Today we are talking about karma yoga. Yoga roughly translates as union. It’s like self-discipline in a way, but focused more on personal development than goal striving. In fact, the absence of goal striving is the key element behind karma yoga.

The word karma draws its origin from the Sanskrit word kri, meaning action. Karma refers to action and its aftermath as well. In understanding karma, one isn’t just building up some arbitrary system of moral judgements. If one were looking for a clearly stated body of moral philosophy, they would have to look elsewhere.

It’s very contextual? Well, it’s the realization of context, and growing in ones understanding of the context in which all action occurs, your own and those around you as well. According to karma yoga, though you may not have intended a particular outcome, if that outcome arose because of your actions it becomes part of your karmic burden. The concept of karmic burden is not a simple list of one’s “sins.” Good karma is as much a part of your karmic burden as bad karma is, and both have to play out before you can arrive at liberation.

So your karmic burden consists of both positive karma and negative karma, each influence creating a complimentary impression. This is why they both act as a burden on the individual.

So doing good deeds can delay nirvana? Yes. You may have done a good deed and by your actions assisted a negative outcome, or do a bad deed and by your interference spurred positive action.

So to achieve nirvana, do nothing? Actually, no.

As if any active engagement is still engagement? Indeed, it is still engagement.

You can help someone who intends to use your help to bad ends. Even if you didn’t know that, that outcome is still linked to your choice, and likely impacts your awareness as well. Ever help someone and regret it later? That is a simple manifestation of the principle.

Your thoughts are welcome. Be well friends.

Travis Saunders
Dragon Intuitive
~science,mysticism,spirituality~