Quality # 7: Philosophy of Karma
“karmany evadhikaras te
ma phalesu kadachana
ma karma-phala-hetur bhur
ma te sango ’stv akarmani” (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter Two verse 47)
Sri Krishna says, “You have a right to perform your prescribed duty, but you are not entitled to the fruits of action. Never consider yourself the cause of the results of your activities, and never be attached to not doing your duty.”
As the divine messenger Lord Krishna stressed on the importance of Dharma (Righteousness) and good Karma (Deeds) as a way to attain Moksha (salvation). According to him joy, sorrow, grief, happiness are all maya (illusion); and only the love between God and the devotee is real.
He defined four kinds of actions or karma that a human can perform – these included Kamya Karma- actions performed for selfish gains, Nishiddha Karma- or actions forbidden by holy texts and scriptures, Nitya Karma or actions that must be performed daily and Naimittika Karma-Actions that must be performed on certain special occasions.
(To be concluded)
