Karma Yoga 2.0

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Karma Yoga 2.0

By Mark Stavish

As many of you are aware, there are four forms of traditional yoga: Jhana, Bhakti, Raja, and Karma that form the foundation for the various yogic practices. These four areas of practice the means of practice that we can use to achieve union with our ideal, and thereby, spiritual awakening. Jhana Yoga is realization through study that reveals to us wisdom. Bhakti Yoga is realization through devotion to an ideal, be it in the form of the teacher (hence the practice of Guru Yoga) as well as an ideal, giving rise to many of the missionary forms of religious and spiritual practice. Raja Yoga is a methodical study of the mind as well as karma, or “cause and effect”. It is directly experiential and aimed at the very essence of being like a laser beam. While Jhana Yoga uses our intellect as the tool for awakening, Bhakti yoga uses our emotions, with Raja Yoga using the nature of mind itself, Karma Yoga uses the body and its effects as the tool and the path.

Karma Yoga is described as the “yoga of work”. This means that the person undertaking Karma Yoga consciously undertakes a task as a means of furthering their illumination, and that of others, even though the fruits from that labor will be very material in their expression. For example, it is very common for attendees at a Buddhist retreat center to pay their daily fees for room, board, and teachings, and still undertake a variety of chores to maintain the facility. Cutting grass, helping prepare meals, building maintenance, and cleaning the temple are all aspects of Karma Yoga. Some will even list it on their retreat schedules as such.

However, for those who cannot attend these kinds of events, but still wish to support their teacher, lodge, or school in some fashion, what can they do? Technology has made volunteering easier, particularly in the area of creating publications, videos, and educational tools. Reliable international shipping is also a powerful tool for the creation, transportation, and utilization of various ritual tools, works of art, and highly rare and valuable specialty items connected to the Work. Thus, it is very easy for someone in Thailand to send me, in the eastern United States of America, several pounds of antimony for alchemical work, or someone in Europe to send rare esoteric texts. Modern technology has freed us from the need to be physically present, or within a few hours distance, to be of assistance to the spiritual teachers, groups, and movements that are of assistance to us on our Path of Return.

OM Times is a leading voice of the Conscious Community with articles covering the full spectrum of Conscious Living. Click here to see all we share.