What is Karma yoga? 'kRSNaM vande jagadgurum'

[Guest guest]

Namaste all.

 

sarvopaniSado gAvo

dogdhA gopAla nandanaH,

pArtho vatsaH sudhIr bhoktA

dugdhaM gItAmRtaM mahat

 

Gita Dhyanam verse -4

 

All the Upanishads are the sacred cows,

the Milker, is the divine Cowherd Boy, Lord Krishna,

Partha (Arjuna) is just one loving calf,

but innumerable devotees with pure mind and heart are

the enjoyers of the milk which itself is the supreme Nectar of Gita!

 

In this verse, Lord is reminded to all as the Divine Shepherd and His eternal

friend, Arjuna, was USED as an instrument, as the surrendered baby calf to milk

the mother cow, who were the Vedas themselves!

 

The essence of divine knowledge and wisdom from the scriptures was milked out

with the help of Arjuna, so that the ardent pure-hearted spiritual seekers in

the world could receive the full benefit of the Immortalising teachings of the

Lord.

 

 

'kRSNaM vande jagadgurum'

 

Lord Krishna is addressed as 'Jagadguru' - The Teacher of the world

 

 

The Lord alone is the dispenser of the ultimate knowledge, peace

and unlimited bliss to all His surrendered devotees.

Being situated in each and every soul -none else but the Lord Himself!! is the

spiritual guide as well as the destroyer of ignorance of the sincere seekers.

 

teSAM satata yuktAnAM bhajatAM prIti pUrvakam

dadAmi buddhi yogaM taM yena mAm upayAnti te (B.G.10.10)

 

" To them, ever devout, adoring Me with LOVE, I GIVE the Yoga of discrimination

by which they COME to Me. "

 

teSAm evAnukampArtham aham ajnAnajaM tamaH

nAzayAmyAtma bhAvastho jnAna dIpena bhAsvatA (Bhagavadgita 10.10,11)

 

" Out of pure compassion for them, dwelling in their hearts, I destroy the

ignorance-born darkness, by the luminous lamp of wisdom. "

 

sarvasya cA 'haM hRdi sanniviSTo mattaH smRtir jnAnam apohanaM ca,

vedaizca sarvair ahameva vedyo vedAntakRd vedavid eva ca 'ham (B.Gita 15.15)

 

Bhagavan Krishna said:

 

And I am seated in the hearts of all;

from Me are memory, knowledge, as well as their loss;

I am verily That Which alone has to be known by Vedas ;

I am indeed the Author of the Vedanta as well as

the sole Knower of the Vedas.

 

IzvaraH sarva bhUtAnAM hRddeze 'rjuna tiSThati,

bhrAmayan sarva bhUtAni yantrArUDhAni mAyayA (B.Gita 18.61)

 

" The Lord DWELLS in the HEARTS of ALL BEINGS, O Arjuna, and

by His Power of Maya CAUSES ALL BEINGS to REVOLVE

as though MOUNTED ON A MACHINE. "

 

tameva zaraNaM gaccha sarva bhAvena bhArata,

tat prasAdAt parAM zAntiM sthAnaM prApsyasi zAzvatam (Gita 18.62)

 

" O Arjuna, take refuge in Supreme Lord alone,

with all your heart, mind and soul!

Then you shall attain His Grace.

It is through His divine Grace that you can attain

Supreme peace, eternal happiness and divine Abode. "

 

 

Jaya Sri Radhe!

 

, shanracer <no_reply wrote:

 

 

> So how can the average man follow Krishnas path of Karma yoga? After all, we

are not all lucky enough like Arjun to get a great Guru like Krishna?

>

[Guest guest]

Very nice mail.

 

Pertaining to the subject of discussion, this beautiful verse of the

Bhagvad Gita, very nicely explains " Goal of Karma " .

 

 

 

 

(THE BHAGAVAD GITA 12.12)

 

 

 

 

Knowledge is superior to practice, meditation is considered better than

knowledge; renouncing the results of actions than meditation, verily by

such renunciation comes tranquility.

 

Regards _/\_,

Anupam

[Guest guest]

Namaste all.

I have posted earlier some more messages on 'Karma Yoga' from Bhagavad Gita.

Let us refresh our memory.

-----------

Lord said to Arjuna:

 

karmaNyevAdhikAraste mA phaleSu kadAcana

mA karma phalahetur bhUr mA te saGgo 'stvakarmaNi

 

yogasthaH kuru karmANi saGgam tyaktvA dhanaJjaya

siddhy asiddhyoH samo bhUtvA samatvaM yoga ucyate

 

(Gita 2.47, 48)

 

" Seek to perform your duty. But LAY NOT CLAIM to its fruits.

