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Karma Yoga, also known as Buddhi Yoga or “yoga of activities”, is one of the four main types of yoga in Hindu philosophy. Karma yoga is based on the teachings of “Bhagavad Gita” - the sacred Hindu scriptures in Sanskrit. Its basic meaning is to perform prescribed duties (dharma) without attachment to the fruits of labor. As a result, it became possible acquisition of moksha (salvation) or love of God (bhakti). This occurs by performing prescribed duties without selfish motives for the sole purpose of pleasing God. The literal translation of "karma yoga" term is "unity through action."
The most important characteristic of karma yoga is the right motivation. One should not act for gain or reward. Actions must take place in order to help others, as acts of giving. This, however, does not mean free labor. Thus, a complete concise definition of karma yoga - "is not self-serving aid to all worthy people in everything that is good". In Chapter 3, Text 19 of Bhagavad Gita said: “Therefore, without attachment, do thou always perform action which should be done; for, by performing action without attachment man reaches the Supreme.” (Sivananda, 2000)
Pursuing karma-yoga, one should not be attached to the result, since it depends only on God. It should control his mind and senses, and all the fruits of its activities devote to God. “In karma yoga, the yoga of selfless action, the aspirants dissolves their identification with body and mind by identification with the whole life, forgetting his finite self in the service of others” (Easwaran, 2007). Unlike other types of yoga, karma yoga is focused on the action and the society, while the others focused on the development of the individual spirit. Moreover, it can be said, that “Karma Yoga might be called “applied ethics” in the highest sense, rather than a merely theoretical system” (Vivekananda, 1896)
References
Easwaran, E. (2007). The Bhagavad Gita. Tomales, CA: Nilgiri Press.
Sivananda, S. (2000). The Bhagavad Gita. Sivanandanagar: Divine Life Society.
Vivekananda,. (1896). Vedanta philosophy. New York: Baker & Taylor Co.
