi makes no distinction between good/bad, active/passive Karma, as

he realises its God who is the Doer. Thats why I said actions are not

important- the conciousness they are done with is important.

 

Since most people cannot do this, the easier way is to remember God

before each action. If that is too difficult, we can remember God

before starting & at end of each action. Like remember God when

starting job, & thank him when leaving for home. Slowly, this gets

engrained in the subconcious, & we will always be doing this.

 

with love

Shantnu

[Guest guest]

> The real Karma Yoga is to realise that it is God that working through

> us, that they are his actions in the 1st place. Just living with this

> awareness that we are merely Gods tools is Karma Yoga.

 

ShanJi thanks wonderfull explanation on Karma Yoga. Once we understand

this may be anger, pain, crime will evade. Thanks shanji.

Luv.

[Guest guest]

, shanracer <no_reply wrote:

 

Dear Shantanuji,

 

Namaste!

 

I agree fully that feelings are important than doing mechanical

act but here what i am trying to say is about the sequence.

 

Supposing if you have to chant gayatri mantra which is

 

AUM BHOOR BHOOVA SWAHA

TATSAVITUR VARANYAM

BHARGO DEVSYA

DHEEMAHI

DHIYO YON PRACHODAYAT

 

and if you chant as follows

 

aum bhoor bhoova swaha

dheemahi

dhiyo yon prachodayat

bhargo devsya

tatsavitur varanyam

 

would that be correct even if you chant it with most, utmost,

conscious devotion - that is what i am trying to ask.

 

Please clarify.

 

Thanks.

 

With warm wishes,

 

Sudhakar

HARI OM TAT SAT! Cheers! )

 

 

> , " spbyoga9 " <spbyoga9@> wrote:

>

> Sudhakarji, its not the action thats important, but the feeling its

[Guest guest]

, " spbyoga9 " <spbyoga9 wrote:

 

> I agree fully that feelings are important than doing mechanical

> act but here what i am trying to say is about the sequence.

 

Sudhakarji, let me tell you a story.

 

A Christian priest visited a small island, where it was said 3

powerful Saints lived. The saints had never talked to a normal priest

or read the bible, yet they were spiritual. The priest decided to

convert them. He found they had only 1 prayer " We are 3, you are 3! " .

He was surprised at their childish prayer, & taught them a proper prayer.

 

Very satisfied with himself, he left on his boat. When he was halfway,

he saw 3 men running on the waves towards him " What was the prayer

again? " they asked. The priest said " Oh actually, your prayer is

better, stick to that! "

 

Another story. A man went to a Master, & asked " What is Zen, God,

Spirit? " The Master was cleaning the floor, he said " This is Zen " . The

man didnt understand, & asked again.The Master said " This is Zen " . The

man got angry & asked " But what? " . The Master said " I am Zen.

everything I do is Zen. What are you looking for? "

 

If you are aware, you can sing anything, & that will become a prayer,

mantra. But since you are not, you have to follow the rules . But the

rules are there because you are not yet ready to live free.

 

Thats why it is said the biggest enemy of the Yogi/Sadhu is the

priest. One who tries to follow his natural awareness, the other who

wants him to follow his rules.

 

love

Shantnu

[Guest guest]

, shanracer <no_reply wrote:

Dear Shantanuji,

 

Namaste!

 

Thanks for the lucid explanation.

 

With warm wishes,

 

Sudhakar

HARI OM TAT SAT! Cheers! )

 

 

> , " spbyoga9 " <spbyoga9@> wrote:

 

> Sudhakarji, let me tell you a story.

>