The Gita teaches karma yoga. All work must be done with concentration (yoga). In such concentration in action (karma yoga), there is no consciousness of the lower ego present. The consciousness that "I am doing work" is never present when one works through yoga.When we work with concentration, losing all consciousness of ourselves, the work that is done is infinitely better. Every one may have experienced this in their own lives.
We do many things unconsciously, such as the digestion of food etc. We do other things consciously, and some things we do by becoming immersed in Samadhi, as it were, when there is no consciousness of the ego. If painters lose the consciousness of their egos and become completely immersed in painting, they will be able to produce masterpieces. Good cooks concentrate their whole self on the food-material they handle; they lose all other consciousness for the time being. But people are able to work perfectly in this way only in fields they specialize in. The Gita teaches that every work should be done in that way. Those who are one with the Lord through Yoga do all work by becoming immersed in concentration. They do not seek any personal benefit. Such a performance of work brings only good to the world, no evil can come out of it. Those who work thus never do anything for themselves.
The result of every work is mixed with good and evil. There is no good work that has not a touch of evil in it. Like smoke round the fire, some evil always clings to work. We should engage in those activities that bring the largest amount of good and the smallest amount of evil. One example of this is the killing of Bhishma and Drona by Arjuna. If this had not been done, Duryodhana could not have been conquered, the force of evil would have triumphed over the force of good, and thus a great calamity would have fallen on the country. The government of the country would have been usurped by a body of proud unrighteous kings, to the great misfortune of the people. Another example is the killing of Kamsa, Jarasandha, and other tyrants by Sri Krishna. Not a single one of Krishna’s deeds was done for himself. Every one of them was for the good of others.
We are reading the Gita by candle-light but, at the same time, many insects are being burnt to death. Thus it is seen that some evil clings to even good work no matter what. Those who work without any consciousness of their lower ego are not affected with evil, for they work for the good of the world. To work without motive, to work unattached, brings the highest bliss and freedom. This secret of karma yoga is taught by Sri Krishna in the Gita.
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Karma Yoga is taught these days as "Power of Now"...
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Vivekananda's Quote of the Day
Why are people so afraid? The answer is that they have made themselves helpless and dependent on others. We are so lazy, we do not want to do anything ourselves. We want a Personal God, a Savior or a Prophet to do everything for us.
