Happy Holidays Everyone!
I'm stuck at work until around 4pm, but that's okay because I get to talk about one of my favorite things to do!
Before I get into Karma Yoga and what that entails, let's take a look at what karma is:
Take a look at what I bolded...the word "karma" comes from Sanskrit. It means fate, work or action. In regards to our general lives, it means "action entailing its consequences." In laymen's terms, that means: actions that affect our present/future.
Many Yogis will use the word "Seva" instead of "Karma Yoga." Seva means "service" in sanskrit. To me, there is really no difference between the two words, save the extended application of "karma."
At Integral Yoga, Karma Yoga means doing everything in service to the greater good. It doesn't matter what you do. As long as you do it with the purpose of the greater good, then you're a Karma Yogi. Bhakti Yoga, which is based on devotion, is along the same lines but differs in that your "service" and "devotion" will be to a figure, object, or concept (I'm referring to Jesus or Buddha). Karma Yoga is done for the greater good, which can be yourself or a group of people in a certain situation (like the elderly).
Well what's so good about Karma Yoga?
Karma Yoga helps to keep the mind focused and calm and selfless. When you do something for others, there is no feeling like that. Accomplishment is bettering your fellow man is most times better than finding $100 on the ground. Being of service to someone in need is priceless. Being selfless is being closer to the Most High (in whatever form you choose).
Let's face it. There is a recession in this country. Everyone - those with jobs and those without - are struggling to make ends meet. People are losing their houses, cars, you name it, they either lost it or are going to lose it. This makes people depressed, angry, lost, and hopeless.
One of the ways to combat it is through Karma Yoga (volunteering). Regardless of your situation, there is always someone worse than you. Focusing the mind on someone else's good will can take your mind off your negative thoughts and make you feel better as a human being.
Besides, what else can you do when you're broke, down and out but help your fellow man who is worse off so that both of you can feel better, accomplished, more than enough.
I have no time to volunteer. Would charity work?
Yes, giving to a charity is considered Karma Yoga. However, if you don't have the money to give, what else can you do? Donate your time. Donate your resources.
I give to charities. However, it's a daunting task to figure out which charities are really out to help people and which ones are out to help their own pockets. Then there is the annoyance of junk mail that these charities send out every other day. Jeez.
For me, it's just easier to donate your time.
Let me also point out that time does not mean you're whole life. You can do Karma Yoga once a year for 30 minutes. There are people who do Karma Yoga over the phone or even online. It doesn't have to be everyday at all. It also doesn't have to be something super huge. OK...the Red Cross isn't taking volunteers right now. There is always a YMCA, Homeless Shelter, Church, or Yoga/Fitness Place (other than those commercial gyms) that provide internships and karma yoga type jobs.
OK See...I'm ready to help out my fellow man/woman/child/animal. Where do I start?
Start at home. I don't mean "clean your house." That isn't Karma Yoga (even though I believed it was for a long time). If you have a child, start at their school. If you go to school, start at your school. Go to church? Look there. A member of a Yoga Studio or Wellness Center? There you go. Join a Food Co-op! That's a great start to get healthy AND do some Karma Yoga.
A lot of us want to save people on a grand scale. We want to help domestic violence victims (like I do), or single mothers, or victims of Hurricane Katrina. There's nothing wrong with that at all...but why don't you start with a local chapter of an organization? Think about it.
Seva and Karma Yoga shouldn't be something you just jump into. It's good to do research and make sure it's something that you WANT to be a part of and not out of obligation. Intention is very important in everything you do.
Here are a couple of links to help you get started:
So until next time...stay strong, stay healthy, and fight dis-ease! (UK and Canada, I see you)
I'm stuck at work until around 4pm, but that's okay because I get to talk about one of my favorite things to do!
Before I get into Karma Yoga and what that entails, let's take a look at what karma is:
- kar·ma
- Pronunciation:
- \ˈkär-mə also ˈkər-\
- Function:
- noun
- Etymology:
- Sanskrit karma fate, work
- Date:
- 1827
1often capitalized : the force generated by a person's actions held in Hinduism and Buddhism to perpetuate transmigration and in its ethical consequences to determine the nature of the person's next existence2: vibration 4— kar·mic\-mik\ adjective
taken from the Miriam-Websters Dictionary online.
