Meaning of Karma Yoga
When people think of Yoga, they imagine different asanas combined with special breathing techniques. There are different forms of Yoga, and each has been designed to help a person develop a higher level of consciousness and attain unity with the mind, body, and soul.
Karma Yoga is the form of Yoga related to our Karma. Karma in Hinduism means ‘deeds’ or ‘actions’. Therefore, Karma Yoga is the ‘Yoga of action’ and a consistent dedication to selfless service. It involves doing one’s duty without any reservations and expecting the results obtained from the act.
Generally, a person is bound by a feeling of getting positive rewards for their actions. Still, one can have the correct attitude by performing the act and detaching from its results, or you can say the consequences. This concept is known as Karma Yoga and the person who follows this path is called a Karma Yogi. With Karma Yoga, the person does not ask for anything in return. The seeker is working with the hope and aspiration of serving God.
In Karma Yoga, the seeker’s only desire is to fulfil God’s will. Taking action to alleviate suffering and give people hope when they are depressed, stressed, or alone is one of the highest forms of human activity that a person can perform. When a person stops being egoistic and turns their attention towards the needs of others without looking for a fruitful outcome in return, they are performing Karma Yoga.
Benefits of karma yoga
The fruits of practising Karma Yoga are innumerable. Below are some of the benefits:
- Karma Yoga helps to open and purify the heart.
- It softens the feeling of anger and fear and washes away old sorrows.
- It gives renewed hope in life.
- It prepares your mind for the reception of knowledge, enabling the most creative and efficient utilization of your energies.
- It helps overcome jealousy, hatred, and superiority and fills the heart with mercy, tolerance, and sympathy.
How to do Karma Yoga?
Meditation is an integral part of Yoga and should be practised regularly. It is the first step you have to follow before starting your Yoga Asana practice. Karma Yoga is considered to be the essential step of all Yoga forms. So, if you have decided to learn Yoga, you must first learn Karma Yoga. Unless you follow the guidelines, you cannot perform any other Yoga asana properly, and all your efforts to do other Yoga forms will be a waste.
Maintain your equilibrium and balance your actions wisely. Do not be extreme in any attitude, and maintain healthy communication between your heart and your mind. Let your feelings and thoughts blend into your wisdom. Meditate to become aware of the truth and reality of your finest ideas. Once you know your link with God with every action you perform, you can be sure you have learnt Karma Yoga correctly.
The second step in learning Karma Yoga is having courage. You need courage to follow the right path and take the right actions. You must have the courage to face the truth and stick to it. It will not always be easy to have the courage to reach your goal. But with enormous practice, you can attain complete confidence and strong willpower that will help you achieve your goal. You must have the power to make the correct decision at the correct time and follow it.
Now that you know what Karma Yoga is, you should follow a schedule and enter the path of detachment. This will not make you inefficient, but channel your energy into the task you have at hand with utmost dedication and help you give your best. Hence, the results of such actions are the best, and you get fruitful results.