- Karam Yoga : The path of social service. When work is worship, it is selfless, for a larger cause and no attachments & expectations from the work or its outcome.
- Reaching God / realisation thru Karam Yog ( Path of selfless action) is recommended in this chapter.
Summary of chapter
- Arjun seeks to understand what is better Karam yoga or Sankhya yoga?
- Karam Yoga principles can be followed by anyone & everyone. It is SIMPLE, just a little effort to get started
- Working for selfish reasons does not bring true happiness. (Is like sinning brings short term pleasure). Actions bind us to its outcome unless done as an offering to God or for his service or as sacrifice.
- There is a mention of the 5 supreme Yagnas
- Actions speak louder than words. Students learn best by experiments & demonstration! Best leaders lead by example. Action is key.
- All work is good. Its alignment to your nature and your positive & selfless attitude in doing it , makes you happy & peaceful. No job is big or small, what is important is how you do it, what is the goal and the intention behind it.
- This chapter details the primordial nature the 3 gunas :- Satwa, Rajas & Tamas
- Desires is the cause of all suffering was quoted by Buddha and holds true as for all selfish, evil desires at all times. Desire fulfilled gives birth to more desires. And unfulfilled leads to anger & depression.
- Knowledge of self is covered by layers of desires & controlling senses will help fight this enemy
- Body, senses, mind, intellect & self.: Sense superior to body, mind controls senses, only intellect can manage mind & Self is supreme.
- Animals usually have 1-2 senses well developed and hence can be attracted / distracted by them Like Moth to light and fire where they die. Fish to food and it gets hooked and caught . And so on. Humans have all senses well developed, hence surrounded by distractions!
- Controlling desires can be done by knowledge and awareness.
Shlokas references
- 43 shlokas
- 3.6 : If controlling only action organs and mind dwelling on sense objects means sense organs completely out of control
- 3.9 : we are bound by our actions unless done as a sacrifice (yagna)
- It is sinful to enjoy with offering to God. And enjoying the remnants (or as prasad) is free of any sin. 3.13
- 3.19 performing duty is supreme
- 3.22 All 3 loks nothing I really need to do, but I am still busy giving soul the opportunity to have spiritual experiences and reach me.
- 3.30 surrendering actions to lord, 3.31 released from karma
- 3.37 : Rajas gives rise to desire and leads to anger. However Rajas guided by Satwa will have a different impact
- 3.38 : smoke covers fire, dust covers mirror and membrane covers embryo, the world is enveloped by desire!
- Karam Yoga is superior to Gyan Yoga as the actions are submitted to God and are for social good
- Gunas (SRT) combination / balance is important. Rajas and Tams need to be guided by Satwa
- Controlling sense organs & hence desires is important, as they are obstacles in the path of self knowledge.
Knowledge and Action, ways are two
Which one is better, guide me through
Everyone is so bound to act
No one can deny, it is a fact
Do your job with all your might
If it is detached, it is so right
Free of ego do your best
For the benefit of the rest
Sacrifice is the way to go
To reach the Supreme as you know
Based on which the Creation rests
This is how the Universe works
Know your strength, trade and skill
Make your destiny with your will
Your own task, do it with charm
Others’ role, it will only harm
Rest not until you fulfil your duty
Seek your Self in all its very beauty
A story related to the message Sir Alexander Fleming
His name was Fleming, and he was a poor Scottish farmer. One day, while trying to make out a living for his family, he heard a cry for help coming from a nearby bog. He dropped his tools and ran to the bog. There, mired to his waist in black muck, was a terrified boy, screaming and struggling to free himself. Farmer Fleming saved the lad from what could have been a slow and terrifying death.
The next day, a fancy carriage pulled up to the Scotsman's sparse surroundings. An elegantly dressed nobleman stepped out and introduced himself as the father of the boy Farmer Fleming had saved.
"I want to repay you," said the nobleman. "You saved my son's life." "No, I can't accept payment for what I did," the Scottish farmer replied, waving off the offer. At that moment, the farmer's own son came to the door of the family hovel. "Is that your son?" the nobleman asked. "Yes," the farmer replied proudly. "I'll make you a deal. Let me take him and give him a good education. If the lad is anything like his father, he'll grow to a man you can be proud of."
And that he did. In time, Farmer Fleming's son graduated from St. Mary's Hospital Medical School in London, and went on to become known throughout the world as the noted Sir Alexander Fleming, the discoverer of Penicillin.
Years after ward, the nobleman's son was stricken with pneumonia. What saved him? Penicillin.
The name of the nobleman? Lord Randolph Churchill. His son's name? Sir Winston Churchill. Someone once said: What goes around comes around. Work like you don't need the money. Love like you've never been hurt. Dance like no body's watching.
What goes around comes around, universal law of karma.
Related posts on this blog
- Choices and action are key
- Actions for benefit of society
- The law of Karma
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