Ramakrishna Ananda refers to chapter 5 of the Bhagavad Gita: The karma yogi offers his/her work and then himself/herself to the Lord. He or she seeks to realize they are but an instrument in the hands of the Lord and that God’s love and light are moving and expressing in their lives. Karma yoga can take them all the way to enlightenment.

Yoga teaches that our thoughts, feelings, words and actions are seeds which bear fruits — bitter or sweet — in our lives. These seeds are the causes of our present happiness and fulfillment, or, conversely, emptiness and sorrow. By planting and cultivating seeds, you can have a better tomorrow and improve life immensely.

Karma yogis move through several stages as they develop and mature. In the beginning one dedicates all one’s action to the Lord. The next stage is the recognition that Spirit is working through you. In the final stage, the devotee discovers that he/she is an instrument of the Divine. Discover the joy and happiness which comes through the practice of karma yoga.

Bhakti yoga (the yoga of love and devotion) is the practice of directing love to the Lord of your heart. Through it the devotee seeks to develop a relationship with Spirit and live in the continual awareness of God’s love. This love grows into spiritual experiences such as bhavas (moods of love) in which you are sublimely aware of the Lord, as well as samadhis (absorptions in Spirit). Bhakti yoga is often the easiest and finest way to live a happy, fulfilling life as a spiritual being in a spiritual world.

Raja yoga focuses on the true self, the soul or atman, which is already within us. The goal is to experience and live in our true nature. Learn a quick way to experience the inner self. Discover how to proceed through the four steps of meditation.

Jnanis seek to go beyond duality and awaken to the presence, reality and power of Spirit. This connection with pure consciousness is called turiya. Explore turiya and discover how to thrive through an intimate connection with the Infinite Spirit.

The more you know Spirit, the more easily and fully It moves and expresses through you. The great metaphysician Ernest Holmes (The Ernest Holmes Papers):  As the Infinite comes down and flows through us, It influences people. Explore ways to be open to Spirit moving, delighting and expressing through you.

There are many signs of progress on the spiritual path. As you practice yoga, you begin to live with more happiness, confidence, peace, wellness and wholeness. Higher states of consciousness develop which bring great joy and bliss. Becoming aware of these indicators helps open you to these possibilities.

One of the joys of life is to center in the atman, the true self. Through the practice of yoga, we can contact and express our authentic nature. Explore the characteristics of the soul which come through as you grow. What would your soul like to express through you?