Not just benevolent work...
Lama Sangyay Tendzin invites all devotees staying at or visiting TNG-Centre® to contribute to its maintenance and development through daily participation in karma yoga activities. This is a reequirement. To this aim, Lama invites all local non-residents to visit the Garden of Happiness and practice karma yoga once a week. Practically, this means that he invites all sangha members to practice and develop mindfulness while performing some needed duties for the welfare of the Centre.
WHAT IS KARMA YOGA ?
Karma Yoga is performance of actions dwelling in union with one's true nature. Karma Yoga is therefore a training in accomplishing actions endowed with the triple seal of emptiness, clarity and compassion. The actions are carried with eveness as one keeps a mind free of the emotions usually experienced when experiencing success or failure. One does then practice mindfulness and letting go to complete the activity with the wisdom of non-attachment.
Karma Yoga is the Yoga of action which purifies the heart and prepares the yogi for the reception of the blessings, which will progressively lead to the realization of 'Rang-Tong', the emptiness of Self. The main point to start with, is that one must serve the community without any attachment or egoism.
Action of some kind or another is unavoidable. You cannot keep quiet without doing anything. What binds you to phenomenal existence or Samsara is not the action but the idea of doership and enjoyership. Karma binds when it is done with a selfish motivation based on the expectation of rewarding. Only when an action is done without this expectation rewarding, is it fully liberating.
The practice of Karma Yoga prepares the aspirant for the reception of knowledge of the Self. It makes one a proper vessel to receive the teachings on wisdom.
Ignorant people jump at once to Jnana Yoga, without first having a preliminary training in Karma Yoga. That is the reason why they fail miserably to realize the Truth. Their mind is filled with likes and dislikes, as well as with the related emotions of grasping, jealousy, etc. Consequently, these emotions lead them again and again to indulge in all sorts of useless controversies, vain debates and dry, endless discussions. Selfless service is the only way to remove the impurities lurking in the mind.
Two things are indissociable from the practice of Karma Yoga:
1. The Karma Yogi should have non-attachment towards the fruits of his actions.
2. He will have to dedicate his actions at the end with the feeling of great compassion.
Non-attachment brings freedom from sorrow and fear. The heavy load which was felt previously on account of false notion has vanished out of sight now.
QUALIFICATIONS OF A KARMA YOGIN(I)
A Karma Yogin(i) should be absolutely free from lust, greed, anger and egoism. In the eventuality that there are traces of these conflicting emotions on his/her mind, he/she should try to remove them.
A Karma Yogin(i) should not expect any kind of fruits for their actions herein and hereafter.
A Karma Yogin(i) should not have any desire for name and fame, approbation, thirst for applause, admiration and gratitude.
A Karma Yogin(i) should try to possess this gradually. He/she should be humble and free from hatred, jealousy, harshness, etc.
A Karma Yogin(i) should always speak gentle words.
A Karma Yogin(i) should be absolutely fearless.
A Karma Yogin(i) should have a vast heart.
A Karma Yogin(i) should be free from crookedness, meanness, miserliness and selfishness.
A Karma Yogin(i) should be absolutely free from greed, anger and egoism.
A Karma Yogin(i) should have an amiable, loving social nature.
A Karma Yogin(i) should be able to move and mix with everybody without distinction of caste, creed or colour.
A Karma Yogin(i) should have perfect adaptability, tolerance, sympathy, cosmic love and mercy.
A Karma Yogin(i) should be able to adjust with the habits and ways of others.
A Karma Yogin(i) should have an all-embracing and an all-inclusive heart.
A Karma Yogin(i) should always have a cool balanced mind and mindfulness too.
A Karma Yogin(i) should have equal vision.
A Karma Yogin(i) should rejoice in the welfare of others.
A Karma Yogin(i) should lead a very simple life.
A Karma Yogin(i) should bear insult, disrespect, dishonour, censure, infamy, disgrace, harsh words, heat, cold and the pain of diseases.
A Karma Yogin(i) should have absolute faith in him/herself, in the three Jewels, in the scriptures and in the words of his Guru.
A Karma Yogin(i) should burn selfishness to the very root.
BENEFITS OF KARMA YOGA
By doing selfless service you purify your heart. Egoism, hatred, jealousy, ideas of superiority and all the kindred negative qualities will vanish. You will develop humility, pure love, sympathy, tolerance and mercy. Sense of separateness will be annihilated. Selfishness will be eradicated. You will get a broad and liberal outlook on life. You will begin to feel oneness and unity. Eventually you will obtain knowledge of the Self.
Generally people are impatient and they expect Siddhis after doing a little service. The real Karma Yogi(i) who serves people with humility and sees the pure buddha nature in everyone, becomes a real ruler of the world. He/she is honoured and respected by all. The more service you do with this pure outlook, the more power, energy and capacity you get. Practice this and feel the transformation of your mind.
If you really want to grow in the spiritual path you must do all sorts of service daily till the end of your life. Then only you are safe. Do not stop doing service when you have become a famous Yogin(i). The spirit of service must enter every nerve, cell, tissue and bone of your body. It must become ingrained in you. Then only you will become a real, full-blown, Dharma practitioner. Is there any greater Karma Yogin than Lord Buddha? He still lives in our hearts, because that spirit of service was ingrained in Him and He spent His whole life in serving others in a variety of ways. You can become a Buddha if you apply yourself diligently to selfless service with the right mental attitude.
