Gita 3 Karma Yoga (Path of Selfless Action)

1. Introduction and summary of Chapter 3- The Yoga of Action (Karma Yoga)
2. Reading the chapter 3- The Yoga of Action (Gandhi's Gita, Sivananda):
3. Key topics:
   1. Verses 1-8: Karma Yoga: act because it is your obligation, but do it in a detached way, without expecting the fruit of the actions
   2. Verses 9-16: Yoga is work done without the desire to enjoy its fruits. The world needs Yajna (sacrifice)
   3. Verses 17-24: God and the enlightened sage work for the well-being of all humanity
   4. Verses 25-35: Differences between the ignorant and the wise. Need to work without attachment or dislike
   5. Verses 36-43: How to overcome anger and greed
4. Reading the versified adaptation of this chapter
5. Analysis of each shloka and their comments from chapter 3 (Gita Makaranadam by Swami Vidya Prakashananda)
6. Readings by Swami Vivekananda and Sri Ramakrishna related to the chapter
7. Exercises of Chapter 3- Karma Yoga

Outline of Chapter 3- The Yoga of Action (Karma Yoga):

The student begins the study of the third chapter, the Yoga of Action (Karma Yoga): the path of selfless action, that is, acting but without expecting the fruit of the actions.

In this chapter Sri Krishna offers Arjuna a clear answer to his fear of committing without if he killed his relatives. Arjuna was hesitant about the need to engage in action even knowing the imperishable nature of Atman.

Sri Krishna's response was clear:

Although Arjuna had not yet realized the Absolute Reality, his obligation was to perform the actions, not to stop participating in them (“action is superior to inaction”). But he had to act with detachment from the fruit of actions and do it with Devotion (Bhakti Yoga), as a divine offering.

Sankhya Yoga, Sankhya Yoga Philosophy

That is, the path of Karma Yoga allows a person to fulfill his worldly obligations (a normal man) while trying to achieve higher spiritual goals.

This chapter also introduces a capital theme: The need to act for the good of the world and humanity.

To Mahatma Gandhi:

To Sri Ramakrishna:

Karma Yoga (by Swami Vivekananda)

To Swami Sivananda:

The four Paths of Yoga

For Swami Vivekananda, the Karma Yoga is the purification of the mind through work.

The rest of this summary on “Karma Yoga” is only available to students of the Gita Institute

Chapter 3, verse 4 (Swami Vidya Prakashananda)

Path of Wisdom, Jnana (Knowledge of Atman), Renunciation of action, Gita and business

Example: Chapter 3, verse 43 (Gita Makaranadam by Swami Vidya Prakashananda)

(c) Gita Institute

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