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Gita Lesson - 0508: Inferiority of Karma

Bhagavad Gita
Unit - 05
Lesson - 0508: Inferiority of Karma
By Raja Subramaniyan

Animals and other living beings do not do any Karma. According to the definition, Karma includes only intentional actions. Animals are driven by intuition. It cannot be said that a tiger does Karma of killing a deer. It will kill only when it is hungry and when it is hungry it has no choice but to hunt. It cannot decide to fast for a day. Thus, 'willing' is the prerogative of human kind and only willful actions are called Karma.

While all human beings are capable of doing Karma, only those who are smart, graduate to the next level of doing Karma as Karma Yoga. Karma Yoga will give the benefit of doing Karma in addition to leading us to Joyful Living. However, this additional benefit of doing Karma Yoga is not immediately visible and therefore, many do not attempt the same.

Example: In our materialistic world, people need a reason even to smile.

Focusing on the result of every action is the first step and we should not remain in the first step. We should attempt to convert Karma into Karma Yoga.

The popular notion that one who works hard is a Karma Yogi is not correct. One who works smarter is a real Karma Yogi. Working smart involves understanding the nature of work.

In addition to knowing the Twelve Laws of Karma and the Six Principles of Karma Yoga, we should know the link between thought and action.

Teaching 23: Thought leads to Action and Action leads to thoughts

We are aware that all our actions are caused by thoughts.

Example: A building existed as a thought in the mind of an architect prior to the construction.

We also need to learn that action is the seed for our thoughts as detailed below:

We develop a sense of attachment to any action that we do repeatedly. The more often we do an action, the stronger is our liking for the action. Stronger liking leads us to repeat the action.

Example: A prisoner who spends a long time in a prison is 'institutionalized'.

This means having lived in a prison, he will be more comfortable inside the prison than living freely in the outside the world. Similarly, we find it difficult to stop doing any action that we are accustomed to do.

Breaking the cycle of thought-action-thought

The key to break the cycle of thought-action-thought is to do the work without any attachment. If we are not attached to the results of the action then it will not bind us anymore. We can be more objective in our work and therefore the chances of getting better results are brighter. In addition, since we function without attachment (Karma Yoga), our mind will gain the maturity that is required to receive self-knowledge. Once we become steady in self-knowledge, life will become Joyful.

Mental maturity means rising above likes and dislikes. As a result, it is possible to deal with the oscillation between the pairs of opposites. It is a smart move to appoint a street-smart burglar as a security guard! Similarly, the only cause of development of likes and dislikes is Karma. By converting Karma into Karma Yoga, the very same actions are used to free ourselves from the bondage of likes and dislikes.

Expectation is the cause of all our misery. When we stop expecting anything from anyone, life becomes more pleasant. It is not that we do not get anything if we do not have any expectations.

Expectation has no role in determining what we get or do not get. It is wrongly assumed that all achievements are possible only due to high expectation. This is not true and can be verified from personal experience.

If we stop having any expectations, our progress in life is not affected and at the same time, we are protected from any disappointment.

We should do our duty perfectly, without any expectation. If we do not think about the results, there will not be any fear of exam. Therefore, our performance in the exam will not be adversely affected.

Karma Yoga tells us to do our duty as a service to God and leave the responsibility of giving results to God. God is responsible for giving the appropriate results of our action and we need to have complete trust in God.

Therefore, we must do work without having any expectation. This gives the immediate result of relieving us from any tension. Every action we do has the potential to hurt us. Karma Yoga acts as shock absorber and protects us from the possibility of getting hurt.

Thus, Karma Yoga involves doing all work as a service to God and accepting all results as a gift from God.

Teaching 24: Convert Karma as Karma Yoga to gain Self-Knowledge

Lord Krishna thus describes the art of doing work as Karma Yoga and its superiority in the verses 49 and 50.

Chapter 2: Wisdom is the solution [Verses: 49 - 50]

2.49 Oh Arjuna, Action with motive is indeed far inferior. Have the right attitude in doing your duty. Only those who are less intelligent are motivated by the result.

2.50 A man with proper attitude towards work gets rids of both good and bad actions even in this life. Therefore, strive for yoga, Oh Arjuna, which is superior action.

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