Practice of Karma Yoga - Divine Life Society

1 Practice OF Karma yoga By SRI SWAMI SIVANANDA Sri Swami Sivananda Founder of The Divine Life Society SERVE, LOVE, GIVE, PURIFY, MEDITATE, REALIZE So Says Sri Swami Sivananda A Divine LIFE Society PUBLICATION Sixth Edition: 1995 (4,000 Copies) World Wide Web (WWW) Edition: 2001 WWW site: This WWW reprint is for free distribution The Divine Life Trust Society ISBN 81-7052-014-2 Published By THE Divine LIFE Society SHIVANANDANAGAR 249 192 Distt. Tehri-Garhwal, Uttaranchal, Himalayas, India. OM Dedicated to all selfless, motiveless, disinterested workers of the world who are struggling hard to get knowledge of the Self by purifying their minds, by getting Chitta Suddhi through Nishkama Karma yoga OM PUBLISHERS NOTEThe nectar-like teachings of His Holiness Sri Swami Sivananda Saraswati, theincomparable saint of the Himalayas, famous in song and legend, are too well-known to theintelligent public as well as to the earnest aspirant of knowledge Divine .

2 Their aim and object isnothing but emancipation from the wheel of births and deaths through absorption of the Jiva withthe supreme Soul. Now, this emancipation can be had only through right is an undisputed fact that it is almost a Herculean task for the man in the street, blinded ashe is by worldly desires of diverse kinds, to forge his way to realisation of God. Not only is it hisshort-sightedness that stands in the way but innumerable other difficulties and obstacles hamper theprogress onward towards the goal. He is utterly helpless until someone who has successfullytrodden the path, comes to his aid or rescue, takes him by the hand, leads him safely through theinextricable traps and pitfalls of worldly temptation and desires, and finally brings him to hisdestination which is the crowning glory of the be-all and end-all of life, where all suffering ceasesand all quest comes to an end.

3 This realisation is nothing but the knowing of the self as the real Self,the one without a volume is, as the title will show, a book that has been carefully prepared for the benefitof those who are intricately placed in life that they cannot tread the path of renunciation orSannyasa. Certainly, unless one cleanses the augean stables of his mind and expurgates allimpurities through selfless and disinterested service while living amid the toil and moil of theworld, he will find himself in a fool s paradise, when he puts on the second orange-coloured garb tofollow the path of renunciation. So one has to do Karma yoga first ceaselessly and untiringly, anddevelop all noble qualities such as cosmic love, endurance, nobility and Brahmacharya, and thusequip himself for the great ensuing battle royal, and finally come out the present work, Practice of Karma yoga ,coming as it does, from the inspired andenlightened pen of Swami Sivanandaji, is, as usual, a safe and sound guide to reach the goal in viewof the aspirant.

4 Those who have had the good fortune to know of Sri Swami Sivanandaji and hiswritings from the biggest volume to the sixteen-page pamphlet distributed free to those who askand those who do not ask will agree with us how infallible his writings are, how simple and lucidis the language he employs in order that what he writes may be accessible not only to the universitygraduate, but also to him or her who has a working knowledge of English, and how sincere andearnest the author is in his unquenchable thirst to be even a particle of service to his with the magnetism of a Jivanmukta or liberated sage, they cannot but uplift the seekerafter Truth to ineffable heights of spiritual glory, bliss and Divine LIFE SOCIETYivPREFACET here are altogether eight chapters in this book. The first chapter treats of the yoga ofservice.

5 Such interesting and important subjects as what is poised reason, how to find out right andwrong action, what is Nishkamya Karma yoga , the qualifications of a Karma Yogi, work isworship, the yoga of equanimity, etc., are dealt with lucidly. The articles entitled Health andYoga and Secret of Karma yoga are of vital importance and interest. One should never forget theidea that work is worship of God. If one remembers this fact, all work will be found very terms menial service , this work is bad , that work is good , will be obliterated from themind. You will find that all work, when done with the right mental attitude or Bhava, will elevateyour second chapter deals with universal laws. A knowledge of these laws of Nature willhelp the young aspirant to turn out more efficient and solid work within a short space of time; it willinfuse discrimination and force him to do virtuous actions, always taking care to avoid all evilactions.

