The SECRET of Karma Yoga - Transforming Daily Chores into Spiritual Practice

Karma yoga enables you to constantly be engaged in spiritual practice, even when you're at work, caring for your family, or just "hanging out." But, what exactly are you supposed to DO in that practice? Sri Krishna's advice is hidden in plain view, among the verses of the Bhagavad Gita.
Even after reading and re-reading the Bhagavad Gita, many people fail to clearly understand exactly what they're supposed to do in the practice of karma yoga, because Sri Krishna's teachings are surprisingly subtle and extremely profound. Another difficulty is the fact that some of Sri Krishna's teachings have been turned into overly simplistic cliches or trite sayings, like karma yoga is selfless service or devoting your deeds to God. Such expressions must be fully understood and their messages fully integrated into your daily life.
Karma yoga is a a sadhana, spiritual practice that's meant to help you attain the ultimate goal of spiritual life, a goal known as moksha, liberation, enlightenment, or simply, freedom from worldly suffering. Such a lofty goal can be reached only by those who are completely dedicated to it. And that kind of complete dedication is impossible as long as you are focused on gaining pleasure, comfort, intimacy, money and so on.
According to Sri Krishna, those pursuits will never culminate in a state of perfect peace and contentment. When you clearly recognize the impossibility of gaining perfect peace and contentment through worldly pursuits, your orientation towards life will undergo a radical shift, a shift in which you give up seeking that contentment through worldly pursuits, and instead, seek it through spiritual growth. That inner transformation prepares you for the practice of karma yoga.
Simply put, karma yoga is not something you do, but rather, it's a specific, prayerful attitude that you cultivate, and hold in your mind and heart, while you carry out your daily activities. First and foremost, that attitude is based on knowing that you are merely an agent of action. That means, you do not produce the fruits or results of your actions.
This profound principle is expressed in one of the most frequently quoted verses in the Bhagavad Gita, karmani eva adhikaras te, ma phaleshu kadacana. To paraphrase the verse, you have control over your actions, but you have no control over their results because those results are in Ishvara's hands so to speak, not in your hands.
When you become mindful of this fact, every time you perform a deed, whatever it might be, you can recognize Ishvara's direct involvement as the giver of results. To prayerfully appreciate Ishvara's presence in all your activities can help you develop deep feelings of reverence and gratitude. In this way, karma yoga can bring a prayerful dimension to everything you do.
Swami Tadatmananda is a traditionally-trained teacher of Advaita Vedanta, meditation, and Sanskrit. For more information, please see: www.arshabodha.org/

Пікірлер: 100

  • @shirinvenkat
    @shirinvenkat9 ай бұрын

    Beloved Swamiji I am ardent follower of the wisdom you dispense so freely. In my 73 years last year it occurred to me that I have a two word yoga - I call it Thank you yoga. That is all. Only thank you thank you thank you 🙏🏻 Swamiji.

  • @dangem5022

    @dangem5022

    5 ай бұрын

    wonderfully said 🙏

  • @nitulbhatt8735
    @nitulbhatt87352 ай бұрын

    I am an eye surgeon and was always anxious about the outcome of surgery. But following Karma Yoga, now I give my best with intention to solve the suffering and not worry about outcome

  • @richmac6345
    @richmac63459 ай бұрын

    As someone who has time to watch and read a variety of teaching... Yours is supremely different and possibly one of the top teachings that I will stick with. My challenge/battle for a long time has been discerning the better approach between Buddhism and Advaita. I'm on a group called "Awakening to reality" who practice a lot of meditation and from what I've seen... it seems to deliver results associated with realising I'm not the body mind... But Advaita has a whole tradition with a variety of practices to cover the whole of life... I'm ready to give up all my own thoughts, ideas, memories for whichever will produce the most happiness and that is likely to come in part from your teaching as it addresses many of the thoughts that arise in me. Many thanks for these lovely videos of which I download many of them into mp3's to listen to during the day.

