YOGA, OF LIFE

YOGA, OF LIFE

Qaisar*

YOGA, A WAY OF LIFE

The present day is said to be day of stress, conflicts, unrest and a very dynamic one. Due to the improvement in science and technology, men are now living in a very fast moving and fast changing world. They even don’t want to know about or relate with his/her neighbor. This has occurred due to the change in life style, customs, values and decrease in following the ritual practices. Since people are also not willing to follow some approaches for the upliftment of oneself and harmonious living with others, the world is now experiencing lots of stress and disrupted and/or unfaithful relationships.

Yoga is one approach or the philosophy of life, which can help an individual live happily with one- self and also with fellow beings. Yoga is not that which can be practiced only by those rishis, who live in forest and perform penance. It is a way of life that can be practiced or followed in our day-to-day life. It is the one-pointed ness or the selfawareness (Ekagrata) in whatever we do or say. Though there are various paths of yoga, this paper will deal with what is Karma yoga, Bhakthi yoga and Jnana yoga and how they can be practiced as a way of life, in this Kali Yuga.

What is Karma Yoga?

Karma is a Sanskrit term. It means action or deed. Karma means not only action, but

also the result of the action. Karma is the path of self-transcending action or the path of

action. We practice Karma yoga whenever we perform our work and live our lives in a

selfless fashion and as a way to serve others. This awareness of action leads to a greater

ability to manage mental associations in the form of desires, ambitions, ego and other

personality complexes.

Karma Yoga is a Sadhana and not a practice. The state of Karma Yogi can be

attained through Seva or selfless involvement in all activities and to serve humanity

without any attachment or egoism. Since there is a quoting of Satya Sai Baba as, “Hands

that help are more holier than the lips that pray’’, we can understand the holiness of

Karma yoga. Since Karma yoga is said to be the yoga of action, few things, which we do

in our life, can be focused. As Lord Krishna in Gita told, “ Do your duty and never expect

for the results”, it is with regard to karma yoga, because for a person who perform some

work with an expectation, may develop an anxiety or apprehension of the result. So just

for that sake of keeping the mind unwavering, it was told not to expect for the results of

one’s action. Simply to say one should do without the thought of doer ship.

As a part of practicing Karma yoga, one should be ready to serve others, live

harmoniously with others. Also one should stop criticizing or hating others, even the

sinners/evildoers, because no one is sacred in this world and to hate others is like hating

one’s own self in other form. For this quality to develop, one must try to see the bad in

oneself and good in others. Also one must always remember that to abuse others is like

cleaning the sins of others with one’s tongue. In practicing practical Karma yoga one

should also have a check with the food they eat and their sleeping patterns. With regard

to food one must consume less quantity of food. Heterogeneity in dishes increases the

longing to eat, prompts the senses and makes one’s mind waver. So one must remember

that food is meant for the disease called hunger. When sleeping is concerned, one should

follow a schedule of how many hours to sleep, because to sleep is to waste the precious

time of our life and it is just to give rest to the body. So avoiding sleep for more time,

than what is necessary is a practical yoga. So by practicing these one can be a good

karma yogi and can purify your heart. Egoism, hatred, jealousy, ideas of superiority and

all the kindred negative qualities will vanish. People will develop humility, pure love,

sympathy, tolerance and mercy. Sense of separateness will be annihilated. Selfishness

will be eradicated. Everyone will begin to feel oneness and unity and will realize One in

all and All in one.