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What Is Karma Yoga: Its Principles, Types and Importance

What Is Karma Yoga: Its Principles, Types and

Importance
 Ashish  June 3, 2019  2 Comments

We all indulge in some work in our daily life, don’t we?

But, how many times we work for own or others
without any fear, attachment or desire of outcome.
Probably, a very few times! We can feel the pure joy
of heart when devoting ourselves in such works.
This is the point, where the practice of Yoga
Asana comes out of mat & Karma yoga begin into
daily life.
The practice of Karma yoga teaches you how to live happily
while being in the hustle of daily life. Serving attitude
 towards the ‘karma (work)’ opens the gate of spiritual
liberation (moksha) for a yogi.
Contents
 What is Karma Yoga?
 Types of Karma Yoga
 Karma Yoga in Bhagavad Gita
 Importance of Karma Yoga
 Principles of Karma Yoga
 Conclusion
What is Karma Yoga?
The word ‘Karma’ originated from Sanskrit
root ‘Kru’ which means ‘Work’ or ‘Action’. Karma
consists of action we perform consciously or
unconsciously & result of that action.
Karma (action) is not only the physical work but the
process of mental thinking also. When Yoga is added to
karma, it becomes a practice of union with one’s true self
through ‘action’.
Hence, every action which brings our awareness inwards
to knowing the true self is the part of karma yoga.
Another definition of Yoga can be pointed around the
word ‘Karma’ in Bhagavad Gita.
 ”Yogah Karmasu Kausalam” ~ Bhagavad Gita 2.50
Yoga is an art of getting perfection (kausalam) in every
work (Karmasu) of life. This perfection comes in karma
with the regular practice of devoting karma to others.
Hence, Perfection in karma is considered yoga also.
Karma Yoga is ‘path of action’, one among 4 paths of
Yoga in spiritual practices of Hinduism. Other 3 paths
in this series are
1. Bhakti Yoga (Path of Devotion)
2. Jnana Yoga (Path of Knowledge)
3. Raja Yoga (Path of Discipline).
See also: Karma yoga in 4 Paths of Yoga
The path of karma yoga emphasizes on doing ‘selfless
work’ according to dharma (moral duty), not on the
consequences of results. A karma yogi treats ‘work
 (karma)’ like prayer where there is no outcome desire
expect from karma.
Performing karma in such a way eliminates violence,
ego from the seeker’s heart & replace it with love, joy
& compassion.
Types of Karma Yoga
Yoga is not karma, but it’s the practice to go beyond
the karma. Not every karma is considered yoga.
Hence, Types of Karma Yoga shows how many ways
karma affects us.
Karma based on these 2 references, categorized as
follows.
 Intention
 Timeline
(A) Karma based on the intention
Based on what’s your intention behind the initiation
of work, karma is of following 2 types.
1. Sakama Karma
Every single thought or physical action that
creates ‘mine’ or ‘your’ sense in the person’s mind
is Sakama karma. This karma reveals the selfish
nature of a person.
Yoga is not mean for Sakama karma because it keeps
us bound in the bondage of karma, while yoga
(Karma yoga) freed us from the bondage of karma.
 Sakama Karma creates egoism, hatred, jealousy in a
person’s heart consciously or unconsciously.
2. Nishkama Karma
Nishkama means Selfless action. The good thing about
selfless action is that it breaks the bondage of karma
& let ourselves free from the cycle of death & birth.
When intention behind karma is not the main aim, a
person actually imbibing the path of Nishkama Karma.
Forgiveness, helping, loving thoughts and
compassion behavior of humanity is the example
of Nishkama or selfless action. The practice of
Nishkama karma leads seeker towards renunciation,
which further purifies the Chitta.
(B) Karma based on the timeline
1. Sanchita Karma
2. Prarabdha Karma
3. Agami Karma
An action we had performed in the past, performing
at the present moment & the result of the action we
will get, is another base to categorize karma yoga. On
this base, There are three types of Karma Yoga.
1. Sanchita Karma
Sanchita is the karma we had performed in the past.
The literal meaning of Sanchita is ‘Accumulation’.
Hence, Sanchita is the set of accumulated actions of
the past.
Every person has to go from some set of Karma in
their life. As we live in the present, a conclusion (or
rest) of this karma starts accumulated as Samsara  1.
Indeed, sanchita karma is that glimpse of whose can
be seen in the present ‘Character’ of person.
It is the Law of Karma – What we do in present
accumulate in the past (as Sanchita karma) & appears
in our future.
2. Prarabdha karma
Prarabdha is that part of karma (performed karma)
which is responsible for the present condition of a
person.
If you are experiencing something good this moment,
it’s undoubtedly because of the past karma of yours.
Prarabdha karma is only can experiences whether it’s
good or bad, not changed. It’s a debt of our past
karma (Sanchita).
3. Agami Karma
Agami means forthcoming. This karma is the result of
prarabdha karma. It can be modified according to the
present of our working.
Out of these 3 Karma, Sanchita and Agami karma is
not in our responsibility right now. Krishna
tells, Prarabdha Karma is the only responsibility of a
person who decides everything.
Conclusion
Karma yoga demands you to work
on Prarabdha karma only (Present action), as it’s only
our moral duty to focus on present condition or work,
not past (Sanchita) or future (Agami) karmas.
The role of Karma Yoga in an ordinary person’s life
can be seen in the narration between Lord Krishna
and Prince Arjuna on sacred Hindu text Bhagavad
Gita in Chapter 3.
Karma Yoga in Bhagavad Gita

