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=                             Karma_yoga                             =
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                            Introduction
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Karma yoga (), also called Karma marga, is one of the three classical
spiritual paths mentioned in the Bhagavad Gita, one based on the "yoga
of action", the others being Jnana yoga (path of knowledge) and Bhakti
yoga (path of loving devotion to a personal god). To a 'karma yogi',
right action is a form of prayer. The paths are not mutually exclusive
in Hinduism, but the relative emphasis between Karma yoga, Jnana yoga
and Bhakti yoga varies by the individual.

Of the classical paths to spiritual liberation in Hinduism, karma yoga
is the path of unselfish action. It teaches that a spiritual seeker
should act according to dharma, without being attached to the fruits
or personal consequences. Karma Yoga, states the 'Bhagavad Gita',
purifies the mind. It leads one to consider dharma of work, and the
work according to one's dharma, doing god's work and in that sense
becoming and being "like unto god Krishna" in every moment of one's
life.


                              Concept
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According to Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita, Karma yoga is the spiritual
practice of "selfless action performed for the benefit of others".
Karma yoga is a path to reach moksha (spiritual liberation) through
work. It is rightful action without being attached to fruits or being
manipulated by what the results might be, a dedication to one's duty,
and trying one's best while being neutral to rewards or outcomes such
as success or failure. Within Hinduism, this concept is known as
'seva', meaning selfless service to others as a means of spiritual
practice.

The tendency for a human being to seek the fruits of action is normal,
state Hindu texts, but an exclusive attachment to fruits and positive
immediate consequences can compromise dharma (ethical, rightful
action). Karma yoga, states Bilimoria, is "ethically fine-tuned
action". According to Stephen Phillips, a professor of philosophy and
Asian studies, "only dharmic action" is suitable in 'karma yoga', in
which one downplays one's own exclusive role or one's own exclusive
interests. Instead, the 'karma yogi' considers the interests of all
parties impartially, all beings, the elements of 'Prakṛti' and then
does the right thing. However, adds Phillips, there are commentators
who disagree and state "any action can be done as karma yoga" and it
doesn't have to be consistent with dharma.



Karma yoga, states Bilimoria, does not mean forfeiture of emotions or
desires, rather it means action driven by "equanimity, balance", with
"dispassion, disinterest", avoiding "one sidedness, fear, craving,
favoring self or one group or clan, self-pity, self-aggrandizement or
any form of extreme reactiveness". A Karma yogi acts and does his or
her duty, whether that be as "a homemaker, mother, nurse, carpenter or
garbage collector, with no thought for one's own fame, privilege or
financial reward, but simply as a dedication to the Lord", states
Harold Coward - professor of Religious Studies with a focus on Indian
religions.

According to Phillips, Karma yoga applies to "any action in any
profession or family activities", in which the yogi works selflessly
to others' benefit. This is in contrast to other forms of yoga that
focus on self-development and self-realization, typically with
isolation and meditative introspection. The "disinterested action"
idea, states Phillips, is not unique to Hinduism, and similar
disinterested non-craving precepts for monks and nuns are found in
Buddhism and Jainism.


Bhagavad Gita
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The 'Bhagavad Gita' gives a summary of the karma yoga process.
According to the 'Bhagavad Gita', selfless service to the right cause
and like-minded others, with the right feeling and right attitude, is
a form of worship and spirituality. In verse 3.19, Krishna says:



Verse 3.4 of the 'Bhagavad Gita' states that avoiding work or not
starting work is not the path to become free of bondage, just as
renouncing the world and wearing monk's dress does not automatically
make one spiritual. Verse 3.5 further clarifies that inactivity is
impossible for any living beings and the nature of existence is such
that living beings are always acting in their environment, body or
mind, and never for a moment are they not, according to verse 3.5. The
verses 3.6 to 3.8 of the 'Bhagavad Gita' state that the action can be
motivated by body or manipulated by external influences.
Alternatively, it can be motivated by one's inner reflection and true
self (soul, Atman, Brahman). The former creates bondage, the latter
empowers freedom. The spiritual path to the liberated state of bliss
is to do the best one is able to while being detached to outcomes, to
fruits, to success or failure. A karma yogi who practices such
'nishkama karma' ('niṣkāmakarma'), states Bhawuk, is following "an
inward journey, which is inherently fulfilling and satisfying".

A part of the premise of "disinterested action" is that the more one
acts with the hope of getting rewards, the more one is liable to
disappointment, frustration or self-destructive behavior. Further,
another part of the premise is that the more one is committed to
"disinterested action", the more one considers the dharma (ethical
dimension), focuses on other aspects of the action, strives to do
one's best, and this leads to liberating self-empowerment.

According to chapter 5 of the 'Bhagavad Gita', both 'sannyasa'
(renunciation, monastic life) and 'karma yoga' are means to
liberation. Between the two, it recommends 'karma yoga', stating that
anyone who is a dedicated karma yogi neither hates nor desires, and
therefore such a person is the "eternal renouncer".


Other Hindu texts
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The earliest texts that are forerunners of the karma yoga ideas in the
'Bhagavad Gita' are the ancient Upanishads, such as the
'Brihadaranyaka Upanishad'. Other Vedic texts as well as post-Vedic
literature of the Mimamsa school of Hindu philosophy mention 'karma
marga', but these contextually refer to the path of rituals. According
to Raju, the Mimamsa ideas, though orthodox, were the fertile grounds
on which the later ideas of 'Karma yoga' developed.

Karma yoga is discussed in many other Hindu texts. For example, the
section 11.20 of the 'Bhagavata Purana' states that there are only
three means to spiritual liberation: 'jnana yoga' (knowledge), 'karma
yoga' (action) and 'bhakti yoga' (devotion). Those who are of
philosophical bent, prefer the "knowledge path". Those who are
inclined to productive application of arts, skills and knowledge,
prefer the "karma path". Those who prefer emotional connection, prefer
the "devotional path". These three paths overlap, with different
relative emphasis.

Discussions on Karma yoga are also found in chapter 33 of 'Narada
Purana'.


                    Karma yoga versus Kriya yoga
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While karma yoga is delineated as the "yoga of action," kriya yoga is
the "yoga of ritual action". Kriya yoga is found in tantric texts, and
believed by its practitioners to activate chakra and energy centers in
the body through disciplined breathing practices.


                              See also
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* Flow (psychology)
* Taṇhā - greed, craving
* Three poisons - three afflictions mentioned in Buddhist texts as
what entrap people into the cycle of rebirths and sufferings
* Trul khor


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