Karma Yoga

Philosophy is the basis which guides everyone to sail through the life journey. Everyone carries certain philosophies which are always at the core of his acts. Philosophies are learnt, acquired through various sources such as ancient scripts, religious scripts, day to day life experiences etc. This process is throughout the life journey and never stops.

In this write up an attempt is made to share thoughts on Karma yoga from Shrimad Bhagwatgita (Gita). Alongside it is science of ethics i.e. neetishastra. While Gita is about spiritual enlightenment whereas neetishastra is about ethical guidance to sail through the life journey with peace and success. We will try to understand how spiritual guidance and ethical guidance can be aligned to guide us in the life journey.

The core principles of karma yoga have been laid down by Gita in the second chapter which reads as under:

??????????????????? ?? ????? ??????

?? ?????????????????? ?? ?????????????????? ?-?? ?

There are four principles laid down in the verse above which are:

a)??? One should always keep doing his karma, it is the only right which one has

b)??? The outcome of the karma is not right of doer

c)???? The karma should not be done with the expectation for some gain or reward

d)??? One should not be possessive of and equate the outcome, reward or gain to the karma.

Practically, every living specie, be it plant, tree, animal or human being, acts for achieving something i.e. gain, reward or result. Alternatively, if there is no gain, reward or result perhaps no one will act at all. Now the karma yoga says everyone should continuously act or do the karma without keeping expectation whereas the very expectation is the motivation to act or do karma. Further the theory of cause and effect tells us that every act will have its own effect. So, how do we correlate the principles laid down in karma yoga?

One needs to consider all the four principles together. First two principles say what is one’s right and what is not. The third principle says on the background of what is one’s right and what is not is keep your focus on karma, be it at the core and not the outcome. The fourth principle is further fallout of the third and says don’t be possessive of the outcome. If one is not possessive of outcome he will not focus or keep at the core the outcome. Thus, he will focus on his karma and the karma is kept at the core.

The reasoning for the fourth principle is given in verses 62 and 63 of chapter 2 explaining why one should not be possessive of outcome. The verses read as under:

??????? ???????????: ???????????????? |

??????????????? ???: ???????????????????? || 2.62||

???????????? ??????: ?????????????????????: |

?????????????? ?????????? ????????????????????? || 2.63||

The meaning of above verses is that one who is possessive of outcome or who acts keeping outcome at the core gets dragged and dragged and perishes.

In my view Gita does not say that one should not expect. As discussed in preceding paragraph expectation is the motivation to act. What Gita says is don’t be possessive about expectation or reward. Here comes some guidance from neetishastra i.e. science of ethics which distinguishes need and greed. The verse reads as under:

??? ?????? ? ???????? ??????? ???? ??????????? |

It means that thirst is basic needs. No one can abandon thirst and no one should. But one should avoid the excessive thirst i.e., greed. When one is possessive of outcome, it is greed, and one should always avoid it.