Be you NOT the producer of the FRUITS of KARMA;

Neither shall you LEAN towards INACTION. "

 

Not an atom moves without a motive. Beings are all busy either to GAIN something

or to ward off something unwanted. In the absence of such a motive no action

needs performed.

 

But Lord induces Arjuna not to be MOTIVATED and

at the SAME TIME to be intensely ACTIVE.

 

Yes, here in lies the turning point in life from 'Preyas to Sreyas'.

Good accrues from DETACHMENT and NEVER from ATTACHMENT.

 

Karma in itself is NO evil; but it becomes so when MIXED UP with DESIRE.

Desire TAINTED karma gives continuity to the wheel of birth and death.

Conquerers of DESIRE are they who CARE NOT for the fruits of karma.

FREEDOM from DESIRE is REAL FREEDOM.

 

When duty is discharged UNTARNISHED by desire, clarity of UNDERSTANDING ensues.

Karma therefore has to be performed perfectly by the aspirant UNMINDFUL of the

FRUITS thereof.

 

" A boat may be floating on the water, but NO water should be ALLOWED to get into

it. Man may live in the world, but NO worldly desire ought to take possession of

him.

 

- Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa "

 

How the desireless one works and lives in the world is explained in the next

verse:

 

" Perform ACTION, O Dhananjaya, being FIXED in YOGA,

renouncing ATTACHMENTS, and EVEN-MINDED in success

and failure; equilibrium is verily yoga. "

 

The surrendered Karma Yogi, holds ALL the activities taking place by him as the

DOINGS of Lord. He places himself in the position of A WILLING SERVANT, ever

ready to EXECUTE orders.

 

An attitude of this kind eliminates attachment. The devoted yogi holds the

successes and failures in his ENDEAVOURS free from attachment and aversion.

This even-mindedness is equilibrium. He is a yogi who keeps the MIND in this

poised state under ALL CIRCUMSTANCES.

Spiritual growth is possible to him only who keeps the mind ever poised.

 

" BE in the world even as a MAID-SERVANT in a rich man's house.

For all intents and purposes she CLAIMS her master's children and property as

her OWN.

But at the CORE OF HER HEART she KNOWS that THEY DO NOT BELONG TO HER and she

REMAINS FIRM in that ATTITUDE.

 

Seemingly own worldly things.

BUT HAVE NO ATTACHMENT TO THEM.

 

As the maid-servant can with EASE RELINQUISH her ASSUMED OWENERSHIP of the

MASTER's property, BE PREPARED FOR SEPARATION FROM EARTHLY POSSESSION. "

 

-Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa "

 

" buddhi yukto jahAtIha ubhe sukRta duSkRte

tasmAd yogAya yujyasva yogaH karmasu kauzalam "

 

(Gita 2.50)

 

" The one FIXED in EQUANIMITY of MIND FREES oneself in this life from vice and

virtue alike; therefore DEVOTE yourself through this yoga; the yoga of

equanimity is skill in action. "

 

Karma is classified as good or bad based on the results it produces.

Good karma is as much the the cause as the bad one, for continuity of the wheel

of birth and death.

 

But the Karma-yogi is NOT affected by karma of any kind. This is due to his

FIXING in equanimity - the STATE FREE FROM LIKES and DISLIKES, ATTACHMENT and

AVERSION.

 

Detached performance of duty adds efficiency and the required equilibrium is

maintained perfectly.

 

Bhishma fought for the WICKED to the BEST of his ability, but because of his

COMPLETE DETACHMENT he was NOT TAINTED by his action.

 

Equanimity of MIND comes to one FREE from likes and dislikes, attachment and

aversion.

 

He is a devoted yogi of skillful action. NO new karma ACCRUES to him. The

momentum of the old karma wanes away. He gains in perfecting the MIND.

 

Jaya Sri Radhe!

 

, " Anupam Shil " <anupamshil wrote:

 

 

> Pertaining to the subject of discussion, this beautiful verse of the

> Bhagvad Gita, very nicely explains " Goal of Karma " .

>

(THE BHAGAVAD GITA 12.12)

[Guest guest]

Dear Anupam,

 

In 6.46-47, Lord introduces yet another element that seems to be final:

 

tapasvibhyodhiko yogi jnanibhyopi matodhikah/

karmibhaychadhiko yogi tasmad yogi bhavarjuna//6.46.

