Even though the word “karma” is now widely accepted in the English language, the concept of karma remains more elusive than one would think — even among yoga practitioners.
In North America, we are more familiar with Hatha yoga, particularly the practice of asana in yoga classes. Nonetheless, karma is a path of yoga gaining popularity, as more people become involved to some degree in a yoga community.
A Cure For Depression and Anxiety?
According to the teachings of Swami Sivananda, a respected guru whose disciple Swami Vishnudevananda brought yoga to the West, karma yoga can remedy conditions of depression and anxiety.
In The Practice of Karma Yoga, Swami Sivananda wrote, “by doing service, you purify your heart. Egoism, hatred, jealousy, the idea of superiority and all the kindred negative qualities will vanish. Humility, pure love, sympathy, tolerance and mercy will be developed. The sense of separateness will be annihilated. Selfishness will be eradicated. You will get a broad and liberal outlook on life. You will begin to feel oneness and unity.” By serving others, you ultimately serve yourself through an improvement in your emotional and spiritual well-being.
Feelings of depression and anxiety result from mismanaged emotions. Depression has been referred to as “anger turned inward,” while anxiety occurs when you are over-stimulated and overwhelmed. When you practice karma yoga, you train your mind away from your own emotional state to focus on the needs of others. And this change in focus can help improve your own mood.
One Path: Yoga in Action
Karma yoga is the path of yoga which stresses action. In this spirit, many yoga studios now offer what they refer to as karma yoga programs. Participants usually receive a certain amount of yoga classes or unlimited yoga classes in return for a minimum amount of hours of work.
However, true karma yoga is considered to be selfless service with no expectation of immediate reward. Your reward in practising karma is spiritual, not material.
It is in this lack of expectation that you can discover something you may not expect to find within yourself. When you are motivated by unselfish reasons, and you realize your interconnectedness with others, you enjoy the pleasure of living in community and acting from the heart.
A Path to Self-Realization
In the Bhagavad Gita, a central yogic text and one of the most important in Hinduism, karma yoga is explained as an even deeper and more profound practice. In Chapter 3 of Bhagavad Gita, the Supreme Being Krishna says to the warrior Arjuna:
Human beings are bound by Karma other than those done as Yajna (sacrifice). Therefore, O Arjuna, do your duty efficiently as a service or Seva to Me, free from attachment to the fruits of work.
When you have god or a pure intention in mind as you perform any action, you eliminate or neutralize the karmic consequence of any action. When you trust that you are acting in good faith, in devotion to a higher being, or for a greater purpose, you act out of a spiritual, not selfish, intentions.