  • @ritswik
    @ritswik9 ай бұрын

    Karma yoga = Practice Action✅ Bhakti yoga= Practice Devotion✅ Jnana yoga = practice mindfulness✅

  • @hershchat

    @hershchat

    9 ай бұрын

    अज्ञानवश अनर्थ लिख दिया। योग का अर्थ मात्र “practice”, अभ्यास होता तो युज् धातु क्यों प्रयुक्त होता? जहान योग को “चित्त वृत्ति निरोध” कहा है, उस शास्त्र का मूल दृष्टांत सांख्य है। अतः, “योग” को सांख्य-विज्ञान अनुसार ग्रहण करें। किंचित् भाष्यकार “yog” को discipline कहते हैं। उदाहरणार्थ, Franklin Edgerton (“The Meaning of Sankhya and Yoga”, 1924)। यद्यपि discipline शब्द “practice” शब्द से अधिक उचित है, तथापि यह भी अनघ नहीं। साक्षी भाव वह मनस्तिथि है जिसमें व्यक्ति का अहंकार देह को आत्मा न जान, ब्रह्म पर केंद्रित होता है। ब्रह्म परमात्मा ही जीवात्मा है, मैं शरीर नहीं, जीव नहीं, इनका साक्षी हूँ। इस ज्ञान को धारण करने की अवस्था योग है। इस अवस्था में आसन्न हो, जीव जो भी करेगा, वह योग होगा। इस अवस्था में स्वपरिचय (identity) देह से नहीं, आत्मा से है। ब्रह्म-लीन यदि कर्म करे, तो कर्म योग। उन कृत्यों का फल उसे नहीं लगता। ऐसे ही भक्ति करे, तो सद्भक्ति कहती है। इस अवस्था में राग-द्वेष निरस्त होते हैं। “Practice action” is meaningless. It is the same as saying, “do action”. There is no yoga in that.

  • @Alex722

    @Alex722

    9 ай бұрын

    Raja yoga: Practice meditation in silence

  • @ritswik

    @ritswik

    9 ай бұрын

    @@Alex722 Raja yoga is already embodied in jnana and bhakti yoga. It's a combination of both.

  • @balajicanabady
    @balajicanabady9 ай бұрын

    I am immensely grateful to Ishwara to find your teachings and your elucidation of the concept of nishkama karma, or selfless action. Your explanation of how performing actions without attachment to the results can lead to spiritual liberation has given me much to ponder. Your discourse has inspired me to strive to live a life of selfless service, and I am committed to incorporating the principles of Karma Yoga into my daily life. Thank you again for your wisdom and guidance. I am truly blessed to have you as my Guru. Deepest respect and gratitude Guruji 🙏

  • @thoang101
    @thoang1019 ай бұрын

    Thanks, God, for this lesson.

  • @Venkatramnna
    @Venkatramnna9 ай бұрын

    Ishavara is creator of universe. Thanks ishavara,you created me.

  • @sushamaphanse7505
    @sushamaphanse75059 ай бұрын

    This video is a Great Blessing..such a complex teaching of the Bhagwad Geeta explained so simply but clearly! Words fail me in expressing my Gratitude ..a million Pranams to you Swamiji🙏🙏🙏

  • @embracingmiraclelifewithsu5191
    @embracingmiraclelifewithsu51919 ай бұрын

    Really enjoyed listening. I could totally 💯 resonate everything. It seemed to me that I was just sitting in front of him and receiving all the energy. Really appreciate for the teaching. I am so grateful to God for connecting me with this video teaching. It took me so many years to understand all these. Now I can just feel it. This feeling is so amazing 🤩 as it’s effortless now. So grateful to God for everything. 🙏😊🙏😊🙏😊🙏😊🙏😊❤️😊🙏😊

  • @aarjukr
    @aarjukr2 ай бұрын

    perhaps the most clear explanation if karmyoga one ever comes across… as always.. many thanks swamiji 🙏🙂

  • @kamarajnatesan6516
    @kamarajnatesan65169 ай бұрын

    Swamiji, Namaste Ji. I am your student, Thank you very much for your Teachings particularly for Atma Bodha Videos. All my doubts on Brahma knowledge was cleared by you. I am very thankful to you. The following is my observation: Rishis of India lived during Satya Yuga, Treta Yuga. People were Soul Conscious. Even during Dwapar Yuga people were 50%-25% Soul Conscious. Rama lived during Treta Yuga. Krishna lived at the end of Dwapar Yuga. Bhagavadgita was blessed by Shree Krishna for people living in Kali Yuga, with 25%-0% Soul Conscious and 75%-100% Body Conscious. Karma Yoga for Kali Yuga people who are body Conscious. Even Temple worship in India started only during Kali Yuga for people with body Conscious. Before Kali Yuga it was only Fire Sacrifices.

  • @agnitrambley
    @agnitrambley9 ай бұрын

    The Divine lead me to find this message! Om Shanti, Swamiji ...

  • @chironsthea607
    @chironsthea6075 ай бұрын

    I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to vibe on this rock with you swami. You have brought great joy to my life. As I cultivate states of inner peace and contentment, I am grateful to have your teachings as a guide for us all.