 

A yogi is greater than the ascetic(tapasvi), greater than the empiricist(jnani)

and greater than the fruitive worker(karma). Therfore, O Arjuna, in all

circumstances, be a yogi.

 

This is eulogizing the yogi that agrees with what you have quoted too(12.12) But

hold on! In the very next verse:

 

yoginamapi sarvesham madgaterantaratmana/

shradhavan bhajate yo mam sa me yukta tamo matah//6.47.

 

And of all yogis, the one with great faith who always abide in Me, thinks of Me

within himself, and renders transcendental loving service to Me - he is the most

intimately united with Me in yoga and is the highest of all. That is My opinion.

 

There ends the Chapter too. This is final!

 

So, it is Bhakti, Bhakti tops!

 

Regards,

 

Thimmappa M S.

[Guest guest]

Karma Yoga .....continued....

 

" tasmAd asaktaH satataM kAryaM karma samAcara,

asakto hy Acaran karma param Apnoti puruSaH "

 

" Therefore, constantly PERFORM your obligatory duty WITHOUT ATTACHMENT;

for doing duty WITHOUT ATTACHMENT man verily OBTAINS the Supreme. " (3.19)

 

'How are we to RECONCILE the worldly ENTANGLEMENTS and engagements with

spiritual DETACHMENT?

 

See how the carpenter's housewife busies herself with all and sundry.

With one hand she pushes the paddy to be ponded in the mortar;

with the other hand she embraces and suckles her baby.

At the same time she bargains with the customer for the flattened rice.

In the midst of all thes activities her MIND is ON the HAND pushing the paddy

lest the pestle should hurt it.

 

Likewise do your worldly ACTIVITIES; but in the MIDST of them

KEEP the MIND FIXED on the Lord.

 

Deviate NOT on any account from Godly PATH.

 

- Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa

 

" KarmaNai 'va hi samsiddhim AsthitA janakAdayaH,

loka sangraham evA 'pi saMpazyan kartum arhasi "

 

" King Janaka and other great souls indeed achieved PERFECTION by ACTION without

ATTACHMENT. Having an eye to the guidance of seekers you SHOULD also PERFORM

action similarly. " (3.20)

 

" The ignorant work for their own profit, Arjuna; the wise work for the welfare

of the world, without thought for themselves. By abstaining from work you will

confuse the ignorant, who are engrossed in their actions.

 

Perform all work carefully, guided by compassion. " -Bhagavad Gita 3:25-26

 

" prakRteH kriyAmaNAni guNaiH karmANi sarvasaH

ahaGkAra vimUDhAtmA kartA 'ham iti manyate " (Bhagavad Gita 3.27)

 

" The 'Gunas' of Prakriti (inherent in the Nature) perform ALL karma.

With the UNDERSTANDING CLOUDEED by EGOISM, man thinks,

" I AM the DOER. "

 

Karma is inherent in Nature which is constituted of the THREE Gunas -

Sattva, Rajas and Tamas.

 

But there is NO karma whatsoever in Atman (Spirit soul). The ignorant man is

INCAPABLE of distinguishing between the action-ridden Nature and the actionless

Self.

 

It is EGOISM to IDENTIFY the Self with the non-Self.

 

Two trains stand side by side in a railway station. A passenger in one train

fixes his gaze on the other. When the other train moves the man fancies that his

own vehicle moves.

 

Likewise the mobility of 'Prakriti' is IMPOSED on the IMMOBILE Atman.

 

Bondage persists as LONG AS EGOISM lasts. The EGOISTIC man thinks of himself as

the DOER while actually HE IS NOT.

 

EGOISM and agency are the OUTCOME of IGNORANCE.

 

'When an onion is peeled continually all skin GOES AWAY and NO SUBSTANCE is

left. Similarly on ANALYZING the EGO it is FOUND to be NO ENTITY.'

