Karma Yoga - PowerPoint

							         Karma Yoga

Goal, Principles and Practices
                        Goal of Karma Yoga
• Inner Emotional Perfection
   –   Security
   –   Happiness
   –   Peace
   –   Fulfillment
   –   Purposefulness
• No external Goal.
• External tasks are means to the
  internal Goal.
• Means are as important as the
  external targets.
Principle of Cause and Effect
             • As I sow,
               So shall I reap.
             • I only get what I
               deserve.
             • Nothing comes for
               free.
             • I am the maker of my
               own destiny.
                   What is Karma Yoga?
• Why should I work?
• Right attitude
   – How should I work?
   – How should I face the
     results?
• Right action
   – What should I do?
   – What should I avoid?
Why Should I Work? Reason 1
            • We have already taken a
              lot from environment,
              parents, society, etc.
            • We are under a huge debt
              already.
            • Nature will not let us go
              free.
            • Give willingly instead of
              being robbed forcibly.
                     Five Kinds of Debts
1. Deva runa – Debt to     • Preserve nature and
   inanimate nature. We      support people doing
   are made of the gross     it
   and subtle elements.    • Plant trees
   Earth gives food. Sun   • Avoid pollution
   gives heat and light.
   We need air to          • Conserve water,
   breathe, water to         electricity, paper, etc
   drink, etc.
                       Five Kinds of Debts
2. Bhuta runa– Debt to        • Pay for services
   other plants and           • Treat animals kindly
   animals. Plants give
   food, clothes, etc.        • Give comfort to
   Trees give so many           animals
   products. Animals are      • Plant trees
   used in agriculture, for
   milk, honey, silk,
   wool, etc. Dogs, cats
   serve as pets.
                      Five Kinds of Debts
3. Pitru runa – Debt to     • Don’t hurt the feelings
   parents and ancestors.     of parents
   We have got our body     • Take care of old
   from our parents and       people and children
   ancestors. They have     • Don’t scold them
   fed us and taken care      unnecessarily
   of us. They have
   spend so much energy     • Donate towards old
   towards what we are        age homes,
   today.                     orphanages, etc
                       Five Kinds of Debts
4. Manushya runa – Debt       • Pay for services
   to the society. We         • Treat other people
   avail the services of so     with due respect
   many people in the         • Help others
   society like farmers,      • Donate towards relief
   masons, weavers, shop        work
   keepers, drivers,          • Donate towards the
   mechanics, police,           development of
   soldiers, etc                underprivileged
                      Five Kinds of Debts
5. Rishi runa – Debt to      • Study well
   teachers. Man is          • Keep the scientific and
   different from an
   animal because of the       cultural heritage a part
   scientific and cultural     of your life
   heritage, which is        • Learn music, art, etc
   inherited through         • Buy good books
   teachers, authors of
   good books, makers of     • Teach others
   good movies, etc.         • Donate to schools
                           Five Kinds of Debts
• Pancha runa
   –   Deva runa
   –   Bhuta runa
   –   Pitru runa
   –   Manushya runa
   –   Rishi runa
• Paying them back brings
  our account back to
  balance.
• It is ok to overpay. It will
  be credited back.
Why Should I Work? Reason 2
            • Work exposes our
              limitations to our
              conscious view so that
              we can analyze them
              and try to improve
              ourselves.
            • The world is a
              gymnasium to develop
              ourselves.
                        How Should I Work?
• Remember the goal
   – To pay back
   – To improve ourselves
• No shortcuts
• Hard work and being fair
  is more important than
  being smart or achieving
  the immediate target
• Introspection and
  stretching our limits is the
  way to grow
How Should I Face the Results?
              • Face the logical and
                illogical consequences
              • Success or failure, learn
                the lesson and go ahead
              • Face success with
                humility and failure with
                dignity
              • Remember the goal
                 – To pay back
                 – To improve ourselves
                      What Should I Do?
• Do my duty
• Whatever comes my
  way and whatever is
  expected of me in my
  current position is my
  natural duty
• Make sure I give more
  than I take
• Clear the five debts
What Should I Avoid?
     • Lethargy
     • Shortcuts
     • Self pity
     • Blaming others or the
       environment
     • Anxiety towards the
       immediate target
     • Over consumption
                 Karma Yoga – Summary
• Goal – Inner emotional perfection
   – Security, Happiness and Peace
   – Fulfillment
   – Purposefulness
• Means – Yagna, Daana, Tapas
   – Pay back the five debts
   – Give more than you take
   – Stretch limits to grow
• By product or side effect
   – Prosperity
   – Achievement
                        Bhagavad Gita

• yagno daanam tapas ca eva paavanaani
  manishinaam – 18.7
• yagna (fulfilling the five debts)
  daana (contributing more than consuming)
  and tapas (stretching the limits)
  purify men of wisdom
                       Bhagavad Gita
• yatah pravriti bhutaanaam
  yena sarvam idam tatam
  svakarmanaa tam abhyarchya
  siddhim vindati maanavah – 18.46
• Him from whom the world has arisen,
  Him who pervades everything here,
  By worshipping Him by doing one’s duty,
  Man attains perfection.
                        Bhagavad Gita

• yad karoshi yad ashnaasi
  yad juhoshi dadaasi yad
  yad tapasyasi kaunteya
  tat kurusva mad arpanam – 9.27
• Whatever you contribute or consume,
  Whatever you do as yagna, give as daana,
  Whatever you do as tapas,
  Do as an offering to God.
Questions and Answers