Karma is the key to freedom, Bhagavad Gita states,

from the cycle of death and birth (salvation).
In Mahabharat war, prince Arjuna was hesitating to
fight against friends & relatives & so he asked Krishna
(incarnation of Lord Vishnu) why asking him to fight
(To do karma). Then Lord Krishna, who was a
charioteer of him at that time, preach the role of
karma according to dharma (individual’s moral duty) in
the following verses.
 Verse 3.4: Krishna tells to Arjuna – karma is to purify
the thoughts and emotion of heart. A person can’t let
go away from the responsibility of karma to become
a monk. Only after purification from karma, a person
can live a monk life.
 Verse 3.5: Karma is a quality of active soul. Trigunas
(Rajas, Tamas, Sattva) are the constituents of Soul.
Hence, the soul constraint every individual person to
perform some karma every second.
Other than Bhagavad Gita, several philosophers
described the effect of karma in a person life. Swami
Vivekananda was one of them.
Swami Vivekananda, A Hindu monk, makes
understand the philosophy of Karma Yoga in a very
revolutionary way to modern society.
Karma yoga According to Vivekananda,
Humankind’s ultimate goal is knowledge & thus it
becomes the source of karma. The result of karma
comes at the end can be pleasurable or painful. A
person’s reaction to the particular karma decides the
‘Character’ of that person.
Karma Yoga creates a balance between the result of
karma. Balance of pleasure or pain, sorrow or
happiness and ease or comfort.
Based on what we learned until now, we can
conclude the following importance of karma yoga in a
person life.
Importance of Karma Yoga

1. Source of Activeness – the practice of karma yoga

brings activity in every aspect of life. Activeness is the
key to self-development as it makes us realize the
suffering or pleasure of life.
2. Teaches to Be Even-Minded –  When awareness is
detached from the karma’s result, then yoga teaches
us how to be evenminded in any condition. A
balanced mind is the sign of a calm person. Hence,
detached Karma is the quality factor of the mind’s
calmness & positive psychology 2.
See also: Vrittis – Mind Fluctuation Causes
3. Helping Ourselves by Helping Others –  A right Karma
is helping others. But, in the process of helping
others, we help ourselves ultimately because it fulfills
our heart with joy & perfection.
4. Swami Vivekananda said 3 ‘Life is good or bad
according to the state of mind in which we are’.
Karma Yoga shows action need be our only step
ahead result, whether good or bad is just the state of
mind.
5. One Pointed Consciousness – We say something, do
something, show something, and something else is
going on inside us. It makes our consciousness
shattered. Regular practice of karma done with
rightful intention removes all these demerits.
When it comes to applying the tents into life, there
are some principles of karma yoga. A karma yogi
seeker can follow these principles to do karma yoga.
Importance of karma yoga in Business Ethics
1. Achievements of Business Goals – To Achieve the
ultimate aims of any business administration one
should practice Karma Yoga. This is not only for
entrepreneurs but also for the employees working
under them.
2. Achievements of Personal Goals – According to Karma
Yoga, while performing any task forget about your
personal benefits. Put all your determination on
organizational goals. In this way, you can achieve
administrative and personal goals as well.
3. Appreciation – While doing any task just forget
about your personal objectives and try to recall the
business objectives. Do your duty with full
determination and all your efforts. When you give
your 100% then u will surely be appreciated.
4. Increases Catching Power – Through Karma Yoga, we
gain the power to think positive and if we are thinking
positively, then we will not take our duties as a
burden and we will learn new things faster.
5. Active Involvement – This form of Yoga helps to
direct the mind. A businessman is always a motivator
or a leader who directs their employees in a positive
way for the achievement of the ultimate goals. This
increases the involvement of the employees in any
task.
Principles of Karma Yoga
It’s very easy to emulate the practice of karma yoga in
your daily life with these principles of practicing it.
1. Start serving yourself
Serving to the self is the beginning step to start the
journey of karma yoga. Whether it’s work of a
household or corporate life, specify your job & don’t
let others do it for you. This practice will keep you
active & build a foundation of serving others too.
2. Be a genuine person
A tendency of faking to the karma makes a wall of
duality in personal life. Most of the time peoples
show something and something else is going on
inside them. Presenting the true nature in front of
others helps you to be conscious of the present
moment.
3. Love your work
We know the Law of Karma, i.e. what we do in the
present, is reflected in the future. Further, Prarabdha
Karma is only what is in our right. Loving the work
prepares a firm foundation for tomorrow (agami
karma).
4. Practice to be compassionate
A few words of compassion can positively affect many
critical conditions. Compassion came as an integral
part of karma yoga when the seeker absorbed into
karma. Practice compassion to mankind, animal and
nature, and you will observe good vibes around you
in every condition.
5. Forgo the result
To practice karma yoga, one of the keys is letting go
of the outcome of karma. Krishna tells Arjuna in
Bhagavad Gita ‘Do your work, it’s your duty & leave
the result of work on me (God)’.
6. Respect the consequences
Some people don’t let accept the result in a certain
situation of life. Try to calm the mind in the critical
situation of life and become a silent observer of
karma. Respecting the consequences of a result and
 again doing karma with the same enthusiasm is like
respecting God’s offerings.
Conclusion
In nutshell, karma yoga is the real essence of yoga as
it’s the practice of going beyond the consequence of
any actions. When we start devoting ourselves to the
work (karma), it becomes something we can devote
to our true-self (soul).
What do you think, how karma affects us! When make
us think about our upcoming thought, is what your
karma of the last moment.
Tell me in the comment section, how you are
practicing karma yoga in your daily yoga practice at
home.
References
1. karma in Samsara [https://tricycle.org/magazine/samsara-
meaning]
2. Karma yoga: A path towards work in positive
psychology[https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3
705674/]
3. Karma Yoga – A book by Swami
Vivekananda [https://www.vivekananda.net/PDFBooks/Karm
aYoga.pdf]