Application of
Karma Yoga in the measurement and management of
natural tendencies within man
Satish Kumar Menon
A brief and practical summary of the Karma
Yoga principles is outlined and used to define a
set of behavioral characteristics of people that
aid in the natural evolution to a higher order
life of values. It is proposed to measure these
characteristics through a questionnaire designed
for the purpose and to then visually depict them
on a ‘Prakrithi Circumplex’. It is believed that
an easy to interpret graphical representation
will help individuals physically visualize their
inherent tendencies and compare and contrast
them with accepted social and religious norms.
This feedback mechanism should help individuals
rectify negative impressions and enhance
positive ones to propel them on to higher strata
of exemplary behavior and performance in this
world, for sustained individual as well as
universal growth and harmony.
Karma Yoga
Karma Yoga explains the
importance of doing work that is
discriminatory and righteous in nature. In
order to clarify the position the nature of such
actions are also explained. Table 1 gives a
summary of the prescriptions enumerated in the
third Chapter of the Bhagavad Gita.
Employing dispassion and
discrimination and engaging in truthful
and rightful occupations that are
obligatory and of service to fellow
beings is the prescribed course of action. These
actions nourish and are nourished by the seed of
wisdom implanted at the origin of life by
the Creator. Conscientious actions that
replenish the inner faculties and skills of man
are bound to produce right effects that enhance
the productive potential within, thereby
uplifting man to higher realms of performance.
Unselfish actions
(sacrifices) are the basis for the existence and
maintenance of this universe and are the true
reflections of divinity. Individuals and
mankind are bound to prosper and evolve into
lofty planes of Godliness through the sustained
actions of dispassionate and inspiring
leaders who provide the impetus and synergy to
uplift societies and nations.
Diligent practice of
righteousness, relentless guarding against
the myrmidons of selfish desires and hatred,
identification of aptitudes and the
discharge of prescribed duties are
paramount for the evolutionary ascent of the
personality of individuals. This also needs the
true understanding of the nature of the root
cause of the twin enemies of man –
selfishness (ego) and anger – which are the
expression of impressions stored in the mind and
intellect mechanisms. The motive force that
energises these faculties is un-inhibited by
these, but by the very nature of the mechanisms
of expression of emotion and intelligence the
‘Self’ within is deluded. Introspecting on the
nature of this phenomenon and keeping a
constant vigil against the deepening of
negative impressions in the mental firmament is
the only way out.
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KARMA principles
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Slokas
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Righteous actions backed by
Wisdom (discriminatory
intelligence) are the pathway to
perfection. |
3 |
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Be
Active (no one can remain action
less) |
4 |
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Natural tendencies force actions |
5 |
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Be
True to self (as against
hypocrisy) |
6 |
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Be
Dispassionate |
7 |
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Do
your Duty (obligatory actions) |
8 |
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Engage in Sacrifice (selfless
service) |
9 |
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Use Wisdom
(inherent in all) |
10 |
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Practice incessantly and
devotedly (sadhana) |
11 |
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Reward for hard work will follow |
12 |
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Unselfish work is good;
selfishness is sin |
13 |
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Sacrifice is the basis of life |
14 |
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Sacrifice is Godly
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15 |
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Always perform obligatory and
righteous work |
19 |
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Lead by example (leaders) |
20 |
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Set standards (leader’s
responsibility) |
21 |
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Inaction leads to decay (self
and society) |
24 |
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Exhibit dispassionate
non-attachment |
25 |
Set example and inspire
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26 |
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Understand that natural
tendencies are impressions in
the mind |
28 |
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Act with no egotism and selfish
expectations |
30 |
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Practice continuously the right
actions |
31 |
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Selfish desires and hatred are
bad impressions |
34 |
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Aptitude is important; and
engage in own duty |
35 |
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Selfish Desire and Anger are
inherent enemies |
37 |
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Wisdom is covered
by these two |
38 |
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Selfish desire is the prime
enemy of Man |
39 |
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Body, Mind and Intellect are the
seat of desire |
40 |
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Discipline the senses and
destroy selfishness (EGO) |
41 |
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Understand the superiority of
SELF |
42 |
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Control EGO by the SELF
and attain perfection |
43 |
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Table 1: Karma Yoga
Prescriptions
Personal Prakrithi
Inventory (PPI)
There is no denying that
individuals, societies, and nations are faced
with the challenge of maintaining peace and
order on all fronts. Terrorism, environmental
degradation, religious and ideological
extremism, clash of generations, and erosion of
social and family bindings are all too prevalent
around us that we try and seek the solution from
elsewhere other than our ‘self’s’!