  • @shivakrishna1743
    @shivakrishna17433 ай бұрын

    Thank you Swamiji! After watching the video, I feel, I got into the attitude of a Karma Yogi. Hopefully it will stay forever!

  • @calisthenicsindia8498
    @calisthenicsindia84989 ай бұрын

    पावनं लालनं पितृ-आचार्यरूपिन् गुरो मम । कुर्वतस्ते सदा भक्त्येश्वरात्मन् प्रणमानि हि ।। Oh Guru! to you who entertains ( लालनं through captivating youtube videos) yet purifies (पावनं) me as a parent and a teacher I forever will have to bow down to you as a form of God (ईश्वरात्मन्) with a prayerful attitude. A humble expression of Gods grace as a Thanksgiving to our teacher Swami Tadatmananda 🙏in the form of a humble shloka 😊.

  • @dimaali8530
    @dimaali85309 ай бұрын

    Thanks a lot ❤

  • @marksteven6116
    @marksteven61169 ай бұрын

    Thank you

  • @frankng3111
    @frankng31119 ай бұрын

    Thank you for sharing your wisdom 🙏🙏🙏.

  • @mybabyandme08
    @mybabyandme089 ай бұрын

    Perfect timing 🙏🏽 You’re answering some of my questions I had this morning 🙏🏽

  • @madhurikumari1697
    @madhurikumari16979 ай бұрын

    so nice swamiji Prayerfull attitude towards all my duties All ur videos opens a new chapter of cleansing of mind 🙏 Thankyou 🙇‍♀🌺

  • @kanishkajoshi563
    @kanishkajoshi5639 ай бұрын

    🙏 Thank you Swamiji.

  • @grafinvonhohenembs
    @grafinvonhohenembs9 ай бұрын

    Thank you so much, Swami-ji! 🙏🙏🙏

  • @MrSuniljyothi
    @MrSuniljyothi9 ай бұрын

    Dear Swamiji, thanks so much for such an eloquent and practical lecture on Karma Yoga. I learnt a lot of practical applications of Karma Yoga from this. Jai Shri Krishna🙏

  • @wolfgl5207
    @wolfgl52079 ай бұрын

    thanks for spreading these teachings

  • @Svillase
    @Svillase9 ай бұрын

    So clear! Thank you very much Swamiji

  • @yarisima77
    @yarisima779 ай бұрын

    thank you for this teaching ❤

  • @kanakavallikrishnamurthy5714
    @kanakavallikrishnamurthy57149 ай бұрын

    Wonderful.Thank you Swamiji.🙏

  • @desalinho
    @desalinho9 ай бұрын

    Thanks alot for share this class!

  • @jyotijain2706
    @jyotijain27068 ай бұрын

    🙇‍♀️ thanks for sharing the wisdom

  • @eeliteG
    @eeliteG9 ай бұрын

    Thank you ❤

  • @ellenorense6020
    @ellenorense60209 ай бұрын

    Thank you very much for this guidance, Swamiji.

  • @rajukunjukrishnan472
    @rajukunjukrishnan4729 ай бұрын

    Pranam Guruji 🙏

  • @RobbeyT1
    @RobbeyT12 ай бұрын

    Thank you! I don't know if this is the same as Karma Yoga, but I discovered a way of performing duties without the personal, complaining self getting all upset. First, I realized that thoughts that arise are not controllable, there is No thinker of thoughts, thoughts just happen without permission. Then, as I start a chore I anchor myself in the present moment or mindful-ness in the Now. As action is taking place I remain in presence, there is no past and no future and I'm simply watching the body go through it's actions. So, I'm doing things in pure silence without looking to the past or towards a future outcome/completion of the task. What tends to happen is that impersonal thoughts arise on what needs doing next and this seems to be like an inner guide. I think it's a form of silent meditation but done during activities.

  • @paulamano
    @paulamano9 ай бұрын

    Gratitude to guide us ❤

  • @ozelot911
    @ozelot9119 ай бұрын

    Namaskar Swamiji and thank you for all your dedication 🙏

  • @aspirethrissur4016
    @aspirethrissur40169 ай бұрын

    Thank You Sawmiji.🙏

  • @nirguna4826
    @nirguna48269 ай бұрын

    Truly what you said. Thanks, Swami Tat-atma-ananda! 🙏🌷🌸🌻💛🌞

  • @joaoivanamaraldemacedo6239
    @joaoivanamaraldemacedo62399 ай бұрын

    Divino ❤

  • @elieusable
    @elieusable9 ай бұрын

    Preciosíssima instrução! Gratidão Swami!

