Understanding Karma Yog, in very simple terms!
Introduction
There are 2 ways in which we do Yog:
- By sitting specially for Yog
- While doing actions, which is called Karma Yog
In order to have a good Yog chart, It is essential to focus on both these aspects of Yog.
Before discussing about Karma Yog, it’s very important to understand a fundamental principle.
Main Principle
The actions we do & the thoughts we create are two largely different aspects. Hence, while doing a routine act which is part of our daily routine, the mind is not required much & is largely free. Hence, it can create thoughts which are independent of the act we are doing.
E.g. 1) Sometimes when there’s a problem, argument, etc at home, even while working in office, the thoughts regarding the problem goes on in the mind.
2) When there’s a get-together or event at home in the evening, even while working in office, planning of the event goes on in the mind
Hence, in most of the activities we do daily, the mind is largely free, ready to accept instructions. But, if we do not give instructions, what will happen?
E.g., If one of your employees has no work currently and is free, and you do not give any work to him, what will he do? Definitely he will look for other things to do, which are perhaps largely unproductive or wasteful in nature.
Similarly, the mind is largely free, but because of lack of this awareness, we don’t give any instructions to it. This is one of the major reasons why the mind tends to involve itself in waste thoughts.
Karma Yog just means giving a specific Smriti to the mind, to be remembered while doing actions.
Examples
There are many such smritis we can use:
- The Almighty Authority is my Companion
- I belong to Baba, Baba belongs to me
- I am under Baba’s canopy of protection
- I was a complete, full of all virtues, deity in Satyuga
- I am going to become a complete, full of all virtues, Deity
- Out of so many souls, Baba has chosen me, adopted me, made me His
- I am Baba’s child
- Etc
Sources
- The daily Murli
- We could use the Murli Essence, the Dharna points, slogan, etc as different Smriti points.
- The daily Murli provides several smritis to us daily.
- The various Swamans Baba gives us, e.g., Master of all Powers, Multimillion times fortunate, etc.
- The various titles of Baba, e.g. He is Dilaram, the Comforter of Hearts
- Our various relations with Baba e.g. He is my Beloved
How it works
Here, it is appropriate to understand an interesting phenomenon:
Time-bound
Sometimes, when we aim to do a particular Purusharth for an indefinite period of time, the motivation for the same tends to be low. However, when we make the same time-bound, e.g. For the next 1 hour, I will keep this Smriti in my Intellect, then the motivation & commitment automatically tends to be higher.
Now, the way we are benefited by keeping such Smritis in mind during work is:
- During this hour or time period, in order to maintain the memory of the Smriti, we tend to create the same thought many times. And as is the thought, so is the feeling. As is the Smriti, so is the sthiti, i.e., the state of mind.
- We also tend to do some basic churning through the period e.g. If Baba is my companion, there is no need to fear, etc.
- Because we have given a specific instruction to the mind, there is much less scope for waste thinking
Collectively, these factors help to maintain a high, elevated state of mind even while performing actions!
Time Table
A very good idea to make this practice of keeping Smritis natural is:
Many VIPs have their whole timetable of actions in a day set out, e.g., 8 to 9 attend this meeting, 9 to 10 work on this project, etc.
Similarly, we too are Baba’s VVIPs, hence along with our planning of the actions to do throughout the day, we could also set out in advance the smritis we will practice every hour, every 3 hours, etc.
e.g.
8am to 9am: I am the Master of all Powers, Master Sarvashaktivaan
9am to 10am: I am the Child of the Ocean of Peace, etc.
Om Shanti!
All English articles for BKs:
- A surrendered Intellect! | Samarpan Bhaav
- The essence of all knowledge – Mera Baba
- Understanding Karma Yog, in very simple terms!
- Taking, Giving & Inculcating soul-conscious drishti
- Understanding the subject of Gyan
Thanks for reading this article on ‘Understanding Karma Yog, in very simple terms!’
Very good article