Training of Karma Yoga

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A raw untrained aspirant feels, " My preceptor is treating me like a

servant or a peon. He is using me for petty jobs. " He who has

understood the right significance of Karma Yoga will take every work

as Yogic activity or worship of the Lord. There is no menial work in

his vision. Every work is Puja of Narayana. In the light of Karma

Yoga all actions are sacred. That aspirant who always takes immense

delight in doing works which are considered by the worldly man as

menial services, and who always does willingly such acts only will

become a dynamic Yogi. He will be absolutely free from conceit and

egoism. He will have no downfall. The canker of pride cannot touch

him.

 

Study the autobiography of Mahatma Gandhiji. He never made any

difference between menial service and dignified work. Scavenging and

cleaning of the latrine was the highest Yoga for him. This was the

highest Puja for him. He himself did the cleaning of latrines. He

annihilated the illusory little 'I' through service of various sorts.

Many highly educated persons joined his Ashram for learning Yoga

under him. They thought that Gandhiji would teach them Yoga in some

mysterious manner in a private room and would give lessons on

Pranayama, meditation, abstration, awakening of Kundalini, etc. They

were disappointed when they were asked to clean the latrine first.

They left the Ashram immediately. Gandhiji himself repaired his

shoes. He himself used to grind flour and take upon his shoulders the

work of others also when they were unable to do their allotted

portion of work for the day in the Ashram. When an educated person, a

new Ashramite, felt shy to do the grinding work, Gandhiji himself

would do his work in front of him and then the man would do the work

himself from the next day willingly.

 

In the West, cobblers and peasants have risen to a very great

position in society. Every work is a respectable work for them. A boy

applies polish to the boots in the streets of London for a penny,

carries newspapers and journals in the afternoon for sale and works

as an apprentice under a journalist during his leisure hours at

night. He studies books, works hard, never wastes a minute and in a

few years becomes a journalist of great repute and international

fame. In Punjab some graduates have taken to hair-dressing work. They

have understood the dignity of labour.

 

A real Yogi does not make any difference between menial and

respectable work. It is only an ignorant man who makes such a

difference. Some aspirants are humble in the beginning of their

spiritual career. When they get some name and fame, some followers,

admirers, devotees and disciples, they become victims to pride.

 

They cannot do any service. They cannot carry anything on their heads

or hands. That Yogi who carries the trunk on his head without the

slightest feeling in the railway platform amidst a multitude of his

admirers, disciples and devotees, without making any outward show of

humility must be adored. Sage Jada Bharata carried the palanquin of

King Rahugana on his shoulders without murmuring. Lord Krishna

shampooed the legs of a Raja when his barber devotee was on leave.

Sri Rama carried a pot of water for the ablution of one of his

devotees. Sri Krishna took the form of a menial servant as Vithoo and

paid the money to the Nawab on behalf of his devotee, Dhamaji. If you

really want to grow in the spiritual path you must do all sorts of

service daily till the end of 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 be ingrained in you. Then only you will become a real

fullblown practical Vedantin.

 

Is there any greater Vedantin or Karma Yogi than Lord Buddha? He

still lives in our hearts, because the spirit of service was

ingrained in him and he spent his whole life in serving others in a

variety of ways. 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 attitude.

 

(Source: Essence of Yoga by Sri Swami Sivananda)