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RAMAKRISHNA ANANDA

On Karma Yoga — Part 1

How karma yoga can improve your work and your life

The aim of karma yoga (the yoga of action) is to keep one’s mind on God during all work, action and service. It is based on the yogic concept of karma (cause and effect) which explains that one’s present circumstances are the result of one’s past thoughts, feelings and actions. Working with a positive motive is key to success in karma yoga. Learn a practice which can be used throughout the day. By employing concepts and techniques of karma yoga, one’s life can be significantly improved.

Karma Yoga

For You, For You

One principle of karma yoga is to do everything with a positive motive. This includes all your physical actions, the words you speak and the thoughts you think. Cultivate a kind and loving attitude in your thoughts, speech and actions. Employing a positive motive in all you do can change your life.

The first practice which I recommend is to feel that you are actually working for God. Have the attitude when you go to work in the morning:  I work for You. I offer this day of work to You, Lord. At the end of your workday:  Lord, this work I have done today was an offering of my love and energy. Remind yourself of this attitude during the day by chanting:  For You, for You, for You.

Show More
  • A main yogic concept is the law of karma (cause and effect). Your present life is the effect of your past thoughts, words and actions
  • If you don’t like the way your life is going (the effect), you can change it by initiating new causes
  • Karma is like a seed which becomes a tree. What seeds are you planting and what are they producing?
  • A key aspect of karma yoga is maintaining positive, loving, kind motives in all your thoughts, words and actions
  • One karma yoga practice is to cultivate the feeling and attitude that you are working for God
  • You can remind yourself of this throughout the day by chanting:  For You, for You, for You.

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To live in greater harmony, it’s most important to…
1. Have an openness to Spirit
1. Have an openness to Spirit
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Hear more about how the yoga practices that lead to an openness to Spirit and a life of greater harmony.
2. Get enough rest
2. Get enough rest
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3. Exercise daily
3. Exercise daily
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4. Have a glass of wine at night
4. Have a glass of wine at night
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