‘Self’ development is the
key to resolving these conflicts. An
individual’s nature (‘Prakrithi’ or ‘Swa-Bhaava’)
need to be aligned with a vision of peace,
prosperity and fulfillment. ‘Prakrithi’ is the
glue that holds the personality of the
individual together. These microscopic
(individual) ‘Prakrithis’ adds up to form
the macroscopic (universal) characteristics of
societies, groups, religions and nations.
Measuring and managing individual Prakrithi
is thus the single most challenge facing leaders
of mankind.
The Personal Prakrithi
Inventory is a powerful instrument that
helps identify and quantify current behavioral
traits of individuals and sets prescriptions for
successful (personality) change management.
The twelve
defining ‘Prakrithis’
The three natural
tendencies in the bosom of man and a set of
defining behavioral characteristics are defined
below.
|
Nature |
Behavioral
Characteristics |
Description |
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SAtwic |
Altruism |
Unselfish concern
for the welfare of others; selflessness.
Universal altruism as against reciprocal
altruism is indicated. |
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Emotional Stability |
A mental state of
calmness and composure. (Not pulled to
extremes of emotions such as happiness
and sorrow, pain and pleasure etc.) |
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Trustworthiness |
Trustworthiness is
a moral value considered to be a virtue.
A trustworthy person is someone in whom
we can place our trust and rest assured
that the trust will not be betrayed |
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Self Actualization |
Self actualization
is the desire to realize one’s full
potential or to maximize one’s
capabilities. |
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RAjasic |
Power |
Possession of the
qualities (especially mental qualities)
required to do something or get
something done; one possessing or
exercising power or influence or
authority |
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Aggressiveness |
The quality of
being bold and enterprising; a natural
disposition to be hostile |
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Selfishness |
Devotion to or
concern with one’s own advantage or
welfare to the exclusion of regard for
others |
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Impulsiveness |
The trait of acting
suddenly on impulse without reflection |
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ThAmasic |
Egotism |
Egotism is a
doctrine that individual self-interest
is the appropriate motive of all
conscious action. Such a belief asserts
that individual self-interest is the
valid end of all actions. |
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Destructiveness |
The quality of
causing destruction |
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Ignorance |
The state of not
knowing. Ignorance occurs when those who
can benefit from knowledge are unwilling
or unable to find or assimilate the
knowledge. The flip side of ignorance is
having knowledge and not having any way
of sharing that knowledge. |
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Lethargy |
Languor:
inactivity; showing an unusual lack of
energy, Laziness |
Table 2: The twelve
measured behavioral characteristics
The Prakrithi
Circumplex
Figure 1: The Prakrithi
Circumplex
The PPI can also be used to
compare an individual against an ideal;
thereby allowing one to see which areas of the
prevailing nature should be reformed to
optimally reach the ideal. Individuals can then
make efforts on reforming specific areas of
thinking and behavior to help them attain
perfection in existence. Figure 2 below depicts
the circumplexes of a noble (purely SAtwic)
individual followed that of a negative (ThAmasic
RAjasic) person and that of a whimsical (SAtwic
RAjasic) character
Figure 2: Various
circumplexes
Conclusion
The set of 12 behavioral
characteristics and the PPI questionnaire that
extracts the traits will need to evolve and be
tweaked as more and more data are collected on
sets of individuals. The accuracy and efficacy
of these measurements depend on the
conscientious manner in which individuals
complete the questionnaire. The Bhagavad-Gita
conclusively declares that the SAtwic, RAjasic
and ThAmasic filters within our bosoms drive the
life energy within to shape our character and
nature of work. It is therefore within our
reasons to believe that a systematic way to
quantify the effects of these filters will go a
long way in trying to understand the nature of
veil with which our inherent Wisdom is clouded.
Satish
November 2007