Many Yogis will use the word "Seva" instead of "Karma Yoga." Seva means "service" in sanskrit. To me, there is really no difference between the two words, save the extended application of "karma."
At Integral Yoga, Karma Yoga means doing everything in service to the greater good. It doesn't matter what you do. As long as you do it with the purpose of the greater good, then you're a Karma Yogi. Bhakti Yoga, which is based on devotion, is along the same lines but differs in that your "service" and "devotion" will be to a figure, object, or concept (I'm referring to Jesus or Buddha). Karma Yoga is done for the greater good, which can be yourself or a group of people in a certain situation (like the elderly).
Well what's so good about Karma Yoga?
Karma Yoga helps to keep the mind focused and calm and selfless. When you do something for others, there is no feeling like that. Accomplishment is bettering your fellow man is most times better than finding $100 on the ground. Being of service to someone in need is priceless. Being selfless is being closer to the Most High (in whatever form you choose).
Let's face it. There is a recession in this country. Everyone - those with jobs and those without - are struggling to make ends meet. People are losing their houses, cars, you name it, they either lost it or are going to lose it. This makes people depressed, angry, lost, and hopeless.
One of the ways to combat it is through Karma Yoga (volunteering). Regardless of your situation, there is always someone worse than you. Focusing the mind on someone else's good will can take your mind off your negative thoughts and make you feel better as a human being.
Besides, what else can you do when you're broke, down and out but help your fellow man who is worse off so that both of you can feel better, accomplished, more than enough.
I have no time to volunteer. Would charity work?
Yes, giving to a charity is considered Karma Yoga. However, if you don't have the money to give, what else can you do? Donate your time. Donate your resources.
I give to charities. However, it's a daunting task to figure out which charities are really out to help people and which ones are out to help their own pockets. Then there is the annoyance of junk mail that these charities send out every other day. Jeez.
For me, it's just easier to donate your time.Let me also point out that time does not mean you're whole life. You can do Karma Yoga once a year for 30 minutes. There are people who do Karma Yoga over the phone or even online. It doesn't have to be everyday at all. It also doesn't have to be something super huge. OK...the Red Cross isn't taking volunteers right now. There is always a YMCA, Homeless Shelter, Church, or Yoga/Fitness Place (other than those commercial gyms) that provide internships and karma yoga type jobs.
OK See...I'm ready to help out my fellow man/woman/child/animal. Where do I start?
Start at home. I don't mean "clean your house." That isn't Karma Yoga (even though I believed it was for a long time). If you have a child, start at their school. If you go to school, start at your school. Go to church? Look there. A member of a Yoga Studio or Wellness Center? There you go. Join a Food Co-op! That's a great start to get healthy AND do some Karma Yoga.
A lot of us want to save people on a grand scale. We want to help domestic violence victims (like I do), or single mothers, or victims of Hurricane Katrina. There's nothing wrong with that at all...but why don't you start with a local chapter of an organization? Think about it.
Seva and Karma Yoga shouldn't be something you just jump into. It's good to do research and make sure it's something that you WANT to be a part of and not out of obligation. Intention is very important in everything you do.
Here are a couple of links to help you get started:
- Idealist.org - a great website to find volunteer/internships (paid and otherwise)
- If you are in the NYC area, then take a look at these sites and contact the persons in charge to find out more:
- Embora Wellness and Movement Studio - they are always looking for interns to help out at the front desk. You can get free classes in return (Brooklyn).
- Integral Yoga Institute - their Work Exchange Program is excellent. I was a Karma Yogi there for 6 months. When I did Karma Yoga again recently, I missed it so much that after Yoga Teacher Training, I'm going to make it a point to do it again, at least once a week (like I don't practically live at this place already!). IYI is located in Manhattan.
- The Mayor's Volunteer Center - a great site for New Yorker's to find volunteer work in different areas, within many areas of interest.
So until next time...stay strong, stay healthy, and fight dis-ease! (UK and Canada, I see you)