 

- Sri Ramakrishna

 

" mayi sarvANI karmANI saMnyasyA 'dhyAtma cetasA,

nirAzIr nirmamo bhUtvA yudhyasva vigata jvaraH " (Gita 3.30)

 

" SURRENDERING ALL actions to Me, with your THOUGHTS resting on Self, FREED from

HOPE and SELFISH ATTACHMENT and CURED of MENTAL fever, ENGAGE in battle. "

 

" tasmAt sarveSu kAleSu

mAmanusmara yudhya ca

mayyarpita mano buddhir

mAme vaiSyasi asaMsayaH "

 

Gita 8.7

 

" Therefore think of Me at all times and perform all your actions including the

FIGHTING in the WAR. There is no doubt that by giving your MIND and INTELLECT to

Me, you will SURELY attain Me. "

 

(Remember well, this is a very important ORDER from Him)

 

'man-manA bhava mad-bhakto

mad-yAjI mAM namaskuru

mAm evaiSyasi satyaM te

pratijAne priyo 'si me'

 

(Gita 18.65)

 

'man-manA bhava mad-bhakto

mad-yAjI mAM namaskuru

mam evaiSyasi yuktvaivam

AtmAnaM mat-parAyaNaH '

 

'Fix your mind on Me. Be devoted to Me. Sacrifice unto Me. Bow down to Me.

Having thus made yourself steadfast in Me, taking Me as the SUPREME GOAL,

you will come to Me.'

 

(Gita 9.34.)

 

If the aspiring soul can practice this, liberation from Maya as well as

God realization will be possible.

 

What more to be DONE by the aspirants be free from 'egoism'?

 

" yat karoSi yadaznAsi yajjahosi dadAsi yat

yat tapasyasi kaunteya tat kuruSva madarpaNam "

 

'zubhAzubha phalair evaM

mokSyase karma bandhanaiH

saMnyAsa yoga yuktAtmA

vimukto mAmupaiSyasi "

 

(Gita 9.27, 28)

 

Lord Krishna also gives another commandment to Arjuna -

 

" What ever you do,

what ever you eat,

whatever sacrifice you perform,

whatever you give in charity,

DO IT FOR ME ALONE as an OFFERING!

YOUR MIND ATTACHED TO ME,

THEN YOUR ACTIONS WILL NOT BIND YOU! "

 

" sarva karmANyapi sadA kurvaNo madvyapAzrayaH

mat prasAdAd avApnoti zAzvataM padam avyayam " (Gita 18.56)

 

" One to whom I am the REFUGE even while he REMAINS engaged in ALL actions, (he)

attains the eternal, immutable state through My Grace. "

 

" cetasA sarvakarmANi mayi saMnyasya matparaH

buddhi yogam upAzritya macchittaH satataM bhava " (Gita 18.57)

 

" MENTALLY dedicating ALL ACTIONS to Me and accepting Me as the SUPREME, have

your MIND ever FIXED on Me by resorting to the yoga of wisdom. "

 

" maccittaH sarva durgANi mat prasAdAt tariSyasi

atha cet tvam ahaMkArAn na zroSyasi vinaMkSyasi " (Gita 18.58)

 

" Having your MIND FIXED ON Me, you will cross over ALL the difficulties through

My GRACE. If, on the otherhand, you DO NOT LISTEN out of EGOTISM, you will

PERISH. "

 

 

Jaya Sri Radhe!

 

> I have posted earlier some more messages on 'Karma Yoga' from Bhagavad Gita.

> Let us refresh our memory.

> -----------

[Guest guest]

Yes, dear Thimmappa ji. BHAKTI does Top.

Guess, the purpose of all of the rest.... Gyan.... Dhyan..... Karma....

Yoga....is to finally attain BHAKTI...... unaltered, undisputed, unshaken &

ceaseless BHAKTI. Only, what comes before that BHAKTI is realized, might be

necessary stepping stones to reach THERE (thus, we cannot ignore them).

Regards _/\_,

Anupam

 

 

 

Re: What is Karma yoga? 'kRSNaM vande jagadgurum'

Posted by: " M.S.Thimmappa. " thimmappams

In 6.46-47, Lord introduces yet another element that seems to be final:

 

tapasvibhyodhiko yogi jnanibhyopi matodhikah/

karmibhaychadhiko yogi tasmad yogi bhavarjuna// 6.46.

 

A yogi is greater than the ascetic(tapasvi) , greater than the

empiricist(jnani) and greater than the fruitive worker(karma) .

Therfore, O Arjuna, in all circumstances, be a yogi.

[Guest guest]

but without sadhna of it its not possible .which sadhna to be done how

to doit its a very mistic not known to us .untill that samerpna is not

acchived its not possible .

 

WHAT IS TO BE DONE .......................PLS REPLY ME ON THIS

, pyari_h <no_reply wrote:

>

> Karma Yoga .....continued....

>

> " tasmAd asaktaH satataM kAryaM karma samAcara,

> asakto hy Acaran karma param Apnoti puruSaH "

>

> " Therefore, constantly PERFORM your obligatory duty WITHOUT