  • @mybabyandme08
    @mybabyandme089 ай бұрын

    Beautiful I love your teachings Swamiji. Thank you 🙏🏽

  • @SageAwakens
    @SageAwakens9 ай бұрын

    Dear Swamiji, would you be able to make a video on how we could correctly practice Bhakti? Thank you so much Swamiji 🙏🏽

  • @mybabyandme08

    @mybabyandme08

    9 ай бұрын

    Yes please 🙏🏽

  • @Balcon200
    @Balcon2009 ай бұрын

    Thank you 🙏🙏🙏

  • @premprasun1516
    @premprasun15169 ай бұрын

    I really appreciate your work guruji 🙏🏽, you made atma bodh so easy for me to grasp

  • @ringingthebells307
    @ringingthebells3078 ай бұрын

    Awesome Swamiji Such a beautiful practical explanation

  • @rdb108
    @rdb1084 ай бұрын

    I'm so lucky to have access to this wisdom! Filled-up so many gaps in my understanding and questions that had ben bugging me for too long!! Thank you!! 🙏

  • @caviper1
    @caviper19 ай бұрын

    Gracias Swami

  • @shyammenon1425
    @shyammenon14256 ай бұрын

    Very nice video

  • @globalvoice...
    @globalvoice...9 ай бұрын

    Thank you Guruji for the beautiful explanation 🙏 I wish I could meet you some day in this life. 🌹🏵️🌻

  • @ramanapinnam7520
    @ramanapinnam75208 ай бұрын

    Guruji - Your teachings has been answering my long pending unanswered questions that I was longing for. Namaste!!!

  • @bernardbakala9241
    @bernardbakala92419 ай бұрын

    Thank you Swamiji

  • @shakuntlatalwar7608
    @shakuntlatalwar76089 ай бұрын

    Thank you Swami ji 🙏🏻🙏🏻

  • @tirupathinagoshe8014
    @tirupathinagoshe80149 ай бұрын

    Great swamy 🌷

  • @abiramisenthilkumar7056
    @abiramisenthilkumar70569 ай бұрын

    Isvara... thank you swamiji...

  • @vinodpadincharethil1624
    @vinodpadincharethil16249 ай бұрын

    Thank you swamiji for yet another wonderful video. I request you to kindly make a video on Nirvana Shatakam. Pranam

  • @iansmith9474
    @iansmith94745 ай бұрын

    Can you do a series of the four kinds of yoga: Bhakti, Karma, Raja, Jnana yoga.

  • @bradpool127
    @bradpool1279 ай бұрын

  • @sarasmaniam3449
    @sarasmaniam34498 ай бұрын

    My humble pranams.

  • @sujathavaibav1412
    @sujathavaibav14129 ай бұрын

    Namaskara Pujya Gurugale, What motivates the actions of enlightened person? I kindly request you to make video on this as well. Pranamagalu 🙏🏻

  • @renukabsr6035
    @renukabsr60359 ай бұрын

    🙏🙏

  • @tejsingh1546
    @tejsingh15469 ай бұрын

    Om shanti shanti shanti

  • @angelarapuano1315
    @angelarapuano13159 ай бұрын

    Grazie per questo discorso illuminante ed altruistico ❤ Possiamo dire che il nostro libero arbitrio consiste nella libertà di pensare che siamo noi gli agenti o che è soltanto Dio Colui che agisce ?

  • @gridcoregilry666
    @gridcoregilry6669 ай бұрын

    Ommmm! Thank you, I love to hear condensations of the teachings in videos like these! Defining dharma can be quite hard I think, for example having an open relationship with the spouse, meaning one can date others, is, depending on the reasons and conditions it operates in, also dharma, but for others a vile sin.

  • @adityanihalkumarsingh2116

    @adityanihalkumarsingh2116

    8 ай бұрын

    How can it be dharma if you and your wife date other people? Marriage is sacrosanct.

  • @gridcoregilry666

    @gridcoregilry666

    8 ай бұрын

    @@adityanihalkumarsingh2116 true love isn't about owning the other one but about loving the other one for who that person is and wants to be. It doesn't matter if you date other people if you honestly practice this selfless love, which is the only true and pure egoless love.

  • @adityanihalkumarsingh2116

    @adityanihalkumarsingh2116

    8 ай бұрын

    It is not about owning someone. It’s about loyalty and respect of the relationship you are in. Pure love is only within. And what if the other person is blinded by lust or greed? Then will their choices be in accordance with dharma. Will you still support them? If you don’t want to own your spouse in a relationship, let her go. Why this attachment?

  • @earthwindfireable

    @earthwindfireable

    4 ай бұрын

    This would be lowly desires and dirty passions. Why would anyone on the way to enlightened even be around an open marriage?

