Importance, Characteristics and Types of Karma

Preface

keâce&CÙesJeeefOekeâejmles cee Heâ}s<eg keâoeÛeve ~

- Srīmadbhagwadgītā 2.47

Meaning : Your right is to perform karma only; but never to the fruit thereof. In this blessing of Srīkrushṇa lies the
essence of Karmayoga.

In life, karma (An act, action which gives rise to destiny) is unavoidable. Even to sustain life, the karma of breathing has
to be performed. A continuous generation of ‘give-and- take’ account with others is a consequence that comes along
with karma. Every karma compulsorily results in merits-demerits. Today demerits of people are on the rise because of
personality defects such as anger and hatred, so also an evil-mind, unrighteous behaviour, mistakes committed while
performing karma etc. On account of these demerits one has to suffer and become unhappy in this or subsequent
births.

There is no escape. As a result, the cycle of birth and death continues. This is what is termed as karma-bandhan
(Bondage due to karma). Under such circumstances, Karmayoga (Path of Karma) spells out the path of breaking free
from the cycle of birth and death.

Only when there is no karmaphal (Fruit of karma) can a man be free from bondage. Not having attachment, pride and
expectation of the result of karma, performing every karma with an attitude that, ‘Every karma is the worship of God’,
surrendering every karma unto the Holy feet of God upon its completion etc., bring about non-doership in the karma.
When this happens, the rule of karmaphal is not applicable. Non-doership cleanses the antahkaraṇ (Inner sense organs
consisting of the conscious mind, subconscious mind, intellect and ego) and gives a spiritual experience of perpetual
Ānand (Bliss).

Karmayoga also teaches that even after God-realisation, instead of renouncing karma, the activity of drawing society
towards sādhanā (Spiritual practice) has to continue.

This Holy text series provides an easy-to-grasp guidance on how to practise Karmayoga while continuing to perform
karma in day-to-day life. Taking into consideration the pervasiveness of the subject and the limitations on the number of
pages of the text, the complete subject of Karmayoga has been split into different texts. (Other texts have been
introduced at the end of this text.)

Karma is the essence of human life. Knowing the importance and peculiarities of karma changes our attitude towards
karma and we get exposed to a new dimension to perform it. With this perspective, various aspects of karma such as
the importance of karma, the importance of factors necessary for success of karma, maintaining uninterrupted flow of
karma, mind being the originator of karma (which takes place through the medium of mind, speech and body), birth of
mankind being dependent on karma of past births etc., have been elaborated in this text. Information on vihit
(Prescribed) and nishiddha (Prohibited) karma, nitya (Day-to-day) and naimittik (Occasional) karma, karma as per the
class system, swadharma-karma (Karma as per an individual’s duty according to the system of class), sāttvik (Sattva-
predominant), rājasik (Raja-predominant) and tāmasik (Tama-predominant) karma etc., besides resulting in the study of
various aspects of karma, will also bring to notice their effect on life.

When compared with Dnyānyoga (Path of Knowledge) and Bhaktiyoga (Path of Devotion), Karmayoga is associated
more with practical life. We pray at the Holy feet of Srī Guru that by practising Karmayoga, let the desire to evolve
spiritually develop in the seekers.

– Compiler
Importance, Characteristics and Types of Karma | Preface and Index | Page 1 of 2
 Index

Preface
Commentary by ‘A Scholar’ on the Divine Knowledge received about this Holy text
1. Origin and meaning of Karmayoga
2. Origin of karma
3. Kriyā and kruti
4. Kārya
4A. Factors essential for the successful completion of a kārya and their importance
4B. Reason for the harm to karma (Activity)
5. Origin and meaning of the word ‘karma’
6. Objective of karma
7. Importance of karma
8. Special features of karma
8A. Karma is associated with the physical body
8B. Flow of karma continues uninterrupted
8C. Karma performed is in concurrence with the resolve
8D. Association of karma is with the worldly life, not with the form
8E. Karma by itself is a mystery of all mysteries
8F. Begetting fruit according to karma
9. Types of karma
9A. Karma related to others
9B. Karma complementary to spiritual practice
9C. Types of karma according to Karmayoga

Importance, Characteristics and Types of Karma | Preface and Index | Page 2 of 2