Karma-Yoga" is a spiritual concept popularized by Swami Vivekananda, one of the most influential spiritual leaders of India in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Vivekananda was a key figure in introducing Indian philosophies of Vedanta and Yoga to the Western world.
Karma-Yoga is one of the paths to spiritual enlightenment outlined in Hindu philosophy, particularly in the Bhagavad Gita, a sacred text within Hinduism. The term "Karma" means action or deed, and "Yoga" means union or discipline. In Karma-Yoga, the emphasis is on selfless action and performing one's duties without attachment to the results.
Swami Vivekananda emphasized the importance of Karma-Yoga as a means to achieve spiritual growth and fulfillment. According to him, by performing one's duties with a selfless attitude and dedicating the results to a higher ideal or to humanity, individuals can attain spiritual liberation.
Key principles of Karma-Yoga as advocated by Swami Vivekananda include:
Selfless Action: Performing actions without attachment to the results, considering duty as paramount.
Detachment from Results: Focusing on the action itself rather than being preoccupied with the outcomes or rewards.
Dedicating Actions to a Higher Ideal: Offering one's actions to a higher purpose or to the service of humanity, considering them as offerings to the Divine.
Equality of Mind: Maintaining equanimity in success and failure, praise and criticism, recognizing the transient nature of worldly phenomena.
Freedom from Ego: Cultivating humility and recognizing the interconnectedness of all beings.
Through Karma-Yoga, individuals strive to purify their minds, overcome selfish desires, and realize their true nature beyond the limitations of the ego. Swami Vivekananda believed that by practicing Karma-Yoga, individuals could attain spiritual realization and ultimately achieve liberation (moksha) from the cycle of birth and death.
Overall, Karma-Yoga as expounded by Swami Vivekananda emphasizes the integration of spiritual principles into daily life and the transformation of ordinary actions into acts of devotion and service.
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