6 He will clearly understand that there is perfect order in the universe in everything. Even arank materialist will be induced to realise the glory of the Lord, the Law-giver, who is hidden inthese names and third chapter deals with what is known as Svadharma. The Practice of Svadharmabrings one Moksha and exaltation. A fine description of the three Gunas or qualities of Nature andtheir operation is given here. An understanding of these Gunas will be of inestimable value to thepractitioner of Karma yoga . He can develop Sattvic virtues and eradicate Rajas and Tamas. Thearticle Instructions for Aspirants contains many valuable practical hints. Every aspirant shouldstudy these instructions very carefully daily in the morning before he starts his work. This willenable him to equip himself for the ensuing battle of daily life.

7 He will indeed be better armed withwisdom, spiritual force and discrimination; he can thereby ward off very many obstacles that standin the way of his daily man feels he is weak and helpless at times, he is in reality the master of his owndestiny. He can counteract dark forces of evil tendencies and can command Nature through rightexertion or Purushartha. The subject is dealt with in the fourth chapter. Karma and Reincarnation is the title of the fifth chapter. Here there is a description of thevarious kinds of Karmas. I would like you to understand that sin is nothing but a mistake is no such thing as horrible crime or heinous sin in the light of knowledge or higherphilosophy. Many people worry themselves that they have committed serious crimes andconsequently become prey to the haunting thoughts of the so-called sin.

8 One should never say: Iam a great sinner. On the contrary he should assert: I am eternally the pure Atman. Purity is yourbirthright. In essence thou art the most sacred Atman. Feel this, feel this! The article on the doctrineof reincarnation contains convincing, cogent, logical, forcible and sound arguments in support the sixth chapter I have stated that neophytes should combine action and meditation andthat those who can meditate for twenty-four hours are very, very rare, and that such people shouldtake to exclusive meditation in the solitary caves of the Himalayan jungles. I have made a sincerevand whole-hearted appeal to whole-timed Sannyasins to organise their order of life and start doingservice to the country in various forms according to the temperament, taste and capacity of theindividual.

9 This is the dire need of the present hour. Not very long ago Mahatma Gandhi himselfonce appealed to the Sannyasins at Hardwar in this regard and Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the thenPresident of the Indian National Congress addressed a mammoth meeting of Sadhus andSannyasins last year at the same place and in a similar strain. As no real service can be done withoutBrahmacharya, I have added a small article on this subject towards the end of the seventh chapter is allotted to Karma yoga in the Gita . The articles Prakriti doesEverything , Action and Inaction , Scope for Personal Exertion , Action and Actor , Self-surrender , and Karma yoga is better than Renunciation of Action , make the chaptercomplete. I want my readers to read this chapter over and over and understand the full significanceof Karma eighth chapter makes the book really useful.

10 You have some very illuminating andinspiring stories which have been chosen with care and added in the hope that the book will be ofpractical utility to the readers. These stories inculcate the principles of self-sacrifice and present tothe householders some really elevating and inspiring the maintenance of the spiritual diary is nowhere more needed than when practisingKarma yoga , I have added a brief note on how such a diary should be maintained, together with thetable which has also been appended appeal with folded hands to the readers of this book to start practising Karma yoga in rightearnest after digesting and assimilating the truths and ideals that are inculcated herein. May theindweller of our hearts, the omniscient, omnipotent and omnipresent Isvara grant you all strength,peace, spiritual power, discrimination, alertness, far-sightedness to practise Karma yoga and torealise the grand truths of the Upanishads after getting Chitta Suddhi through incessant and untiringselfless service, is the humble and earnest prayer of thy sevak and GOD I SAWWhen I surveyed from Ananda Kutir, Rishikesh,By the side of the Tehri Hills, only God I the Ganges and the Kailas peak,In the famous Chakra Tirtha of Naimisar also, only God I the Dedhichi Kand of Misrik,In the sacred Triveni of Prayag Raj too, only God I the Maya Kund of Rishikesh andIn the springs of Badri, Yamunotri and Gauri-Kund to boot, only God I tribulation and in grief.