What is Karma Yoga?

An invaluable part of Ashram life is the practice of Karma Yoga, which loosely translated means "working with awareness". On a mundane level, it is work around the Ashram, such as gardening, cooking, cleaning, whatever needs doing at a particular time. On a deeper level, it is an important aspect of Yoga not to regard work as a chore, but rather as a tool to increase sensitivity and awareness. Whether peeling potatoes, tending the garden, wrestling with some building problem or tackling the smallest of tasks, one strives to keep the mind on what is being done, whilst being totally in the present moment.

This develops a conscious interaction with life situations; willpower and concentration improve measurably and the quality of Meditation is enhanced by removing mental and emotional blockages. It also creatively re-channels energy which has been stored up by Hatha Yoga practice.

To do what is appropriate to be done under a given set of circumstances, to the best of ones ability, without the need for any reward, gratitude or recognition, whilst being totally in the here and now, is the ideal of Karma Yoga.

Karma Yoga is also an effective way of minimising one’s sense of self importance, of feeling in some way "special". This feeling is a major obstacle in going deeper on the Spiritual path, especially the feeling of being spiritually important or special.

As the individual gradually becomes ‘one with the work’ it enables him or her to slip the noose of the ego and to become receptive to the promptings of intuition.

The above is only a brief account of the profound practice of Karma Yoga. For a fuller account which does more justice to this practice, please read ' Karma Yoga - the Yoga of Awareness in Action'.