karmaNye vaadhikaaraste maa phaleshu kadaachana|
maa karma phalaheturbhuu maate saNgotsvakarmaNi||
These two lines define my entire belief in religion. A short quick meaning is that 'do your duty, and fret not about the rewards'. There is more to it, but thats not what this short blog is about. Its more about that one word 'Karma'.
I was at a Health Summit and Conference recently in New Delhi, where i had the honor of seeing, listening and finally touching the Dalai Lama. His visit was not disclosed before (because of security reasons), and so it was a special surprise to an otherwise dull and boring work session. He spoke a bit about care, compassion and things related to the medical field, and then opened up the floor for questions.
The first question came from a person, who wanted to know, 'in this fast paced life, we dont have time to pray and think about god everytime'. He wanted the Dalai Lama to 'help us quickly remember god everyday, some mantra or special prayer that we could quickly offer everyday'. I was thinking 'hmm, interesting question, but then what could someone say to this kind of question'. While everything he says is true, what he is asking for is impossible. The very fact that someone asks such a question means lack of faith and time. Was he asking for the secret mantra that Dalai Lama had to reach god.
Then the Dalai Lama spoke (i am paraphrasing here, so please dont quote this literally) 'you dont have to pray to god everyday. Karma Yoga - that is the best way to reach god. do your best to help others. reach and remember god, by your actions'. I was flabbergasted, because that statement he made, perfectly mirrored my belief in my religion.
The Hindu Dharma has many means or paths (yoga) to reach god, Jnana, Bhakti and Karma yoga. Jnana yoga takes you to the ultimate truth, using the path of knowledge. Bhakti yoga is the path of devotion. Karma yoga is the path, through your actions. In the Bhagavad Gita, these paths are clearly defined. And while i have given very simplistic definitions and outlook to each of these paths, there is more to it than just the meaning of the words jnana (knowledge), bhakti (devotion) and karma (duty/action). But to me, us simplistic mortal, who are looking for the easy way out, the karma yoga is the really the easy way out. But action towards whom ?
To others, your fellow human beings, your family, friends, neighbours, service providers, and last but not least to yourself. I believe that we all live and breath because of the 'soul' or 'atma' in our body. We are born many times, as many living things, because we need to uplift this atma, so that it can reach its ultimate goal, the 'paramatma'. How do you get there ? Well, one lifetime at a time. Each lifetime, we better ourselves by doing better and better things, more help to people, more service to society, selfless service to human and other living things. That is our karma, and we will benefit from all the good karma in this lifetime, and have a better life the next. And so slowly, one lifetime at a life, we move along the path to the paramatma.
10 comments:
Your words ring true. God would prefer we act on the principles given us. God gives us special ‘gifts’ to be used for the benefit of others. God create us. God wants to use our hands to do his work, our voices to says his words, our eyes to see.
right action is a pathway to the dharma
I agree with your every word. As thou is the best, it is better not to interfere in the plans of the Lord. It is the best way to live a life naturally. Every being has something in it which can be used for the good cause.
Very true.Reminds of Barunch De Spinozas words... Wonderful thought...Life is the only choice given to you,enjoy the opportunity,I gave, believe in me by recognising the world full of wonders.Dont search for me outside,Find me inside..I am beating in you.
Wonderful précis of your belief in Hinduism. So helpful for a Westerner just learning about the tradition. Thank you!
Well said
Agree with you, Karma Yoga is the most important way to reach God through our actions preformed selflessly.Our all actions should be for the welfare of other human beings including ourselves. Almighty God resides inside us, so look within.There is no need to search him outside in the world.
And the irony is: Dalai Lama (Buddhism) does not believe in God! Apparently, the person asking the question- how to remember God everyday, did not know that. But, gracious of Dalai Lama to answer the question in a way that satisfies both Buddhist and Hindu perspective! Selfless righteous action to benefit mankind is the right way to serve God or humanity.
I do feel Dalai Lama has aptly answered the query of how to reach God when one is living and leading such a fast pace of life. The Dalai Lama has infact explained the essence of Karma and suggested with clarity that even if one has no time to sit in prayer (devotion) or to pursue the path of God by gaining more knowledge ie reading scriptures then one should do ones Karma and serve humanity. Karma is not just duty i believe - it refers to those actions which one performs with the right thought the right feelings and the right belief. Just by performing actions which benefit others and not believing in them one is fooling oneself for then this Karma is being performed to gain something. Karma is when one performs actions regardless of the results or the fruits and performing the actions consistently with no attachments. Krishnas advice to Arjun was in this sense asking Arjun to perform his karma regardless of the fact that his actions would lead to the destruction of his own family - brothers uncles and gurus.
Sevice of humanity is the best service and the active path to achieve spiritual bliss.
Your commentary on Karma Yoga was Good with additional quotes of Sir Dalai Llama. However, I have a few suggestions and few questions. Firstly, the suggestion is that, as per scriptures, the easiest path is Bhakti over the paths of Karma, Jnana. This is because for doing Karma as a Yoga (an act of enlightenment) there are rules and regulations to be followed as per Vedas. This can be simply realized by the nature of Karma itself. Say, for example a women is cooking for her family and in the process does Karma yoga. Now, after making all such items accidentally while carrying food bowls they slip and all the food cooked was lost. In this case the effect of her Karma would go to zero. However, in Bhakti Yoga (the path of devotion), there are no rules and regulations. It can be done independent of time, place and situation. Bhakti Yoga involves complete surrendering to God. We can see in lives many renowned Hindu Saints that even in a condition of not being able to get up, do Karma or gain Knowledge; they surrender their mind to God. In fact after this surrender they would gain the energy to do other kinds of Yoga. Hence, it is the easiest path (may or mayn't be the best/ shortest).
Second is my doubt about Karma Yoga. You have mentioned that Karma Yoga is to work of others / selfless action towards other and finally to us. However, each individual are covered with their ignorance (even ourselves). The proof of our ignorance is that, we aren't able to see/experience God. So, if we are to work for others/ for ourselves, the reason we formulate to work, i.e., "I am doing this work because they require this ___" is also covered up by Ignorance. Hence in this case, would still Karma be a Yoga?
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