We engage in Karma Yoga more often than we realize:
- Our heart, lungs, kidneys, blood circulation, digestion, brain functions, our eyes, ears, all other life processes, work on their own, practicing Karma Yoga, almost all of the time we are alive!
- Even our mind practices Karma Yoga most of the time. For all the 1000s of miles you have driven in your lifetime, how many cars, roads, road signs or potholes do you remember? Every moment of your driving (over 100s of hours) your body/brain, mind and intellect were and are functioning objectively, un-attached, practicing Karma Yoga!
- Every day, everyone does their life activities including caring for children, doing the work at the office, doctor caring for the patient, teacher teaching their students, player in the playing field, …. All happen unattached and with objectivity (without regard to personal immediate needs) — (i.e.) Karma Yoga!
Karma Yoga is the right action, for the right reasons and with proper emotional mindset.
Often quoted phrase for Karma Yoga, referenced from Bagawath Geetha (B.G.) Verse 2. 47 may be rephrased as:
All that exists are the activities you are responsible for (i.e.) your duties.
The results do not exist, since they will come only after your actions are carried out!
In other words as a scientist, conduct your experiments; the results will follow whatever they are! Above is a different way of looking at the verse than saying “You do not have the right to the fruits of action”!
Above merely states that the “results will follow” and you will partake that as appropriate with the right emotions and proper wisdom appropriate for that moment!
Another example to describe the above B.G. reference:
You get into the playing field to play. Scoring goals – the outcome – is incidental. There is no goal to be scored without playing! So, why be obsessed with goals (outcome)? instead be focussed on the play and your move at every moment. Go ahead and play as best as you can and see what happens? Some of those moments during the play may end up as scoring goals by you or your team mates (or from the other team!). We are told that best players – identified as “Clutch players” – always play with the above mindset!
Bhakthi Yoga:
Faith / Trust/ Surrender to a larger cause (towards God if one chooses theological path). It is also an emotional resilience that comes from an unshakeable faith in the thought “I am part of and integral with nature: Tat Twam Asi”.
Even while driving a car one needs to have faith in the proper working of the car, trust that the car is safe and well designed and surrender to the notion that everyone will follow the rules and law (which after all are abstract in nature subject to interpretation) — (i.e.) We practice Bhakthi Yoga as a foundation for proper driving!
Jnana YOGA:
Reading any book and understanding its contents is part of Jnana Yoga?
- I read the book – Karma Yoga
- I have faith in its usefulness – Bhakthi Yoga
- I learn and understand – Jnana Yoga
Thus Karma, Bhakthi and Jnana as Yoga (right action, with faith and reasoning) are always co-existing and inter-related.
If Karma Yoga is integral with Bhakthi and Jnana Yoga,
then why focus primarily on Karma Yoga?
This could be for two reasons:
- Karma (as Physical Action) is visible and evident to the self as well as for anyone (others). Hence a Karma Yogi can be easily identified by his actions.
Bhakthi and Jnana are intrinsic – within one’s own emotions and thoughts. They are less visible. Managing our emotions (Bhakthi) and analytical reasoning (Jnana) are required for Objectivity and non-attachment, in our actions. Otherwise, engagement in actions with an emotionally balanced mind (with faith), with reasoning and logic (wisdom; Jnana) is not possible. A living tree produces fruits and flowers for others to enjoy (Karma Yoga). But “living tree” implies processes – of nature which the tree – the self – experiences and practices. Such a “living tree” within us is governed by faith and wisdom, prerequisites for its outcomes (i.e.) Karma Yoga in action.
- Because of their intrinsic nature Bhakthi and Jnana require self engagement or internalising! They are difficult to describe or prescribe without their visible effects through action (Karma).
Consider for example two persons in the family – husband and wife, Father and child, siblings, …..
Both engage in the matters of the family. One is a thinker and a source of emotional stability through Jnana and Bhakthi. Their impact may be more through actions (reflection, reasoning, guidance, counselling, motivation, ….) in addition to their physical or material actions. The other benefits from all this as part of a team and engages in actions – visible to all and with impact and benefit to all – (i.e.) Karma Yoga, yet governed by their own faith and wisdom (i.e.) Bhakthi Yoga and Jnana Yoga.
In terms of compositions we could say:
Activities
dentifiable as: Karma Yoga Bhakthi Yoga Jnana Yoga
Person 1 10% 30% 60%
Person 2 90% 6% 4%
The actions of Person 2 as Karma Yogi may be more readily identifiable, relatable and teachable to others, compared to the actions of Person 1?
In Mundaka Upanishad verse 3.1.1 it is stated that
“Two birds, ever united and close companions, cling to the same tree.
Among the two, one tastes the bitter and sweet fruits. The other looks on without eating.”
Traditional explanation for these two birds is the Prakruthi or the dynamic field of activities and Purusha / Soul/ / Consciousness – the enabler and the witness of the dynamic world and all that happens. These two birds remain inseparable, always together!
Perhaps we could consider the two birds as a pair, one engaged in Karma Yoga with Bhakthi and Jnana Yoga as the substratum and the other bird residing more engaged in Bhakthi and Jnana and limited in activities or Karma Yoga.
Such division and distribution of efforts may be based on the context, situation and circumstances in life.
As an example, consider the case of Arjuna, from the Hindu epic – Mahabharata:
Arjuna is often described as an example of Karma Yogi (thanks to his righteous actions in the battlefield), even though during periods of his life – (e.g.): during the B.G. Conversation – he was more like Person 1, intense in his faith and analysis and reasoning to find the right course of action (Dharma)!
Spirituality In Practice 
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