  • @samisa00
    @samisa009 ай бұрын

    🙇🏻‍♀️🙏🙇🏻‍♀️

  • @SrikantNaladala
    @SrikantNaladala9 ай бұрын

    ❤🙏

  • @anthonysum1668
    @anthonysum16689 ай бұрын

    Can you do a video on Ramana maharshi and his massive contribution to Vedanta. It is my understanding that his practice of self inquiry is the most direct way of realising the Self and the annihilation of ego.

  • @hershchat

    @hershchat

    9 ай бұрын

    कुबुद्धि मूढ़, एक video series है महर्षि के ग्रंथ पर, उसे देखें।

  • @traceler
    @traceler9 ай бұрын

    Very helpful for practitioners of Tibetan Buddhism , Advaita and non -duality like ACIM and others. Can you teach how to develop Bakhti the easy way?

  • @hariharan4922
    @hariharan49229 ай бұрын

    🙏🙇‍♂️🙇‍♀️🙏

  • @spiritualpracticeg7012
    @spiritualpracticeg70129 ай бұрын

    💓🙏

  • @hershchat
    @hershchat9 ай бұрын

    Krishna says, in chapter 3, “प्रकृते: क्रियमाणानि गुणै: कर्माणि सर्वश: | अहङ्कारविमूढात्मा कर्ताहमिति मन्यते || 27||” … Prakriti is responsible for actions, a deluded fool ascribes doership to himself. Arjun was seen by Krishna as a deluded person.

  • @ind3215
    @ind32158 ай бұрын

    19:54🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

  • @nadigvishwanath2915
    @nadigvishwanath29158 күн бұрын

    🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏❤❤❤❤❤❤🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷

  • @soumen_das
    @soumen_das9 ай бұрын

    how to balance ambitions with spirituality?

  • @manmohanbisht4697
    @manmohanbisht46979 ай бұрын

    Karmyoga is the soul of teachings of lord of lords shri Krishna through his Bhagwad Geeta chapter 2&3 and five of the Bhagwad Geeta are the key for a devotee get hold of Bhagwad Geeta of Geeta press Gorakhpur uttar Pradesh India by ordering online the English and Hindi translation of the Sanskrit text happy reading my Naman and Pranam at the holy feet of Swami jee Jai shri Krishna the vishnu Om Namo Narayan Govindam shri krishnai Namo LtCol Man Mohan Bisht Nahan Himachal Pradesh India

  • @pramilchella5057
    @pramilchella50579 ай бұрын

    Beloved swamiji My humble question.....what is causal body that is karana or karma sarira?? If sushma sarira is a transmigrating entity what is a role of causal body in reincarnation??? If it doesn't have any role in reincarnation why it is called karma sarira?

  • @ind3215
    @ind32158 ай бұрын

    4:00 😂

  • @Quaterzau
    @QuaterzauАй бұрын

    Thank you! Why actually so much focus on Ishwara and not Brahman? Isnt it Brahman living through your body, even through Ishwara?

  • @petarbasic8862
    @petarbasic88629 ай бұрын

    If we are brahman and brahman is omniscient then how are we not omniscient?

  • @gridcoregilry666

    @gridcoregilry666

    9 ай бұрын

    because our minds are limited

  • @Temon0942
    @Temon09429 ай бұрын

    Sir can I get your mail ID I wanted to ask one question

  • @pkbalram640
    @pkbalram6409 ай бұрын

    Non Hindus must be told why Hindu gods and goddesses have more than two hands . They are portrayed like that because it is the only way to show the devotees those many important symbols. God can have no hands or many hands. Non Hindus are so vain .

  • @devchekhov7512

    @devchekhov7512

    8 ай бұрын

    Putting down non-Hindus for not understanding the reasoning behind common artistic expressions of Hindu art does not help anyone, including yourself. Think about what energy you are emitting on a channel dedicated to spiritualized living.

  • @divyanshisharma733
    @divyanshisharma7339 ай бұрын

    Everything that is happening good around is god and something wrong is me.

  • @CualquierCosa__
    @CualquierCosa__9 ай бұрын

    Beautifullllllllll

  • @vallabhyogi
    @vallabhyogi9 ай бұрын

    Thank you Swamiji

  • @Ishita236.
    @Ishita236.9 ай бұрын

  • @alukuhito
    @alukuhito9 ай бұрын

    🙏

  • @rajaiaf
    @rajaiaf9 ай бұрын

  • @tvyas6331
    @tvyas63319 ай бұрын

    🙏