Yoga Research Foundation The Teachings of Sri Swami Jyotirmayananda

One Term at a Time · 13

Karma

कर्म

Action and the result produced by action.

Every action, in thought, word or deed, bears a fruit.

What you do today shapes what comes to you tomorrow.

Swamiji on Karma

Our summary of the lecture passage in the film below. These are our words, not Swamiji's.

Karma means action and the fruit that action brings. The film joins two passages from Swamiji's Bhagavad Gita lectures, and together they follow action to its fruit and then to its purpose. In the first, he describes action moved by desire for its results, with the ego leading. It gathers many good karmas along with some negative ones. When the good karmas predominate, they ripen as great happiness, a state of joy so intense it is called a heaven. But that happiness does not resolve your problems; it only delays them. It is like a dream that has become so interesting you do not want to wake up. In the second passage he turns to duty. You do not have to work out what your duty should be. Like a river that is always there but never the same river, the stream of action flows on. The insight is to do your duties with no sense of contradiction in the mind, fulfilled by knowing that in doing them you are worshipping God.

But no matter how interesting your dream, you have to wake up.

Swami Jyotirmayananda, Srimad Bhagavad Gita, Lesson 74, at 34:03

See also: Samskara, Vāsanā, Guna, The Four Paths, Lesson 4: Life: Accidental or Controlled?

Swamiji teaching it: Sri Swami Jyotirmayananda, Srimad Bhagavad Gita, Lessons 74 (33:16 to 34:07) and 72 (23:34 to 24:23)

One Term at a Time

One Sanskrit term at a time: a short definition, then Swamiji using the word in a lecture.

Start at the beginning: Vāsanā

  1. 01Vāsanāthe trace a desire leaves behind
  2. 02Vairāgyathe loosening of a grip
  3. 03Satsaṅgathe company you keep
  4. 04Vivekatelling the real from what only looks real
  5. 05Brahmanthe one reality behind every object
  6. 06Māyāwhy the world seems so real
  7. 07Jnanathe wisdom that sees through it
  8. 08Sadhanathe practice that carries you there
  9. 09Vicharaasking who you really are
  10. 10Ragathe pull toward what pleases you
  11. 11Dveshathe push away from what displeases you
  12. 12Samskarathe impression each like and dislike leaves on the mind
  13. 13Karmaaction and the result produced by action
  14. 14Gunathe three fundamental modes or qualities of nature
  15. 15Pranalife force; vital energy
  16. 16Samadhideep absorption in truth
  17. 17Jivaindividual self
  18. 18Chittamental process
  19. 19Japarepetition of mantra
  20. 20Dhyanameditation
  21. 21Muktiliberation
  22. 22Dharanaconcentration
  23. 23Atmasoul
  24. 24Bhavanafeeling
  25. 25Jnanithe wise one
  26. 26Sthita-prajnaone established in wisdom
  27. 27Aham brahmasmiI am Brahman
  28. 28Pranayamabreathing exercises
  29. 29Bhaktidevotion
  30. 30Sattwaa harmonious, focused state
  31. 31Rajasa restless, distracted state
  32. 32Tamasinertia
  33. 33Shravanalistening
  34. 34Mananareflection
  35. 35NididhyasanaVedantic meditation
  36. 36Tapasausterity
  37. 37Pratyaharawithdrawal of the senses
  38. 38Swadhyayastudy of scriptures
  39. 39Ishvara Pranidhanasurrender to God
  40. 40Shauchapurity
  41. 41Santoshacontentment
  42. 42Ahimsanon-violence
  43. 43Satyatruthfulness
  44. 44Asteyanon-stealing
  45. 45Brahmacharyacelibacy

What is The Four Paths?

Swami Jyotirmayananda's teaching on the four paths of yoga, in his own words, one short lesson at a time.

What it does for you

Swamiji teaches that the personality has four sides: action, emotion, will and reason. Each path cultivates one of them, and the course covers all four, so none is left out.

  1. Karma Yogaaction unfolds one’s hidden potentialities
  2. Bhakti Yogaemotion cultures the feelings and brings about emotional integration in the personality
  3. Raja Yogawill allows one to develop a strong will and a controlled mind
  4. Jnana Yogareason trains and renders the reason sharp and subtle

In order to succeed, all these four must be cultivated in a balanced and integrated manner.

Swami Jyotirmayananda, The Four Paths, Lesson 3

It is free and comes by email: a lesson every other day, 19 core lessons on action, devotion, meditation and wisdom, then 10 lessons called Going Deeper.

Every lesson is Swamiji's own text, so you learn the four paths from him, not from a summary.

Swamiji teaches karma in Lesson 4 of The Four Paths.

Free. One lesson every other day. Unsubscribe whenever you wish.

Prefer to look first? Read Lesson 1 of The Four Paths.