Karma Yoga

            Karma Yoga is the practice of doing work with no expectation or interest in the personal benefits that will be gained. All activities and rewards from these activities are dedicated to the divine as a form of worship and appreciation. The practice of Karma Yoga is a pattern of behavior that is integrated into daily life for the sake of living a good and principled existence and has become a popular form of Hindu belief. To live in this manner is believed to prepare the heart for the reception of the Divine to achieve enlightenment.
             Development of Karma Yoga.
             The word Karma is Sanskrit ("the ancient language of the scriptures, which is no longer spoken" (Fisher, 2003, p. 125) terminology meaning action (physical or mental) or deed as well as the result of that action or deed (Sivananda, 2000). Sivananda also describes Karma as being divided into three different types: (1) Sanchita, which is accumulated works, (2) Prarabdha, which are fructifying works, and (3) Kriyamana, also known as Agami or Vartamana, which are current works. Prarabdha are works that were done in the past for which a person is currently paying his/her dues or reaping his/her rewards while Kriyamana works are works being done today for which a person will pay dues or reap rewards in the future. Sivananda also defines the term Adrishta as the power within Karma that brings the results of one's actions or deeds back to the individual so that he/she may reap the his or her just rewards. Simply put, the Law of Karma can be interpreted, "As a man sows, so he shall reap" (2000). .
             The Doctrine of Karma largely influences the Vedanta (also known as the Ramakrishna Movement) as well as Buddhism and Jainism. Karma is to be done not with the intention of reaping rewards, but done in total devotion and as paying homage to God (Sivananda, 2000). Sivananda cites Swami Sivanandaji Maharaj as declaring, "Service to humanity is worship to God" (2000).