Karma Yoga

Painting by Marilyn Dale

The word yoga stems from the Sanskrit root word yuj, meaning to join with, or union. There are four main paths of Yoga: Bhakti (devotion), Hatha (postures and breath), Raja (meditation), and Karma (action). Following these paths ultimately leads to the union of one’s individual consciousness with that of the universal conciousness.

Karma Yoga is the path of action, or selfless service. It is the path of living a life that is mindful of all actions and mindful of one’s individual output into the universal consciousness. Every action is like a pebble thrown into a still pond: the pebble has been thrown, but the action continues as the once still waters continue to ripple. For every action, there are consequences which cannot be separated from the initial action; they are one in the same. When we smile at a person walking by, the smile is the action. However, a smile is a simple but powerful act. A smile warms the heart and makes two people feel connected. That smile, that one simple action, can continue to spread warmth and peace into the universal consciousness like a ripple in what was once still water.  

“Karma Yoga is selfless service unto humanity. By doing selfless service you purify your heart. Egoism, hatred, jealousy, ideas of superiority and all the kindred negative qualities will vanish. You will develop humility, pure love, sympathy, tolerance and mercy. Sense of separateness will be annihilated. Selfishness will be eradicated. You will get a broad and liberal outlook on life. You will begin to feel oneness and unity. Eventually you will obtain knowledge of the Self. You will realize One in all and All in one.” ~Sri Swami Sivananda

“When you do everything for the sake of doing, for the joy of doing, as a dedicated act for the benefit of the whole world and not just for your benefit, you retain your joy. Don’t ever think that you get joy by doing. The joy is in you always. By keeping the heart pure through loving and giving, you retain awareness of that joy. The greatest joy in life is doing something for somebody else. So don’t think that by giving yourself completely you are losing yourself. When a drop gives itself completely to the sea, would you say that the drop loses itself? Maybe the drop loses it’s name “drop”. It drops out as a drop, but it drops in to become the sea. So drop into that universality, and become one with the ocean of divine bliss." ~Sri Swami Satchidananda