The Concept of Karma Yoga

The word Karma is comes from the Sanskrit word “Dukri Karane”.



It means 'to do'. In its most basic sense karma just stands for action.



Yoga translates this into union, union of mind and body and all organisms, union of the Individual Self with the Supreme self. As a consequence Karma Yoga literally means the path of union through action.



Karma Yoga is better explained as a way of acting, thinking and willing. By this the individual thinks and acts in accordance with his / her duty regardless of personal considerations and selfish desires likes or dislikes. This means acting without being attached to the fruits of one's deeds.

For this reason, being able to act as a matter of duty, working without attachment without being attached to the fruits of activities, you attain to the Supreme. In the Bhagavad Gita this is translated in Arjuna’s case in fighting the impending war. This is done in order to support a righteous cause in accordance with his duty as a warrior. This means that, even if, though compassion, he does not with to fight his relatives and teachers on the other side has to do so.

The Lord Sri Krishna then tells Arjuna how he ought surrender the fruits of his actions (good or bad) to Himself (Sri Krishna, as the Supreme Person or Avatar) in these words: “Hence, O Arjuna, surrender all your acts unto Me, with full knowledge of Me, desireless of profit, laying no claims to proprietorship, and free from lethargy of the spirit.”

The Lord Sri Krishna tells Arjuna to do all his allocated work done devoid of expectations, motives, or anticipation of its outcome. As a result, this purifies the mind and gradually puts the individual in a position to see the light of reason. Sri Krishna says it is un necessary to remain in external solitude, or actionless, just to follow a spiritual life. The state of action or inaction is primarily determined in the mind. Practising Karma Yoga in daily life makes a person ready for action. Meditation and devotion sharpen that person’s reasoning. They develop intuitive power of acquiring knowledge and help him / her transcend the mind itself.