Karma Yoga is the Stepping Stone to Dhyāna Yoga

Abstract

Karma Yoga is the path of action. It implies selfless, concentrated actions with awareness. Being an important technique for growth and progress along the spiritual path it brings peace and equanimity into one’s life. Total absorption in any work will gradually train the mind to become steady and lead a meditative attitude. It channels our thoughts and actions to become one-pointed. Then it will become a perfect receiver and reflector of higher awareness. Action is the final import of the Veda which commands us to do certain acts. One can attain the knowledge of the Self through purity of heart by doing karma for the sake of yajña (sacrifice), dāna (charity) and tapa (austerity). These are the purifiers of the wise. These actions are considered obligatory and ought to be performed. Because the actions performed skillfully lose their influence to bind the soul with the cycle of birth and death. Even these actions should be performed leaving aside the attachment with the fruit of action. Performance of action with the selfless and witnessing attitude helps spiritual seeker to obtain emancipation. It fills the mind with sattva and purity. The spirit of selflessness and discrimination destroy the bonds of karma (the law of cause and effect). Just as the lose the power of germination by scorched, so the aspirant burns the fruit-bearing tendency of karma through the renunciation of the fruit of the action. He has no rāga (liking) with kuśala (agreeable) and dveṣa (disliking) with the akuśala karma being sattvasamāviṣṭha (pervaded by purity), medhāvī (intelligent) and free from saṁśaya (doubt). He attains devotion to the knowledge of Self.