Karma Yoga is the yoga of dedicated action. This means an aspirant is not attached to the result of his actions. He takes both failure and success with the same equanimity. This means he is not bloated with pride at success; nor does he despair when outwardly things appear to be a failure. In the Bhagavad Gita (Chapter II: 47) Sri Krishna advises his dear disciple Arjuna about the nature of Karma Yoga.

“Your only duty is to act and not to hanker after the fruits (or the results) thereof.’ Be not the purpose of your actions. Let not the work bind and blind you. Work with total non-attachment and selfless attitude.”

In Karma Yoga the seeker is working with the hope and aspiration of serving God. In Karma yoga the seeker’s only desire is to fulfil the will of God. In the eyes of the world an action can be judged on how significant it is. However to a Karma Yogin even the smallest of actions becomes of the utmost importance, if it is performed with the correct attitude.

A Karmin yogi does not believe in the path of renunciation. Unlike a jnani yogi a Karma yogi aspires to serve God through serving God in humanity. Sri Chinmoy says of Karma Yoga.

“Karma Yoga is desireless action undertaken for the sake of the Supreme. Karma Yoga is man’s genuine acceptance of his earthly existence. Karma Yoga is man’s dauntless march across the battlefield of life.”

We do not have to be a Hindu or even believe in God to practise Karma Yoga. If we feel we are working not for ourselves but for the cause of the divine then we are bringing the ideals of Karma yoga into the heart of humanity. By serving a higher cause with an attitude of detachment we learn to conquer the ego. The Karmin yoga makes progress by growing in to a more illumined consciousness. By doing this we no longer feel to be only our individual ego. We come to identify ourselves with the rest of humanity.

Karma yoga is one of the preparatory stages of Hatha yoga. Karma means action, while karma yoga is a way to take these actions to the path of salvation. Karma yoga is primarily based on the teachings of holy book of the Hindu’s the Bhagavad-Gita and is meant with the ”discipline of action”. The essence of Karma yoga lies in eulogizing action regardless to the fruit of action. Karma yoga is believed to be one of the four pillars of yoga.

Background of Karma yoga: In the Bhagavad-Gita there is a chapter on the entire process of Karma yoga. The dialogue takes place between Arjuna and lord Krishna. In this episode the lord explains and enlightens him of all the yoga systems including Karma yoga. The Hindu philosophies comprehend on karma and samskar. Hindu’s believe that every individual’s are born with definite karma, positive or negative. The cycle of life and past life continues till the individual arrives at zero balance and they are then believed to have reached liberation.

Concept of Karma yoga: ”Karma” is a Sanskrit derivative from ”kri” means ”to do”. Yoga transforms with the ”union”. The literal meaning of karma yoga is ”course of union through action”. Even Adi Shankaracharya has said that with practice of karma the mind purifies. Karma yoga is first step to Jnana Yoga and finally towards salvation. Principle rules of Karma yoga: The key rules of Karma yoga lie in two decrees yama and niyama. Yama deals with conduct towards others while, niyama is meant with conduct in.

Benefits of Karma yoga: Karma yoga brings closer to the god. With development of tolerance and oneness he or she feels unified with all creation. The attainment of spiritual powers is the next step in karma yoga. A true karma yogi serves people selflessly and is respected in the society. This happens with practice of Karma yoga and can be felt. One of the greatest Karma yogi of all times is Gautama Buddha.