Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Karma Yoga – the yoga of selfless action

Once Shri Rangachari, a known Telugu scholar of ‘Worries College Vellore’ expressed to Rama Maharishi his desire to know about Karma Yoga. Maharshi give no answer. After some time, Raman Maharishi went to a hill for a walk. He was accompanied by Shri Rangachari and a few others. A thorny branch of a tree was lying on the way. Maharshi picked it up, sat on the ground and started smoothing it.

The thorns were cut away; the knots were scraped and the entire stick was made smooth by rubbing with a rough leaf. The whole operation took around six hours. Everybody was surprised to around six hours. Everybody was surprised to see a beautiful stick come out of a thorny branch. As they moved ahead, they met a shepherd boy who was troubled because he had lost his stick. Maharshi gave the stick to the boy and moved.

The Telugu scholar said, “This is the correct and appropriate answer to my question.”

Let the readers guess how the Telugu scholar got his answer. To help those whom we are attached to is selfishness. To help those, for whom we have no attachment, is called Nishkama Karmyoga or action without desire for fruits. It is neither action without a purpose nor action with a selfish motive; nor is it escaping from action or remaining totally engaged in action or seeking any return for the action!

Contemplate Lord Narayana, Who is free from attachment, and start reposing in Him. Start contemplating again and them repose. Incantation of ‘OM’ in a protracted tone too is a supreme act of righteousness. Meditation reading scriptures and inspiring others to propagate culture is direct Karma Yoga. Blessed are those who are engaged in the service of ‘Rishi Prasad’! Blessed are the ones who spread noble thoughts and goodwill and distribute spiritual literature in the society! Just as the cowherd boy got the support of the stick, so also in the world, one gets the support of noble thoughts. This selfless action, the stick of knowledge, stands one in good stead in this world and in the other. Salutations to the Supreme Soul ‘Ñ’ Peace! O Selfishness! O Deceit, fraud, falsehood, trickery! To hell with you. Where is the need for desires in the guileless Lord Narayana, the Existence Absolute, Knowledge Absolute? Where is the need for deceit, fraud and trickery? ‘OM’…. ‘OM’…… ‘OM’…
Lord Rama says:

Only a man of pure soul can find me; I have an aversion to duplicity, wiles and censoriousness.’

Ramacharita Manasa (5.43.3)
Selfishness alone is the breeding ground for deceit, fraud and trickery. Where there is a lofty aim in life there is no place lofty Self, your Brahmic nature be revealed. Make no delay.

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