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).
The meaning of the Sanskrit word "yoga" varies. ... Yoga originated from the Upanishads. ... Yoga had some foreign influence. ... Hindus may practice a variety of forms Yoga such as Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Hatha Yoga, Raja Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Nada Yoga, Mantra Yoga, Japa Yoga and Kundalini Yoga. ... The guru or yoga teacher will guide a yogi through eight stages of yoga to eventually reach. ...
The third form is karma yoga, the path to God through work. ... The third yoga, karma yoga, focuses on work to connect with God. ... The basic rationale of karma yoga can be summarized by the actions we do to one another and to ourselves that influence the way our lives play out. ... Karma yoga brings followers closer to God by its importance on perfection. ... That being said, I also adhere to the logic of karma. ...
Karma Yoga (path of action) 2. Bhakthi Yoga (path of devotion) 3. ... Raja Yoga, the science of mental control, contains three subdivisions, MantraYoga, Kundalini Yoga, and Hatha Yoga (3). ... Why try Yoga? ... Yoga also benefits pregnant women. ...
Jnana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Karma Yoga and Raja Yoga. Jnana Yoga is the reflective form of yoga. ... Bhakti Yoga is more of an emotional form of yoga. ... The third kind of yoga is that of Karma Yoga. ... It is a combination of both Jnana Yoga and Bhakti Yoga. ...
The four yoga's of Hinduism are Karma, Bhakti, Raja and Jnana the one that I think best describes Mahatma Gandhi is Raja yoga. Raja yoga fits into all classes of the four yoga's with or without any belief, and it is the real instrument of religious inquiry. Raja Yoga is one of many paths of self-discovery and self-mastery. ... I will prove this theory through relationships between the movie and Raja yoga. ... I think Gandhi's own words best describe why he fits the Raja yoga best. ...
The Hindu religion presents interesting concepts regarding life that many people practice and believe in today such as yoga, karma, and reincarnation. One major concept the Hindu religion focuses on is yoga. Yoga is being practiced more today than ever before. ... While yoga is not really a valid Hindu concept today because many of the people who practice yoga do not see it as a spiritual experience, the concept of karma remains strong but presents a slightly different meaning. ... While yoga and karma are widely accepted today, reincarnation is still highly debatable. ...
In this paper I will explain how the law of karma works, the multiple Hindu words and ideas that are associated with it, and how reincarnation plays into karma. Karma can be explained or defined in many different ways. Houston Smith calls it "the moral law of cause and effect" (Smith 64), and while the literal meaning of the word as said in karma yoga means work Smith's definition generalizes the concept well. ... The logic behind karma in its most basic form nearly provable. ... What is good karma and what is bad? ...
The belief in Karma and Samsara are at the roots of Hinduism's religious view. ... Karma is the byproduct of human actions. ... It is believed that karma can change; if good behavior turns bad, thus generating bad Karma then the consciousness born of good Karma can fade, and visa versa. ... Intertwined with belief in Karma is the idea of Samsara. ... Other ways to break Karmic bondage were through yoga, rituals, devotion and through Dharma (fulfilling one's duty/ truthful action). ...
