Sri Ganesh mandir - Serene Sunday Reflections
18th August
2019: IMPORTANCE OF KARMA (ACTION)
KEYWORDS ::
Karma, Yogam, Margam, Action, Intention, Timeline, Meditative Action
Having reflected on Jnana-Margam (path of Knowledge), now we shall
discuss Karma Yogam - Importance of Action. Karma Yogam is to purify the
thoughts/mind. Karma Yogam prescribes dharma in work as a Godly action with
Awareness, Detachment, Joy, Compassion, and Love; benefit for the self is
unimportant in comparison to the larger good.
The word Karma is derived from the Sanskrit word “Kri” meaning to
do. Any action that we do and its aftereffects are called Karma. Our Karma
determines what we deserve and what we can assimilate. With regard to
Karma-Yoga, the Gita mentions it as the science of doing work with cleverness.
According to Gita when one knows how to work, he/she can obtain the greatest
results. A man works with various motives - people work for fame, money, power,
satisfaction, etc. [KARMA YOGA by Swamy Vivekananda].
Action is done with two intentions - Sakama and Nishkama. Sakama
Karma is done with a selfish motive. There is no yogam for sakama karma as it
is a bondage and creates egoism, hatred and jealousy. Nishkama Karma breaks the
bondage of karma and hence is a selfless action. Forgiveness, helping,
compassionate behaviour of humanity are the examples of selfless action leading
to renunciation, which further purifies the mind.
Based on the timeline, Karma is categorized into Sanchita -
Prarabdha - Agami Karmas; which are based on the actions we had performed in
the past, performing now & the result of the actions we will perform in the
future. Sanchita karma is an accumulated work of the past. Prarabdha is
the karma (performed action) is responsible for the present condition of a
person, as a debt of our past karma. Agami means forthcoming, which can be
modified according to the actions that we are into at this moment. The Law
of Karma states that what we do in the past defines our present and our
present will govern the future.
It is not what we do that matters, but how we do is
important too which is explained through this famous Story of the Three Brick
Masons. When the masons were asked what they were doing - the first one
answered, “I’m building a wall”, the second one replied, “I’m working in order
to earn money for my family”. But, the third man enthusiastically said, “I’m
building a cathedral!”
There is a joy in acting (serving) naturally out of enthusiasm and
generosity without anxieties, fears, and expectations. None in this world, when
they are in jagrath (not in sleep) can avoid Karma; wanted or not, consciously
or unconsciously all of us are into action.
When we add the word Yogam, it means an action performed with
meditative awareness. So, Karma Yogam is actually the yoga of Dynamic
Meditation or Meditation in Action. Next week we shall reflect on this
Meditation in Action.
----- Next Week 25th August 2019 – Meditation in Action ------
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