Action of some kind or the other is unavoidable. You cannot keep quiet without doing anything. What binds you to phenomenal existence or Samsara is not the action but the idea of doership and enjoyership. Karma binds when it is done with a selfish motive, with the expectation of fruits. But when action is done without the expectation of fruits, it is liberating. If you act as an instrument in the hands of the Lord, as a participant in the cosmic activity of Nature, without expectation of fruits, that Karma will not bind you. Karma, then becomes Karma Yoga. Work unselfishly. Feel that you are only an instrument and that the Lord is working through you. Surrender the actions and their fruits to the Lord. You will be freed from the bonds of Karma and enjoy peace.
The practice of Karma Yoga prepares the aspirant for the reception of knowledge of the Self. It makes him a proper Adhikari (aspirant) for the study of Vedanta. Ignorant people jump at once to Jnana Yoga, without first having a preliminary training in Karma Yoga. That is the reason why they fail miserably to realize the Truth. Various impurities lurk in the fourfold mind (Antahkarana). The mind is filled with likes and dislikes, jealousy, etc. They only talk of Brahman. They indulge in all sorts of useless controversies, vain debates and dry, endless discussions. Their philosophy is only on their lips. In other words, they are lip-Vedantins. What is really wanted is practical Vedanta through ceaseless, selfless service. Selfless service is the only way to remove the impurities lurking in the mind.
Two things are indispensably requisite in the practice of Karma Yoga. The Karma Yogi should have non-attachment to the fruits of actions. He will have to dedicate his actions at the altar of God with the feeling of Ishvararpana. Non-attachment brings freedom from sorrow and fear. Non-attachment makes a man absolutely bold and fearless. When he dedicates his actions at the Lotus Feet of the Lord, he develops devotion to God and approaches Him nearer and nearer. He gradually feels that God works directly through his Indriyas or instruments. He feels no strain or burden in discharge of his works now. He is quite at ease. The heavy load which he felt previously on account of false notion has vanished out of sight now.
QUALIFICATIONS OF A KARMA YOGI
A Karma Yogi should be absolutely free from lust, greed, anger and egoism. Even if there are traces of these Doshas, he should try to remove them. He should not expect any kind of fruits for his actions herein and hereafter. He should not have any desire for name and fame, approbation, thirst for applause, admiration and gratitude. He must have a spotless character. He should try to possess this gradually. He should be humble and free from hatred, jealousy, harshness, etc. He should always speak sweet words. How can a proud and jealous man, who expects respect and honour from others, serve others ? He should be absolutely fearless. A timid man is absolutely unfit for Karma Yoga. He is fit to assist his wife in cleaning utensils in the kitchen in the morning and in washing her clothes in the evening.
A Karma Yogi should have large heart. He should be free from crookedness, meanness, miserliness and selfishness. He should be absolutely free from greed, anger and egoism.
A Karma Yogi should have an amiable, loving social nature. He should be able to move and mix with everybody without distinction of caste, creed or colour. He should have perfect adaptability, tolerance, sympathy, cosmic love and mercy. He should be able to adjust with the habits and ways of others. He should have an all-embracing and an all-inclusive heart. He should always have a cool and balanced mind. He should have presence of mind also. He should have equal vision. He should rejoice in the welfare of others. A man who is easily irritable and who can easily be offended for trifling things is absolutely unfit for the path of Karma Yoga. He should have all the organs under perfect control. He should lead a very simple life. He should bear insult, disrespect, dishonour, censure, infamy, disgrace, harsh words, heat, cold and the pain of diseases. He should have absolute faith in himself, in God, in scriptures and in the words of hid Guru. If he leads a life of luxury, if he wants everything for himself, how can he share his possessions with others ? He should burn his selfishness to the very root. Let me remind you the words of the Gita: "Restraining and subduing the senses, regarding everything equally, rejoicing in the welfare of all, these alone come to Me." Such a man becomes a good Karma Yogi and reaches the goal quickly.
BENEFITS OF KARMA YOGA
By doing selfless service you purify your heart. Egoism, hatred, jealousy, ideas of superiority and all the kindred negative qualities will vanish. You will develop humility, pure love, sympathy, tolerance and mercy. Sense of separateness will be annihilated. Selfishness will be eradicated. You will get a broad and liberal outlook on life. You will begin to feel oneness and unity. Eventually you will obtain knowledge of the Self. You will realize One in all and All in one.
Generally people are impatient and they expect Siddhis after doing a little service. The real Karma Yogi who serves people with humility and Atma Bhava (seeing God in every face) becomes a real ruler of the world. He is honoured and respected by all. The more service you do with Atma Bhava the more power, energy and capacity you get. Practice this and feel.
If you really want to grow in the spiritual path you must do all sorts of service daily till the end of your life. Then only you are safe. Do not stop doing service when you have become a famous Yogi. The spirit of service must enter every nerve, cell, tissue and bone of your body. It must become ingrained in you. Then only you will become a real, full-blown, practical Vedantin. Is there any greater Vedantin or Karma Yogi than Lord Buddha ? He still lives in our hearts, because that spirit of service was ingrained in him and he spent his whole life in serving others in a variety of ways. He is indeed a magnanimous soul, one without a second. You can also become a Buddha if you apply yourself diligently to selfless service with the right mental attitudKarma Yoga is the performance of actions dwelling in union with one's true nature, removing attachment and remaining balanced ever in success
