Monday, July 2, 2012

Selfless Service - An Easy Discipline for Realization (Karmayog)

Selfless Service - An Easy Discipline for Realization (Karmayog)
(Kalyaan ka Sugam Saadhan - Karmayog)

Shree Hari

Man is naturally inclined and interested in action. The reason is that he wants to acquire something or the other. Therefore with the aim of acquiring something or the other, he continues to be engaged in actions (work) with attachment, from birth to last moment of death . With the hope of acquiring something, his attachment to action is so much, that in old age when his senses are incapable of doing things, then too he is unable to become detached from actions. Thus, performing actions with attachment, he falls into the hands of death. In such a situation, instead of stubbornly renouncing actions, a means to success can be, that while performing actions prescribed by the scriptures, the attachment to actions goes away and man attains realization. From this perspective, the act of karmayog is itself a success and an easy method. Karmayog is such, as if the medicine is blended into one's meal! It is God's words in Srimad Bhagwat that -

He who desires his salvation, for him I have provided three paths (Yogs) - Jnanayog (path of knowledge), karmayog (path of selfless action), and bhaktiyog (path of devotion). Apart from these three, there is no other means to salvation. He who is extremely detached, he is entitled to the path of jnanayog (path of knowledge), he who is attached to the world, he is entitled to the path of karmayog (path of selfless service) and he who is neither very detached nor very attached, he is entitled to the path of bhaktiyog (path of devotion).

In this world the maximum number of entitled people, fall in the category of karmayog. Here a doubt may arise that, how can they those men that are attached to the world be able to go towards God, following the path of karmayog? The answer to this has been clarified by God in the phrase "nrunaam shreyo vidhitsayaa". It means that even on relishing sense enjoyments and having an inclination for hoarding, those men who want to put aside their interest in sense enjoyment and want to attain salvation, they by abiding in karmayog, can easily attain their salvation. The more firm and determinate their thoughts are towards salvation, that much quickly they can attain salvation.

The meaning of karmayog is - while doing your duty, attaining God Realization. In karmayog there are two words - karma (actions) and yoga (union). That duty which is done in ordinance with the scriptures is called "karma". The actions that are performed can be done for the world (to acquire fruit) or to rise above the world, to realize God (Paramatma). God has given two kinds of talks pertaining to yog 1) equanimity (samtaa)- "samatvam yog ucchyate" (Gita 8/48) and 2) dukha sanyogviyogam yogasyatam" (Gita 6/23). God is equanimity. "Nirdosh hi samam brahma" (Gita 5/19). Therefore through equanimity one can remain established in God. This is called "yog". The relationship with the world is the cause of connection with sorrow. Therefore on severing relationship with the world, one attains "yog" union, (equanimity, God). In karmayog, the importance is of yog, not of "karma". Therefore Lord says that in action, it is union that is the artfulness - "Yogah karmasu koushalam" (Gita 2/50). (to be continued) 
 
From book in hindi "Kalyaan Path" by Swami Ramsukhdasji.
Ram Ram

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If in doubt regarding the translation, please read the original Hindi message by Swamiji.
FOR MESSAGE IN HINDI PLEASE VISIT Date : 25th Jun, 2012 " SAAR BAAT "
http://www.satcharcha.blogspot.in

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