AFTER THOUGHTS
For a person to practice Karma-yoga, it is important to know the laws of karma, as well as allied subjects that can help to make one think differently–from a different standpoint.
The five Koshas clarify that there are five sheaths of consciousness and therefore we can become aware that our perception changes as we go inwards, from one sheath to another. Perception at the level of the Annamaya Kosha is very physically oriented. If one can perceive and think from the level of either the Vigyan or Anandamaya, the perception goes through a sea change. At the level of Annamaya–looks, beauty, art, social graces are paramount. At an inner level of koshas–these are trivia.
Similarly with Gunas, it helps to understand their classification, and we can aspire to change our Gunas to a better mix. Realization that we are influenced by more of the tamasic, makes us determined to work towards more sattvic thinking. It takes time to change but a pre-requisition is the desire for change.
Knowledge is power. For us to inculcate a desire to make changes within ourselves, awareness of certain phenomena becomes the background and infrastructure. The Kleshas and their understanding become a motivator for self awareness and observing ourselves from a third person’s perspective.
Our attitude towards the deeds we do keeps changing. This may never even occur to us–hence the clarification. The fact that our suffering can be self-induced by way of tapasya and that can reduce our negative balance is something very few people would have thought about. For example, many people keep fasts. Many may not realize why.
The write up on samskaras adds to our self awareness. We may be inspired to work towards either negating the samskaras, or conditioning of the mind, or creating a better and more evolved conditioning of the mind–or both. Meditating on the erasing of a certain type of samskara, helps to reduce it, or enhance it as you so aspire.
As these subjects could help to practice karma-yoga at a more evolved level, I have put them in ‘Afterthoughts’–and they were afterthoughts–I felt the book had not ended when it did.
The five Koshas clarify that there are five sheaths of consciousness and therefore we can become aware that our perception changes as we go inwards, from one sheath to another. Perception at the level of the Annamaya Kosha is very physically oriented. If one can perceive and think from the level of either the Vigyan or Anandamaya, the perception goes through a sea change. At the level of Annamaya–looks, beauty, art, social graces are paramount. At an inner level of koshas–these are trivia.
Similarly with Gunas, it helps to understand their classification, and we can aspire to change our Gunas to a better mix. Realization that we are influenced by more of the tamasic, makes us determined to work towards more sattvic thinking. It takes time to change but a pre-requisition is the desire for change.
Knowledge is power. For us to inculcate a desire to make changes within ourselves, awareness of certain phenomena becomes the background and infrastructure. The Kleshas and their understanding become a motivator for self awareness and observing ourselves from a third person’s perspective.
Our attitude towards the deeds we do keeps changing. This may never even occur to us–hence the clarification. The fact that our suffering can be self-induced by way of tapasya and that can reduce our negative balance is something very few people would have thought about. For example, many people keep fasts. Many may not realize why.
The write up on samskaras adds to our self awareness. We may be inspired to work towards either negating the samskaras, or conditioning of the mind, or creating a better and more evolved conditioning of the mind–or both. Meditating on the erasing of a certain type of samskara, helps to reduce it, or enhance it as you so aspire.
As these subjects could help to practice karma-yoga at a more evolved level, I have put them in ‘Afterthoughts’–and they were afterthoughts–I felt the book had not ended when it did.
ATTITUDE TO DEEDS
There are three attitudes to doing deeds or self effort.
1. The Self-Centered Approach
2. Deeds for Satisfaction
3. Deeds with Detachment
There are three attitudes to doing deeds or self effort.
1. The Self-Centered Approach
2. Deeds for Satisfaction
3. Deeds with Detachment
The Self-Centered Approach
Initially, people do good karma because of the motive of its positive result in terms of Karmic benefits. It’s more of an investment for future gains. I think there is nothing wrong with this, though several holier-than-thou characters have looked down at this approach. If you know that good deeds beget good results, you cannot make yourself forget this factor, when you do something beneficial to others. This attitude may not be the most perfect, but it does get you into a habit. Your selfish attitude may be a benefit to many.
Initially, people do good karma because of the motive of its positive result in terms of Karmic benefits. It’s more of an investment for future gains. I think there is nothing wrong with this, though several holier-than-thou characters have looked down at this approach. If you know that good deeds beget good results, you cannot make yourself forget this factor, when you do something beneficial to others. This attitude may not be the most perfect, but it does get you into a habit. Your selfish attitude may be a benefit to many.
Deeds for Satisfaction
Many people, when they get into the habit of doing good, start getting a sense of satisfaction from what they do. They may not TOM TOM (broadcast) it to all and sundry, but they do get a good feeling. If you can inspire a smile on someone’s face by doing them an act of service, I think you have done well. Why should you not feel happy and satisfied?
Many people, when they get into the habit of doing good, start getting a sense of satisfaction from what they do. They may not TOM TOM (broadcast) it to all and sundry, but they do get a good feeling. If you can inspire a smile on someone’s face by doing them an act of service, I think you have done well. Why should you not feel happy and satisfied?
Deeds with detachment
Many evolved souls give up their sense of doer-ship of deeds. They feel that what is happening is meant to. They do not feel pride or satisfaction in the good they do. They do not even try to qualify it as good. They rise above duality and stop seeing things as black or white. For them doing someone a favour must be that person’s luck. They do not see this as their own positive karma as they do not differentiate between the positive or negative. Their actions are considered non-actions and they are considered ‘Karam Mukta’ or free of Karmas.
It is not easy to think like this in continuity, and yet people have. DO TRY.
Many evolved souls give up their sense of doer-ship of deeds. They feel that what is happening is meant to. They do not feel pride or satisfaction in the good they do. They do not even try to qualify it as good. They rise above duality and stop seeing things as black or white. For them doing someone a favour must be that person’s luck. They do not see this as their own positive karma as they do not differentiate between the positive or negative. Their actions are considered non-actions and they are considered ‘Karam Mukta’ or free of Karmas.
It is not easy to think like this in continuity, and yet people have. DO TRY.