Tuesday, November 24, 2015

Welcome to the 2015 Raas Purnima issue of e-Sanai

by Sri Sandip Dasgupta


Dear fellow devotees,

Welcome to the Raaspurnima edition of e-Sanai.   This is the time of the year when Sri Sri Babathakur left his mundane body.   Initially that caused all of us to be very sad – but then we kept remembering His words – ‘I am always with you: in good times as well as in bad times’.  His words and actions always made his identification with the permanent I-Reality very evident.  On the other hand, our minds constantly binds ourselves to our temporary identity (i.e. the ‘Jiva I’ as termed by our Master, Sri Sri Babathakur).
As days pass by, and I get older, I am beginning to understand the relevance and applicability of His words in our lives.  In one of His lectures, He had pointed out a very important point about our behavior. He had mentioned that when we pray to God, we keep asking the Lord for things – but we never give anything to the Lord!  We try to bribe the Lord by giving flowers, fruits etc to the temple Gods. According to our Master, we have received so many things from the Lord – but every material object that we have received causes reactions in our mind and we have to spend time and effort managing that object.   We also have to experience the results of experiencing those objects. Our Master therefore urged us to remember that:
·         The object(s) have been given to us by the Lord (they are not ours)
·         The objects and this life belongs to the Lord (not to us)
·         The actions also do not belong to us (belong to the Lord)
·         The results also belong to the Lord (not to us).
Hence, he always asked us to surrender all the results of our life to the Lord – because He is the Master planner, Master executioner and Master experiencer.
We all have been extremely fortunate to have received His blessings in the form of His Realized teachings.  Those teachings are like electric current flowing through a wire.   We need to turn on the switch so that the light bulb (of knowledge) is turned on and the darkness of ignorance is removed from our lives.
Hence my appeal to all of you is to reflect on the Master’s teachings and apply them to every aspect of our lives.
Joy Babathakur! Joy Babathakur! Joy Babathakur!

The Journey Within

by Sri P.C. Lahiri


As young students, most of us had been advised to delve deep into a subject, learn it well, and perform admirably in examinations. The easy way out in most cases is to cram it up given how few perceive school education as an enjoyable activity by many!  This approach is fraught with the danger of failing should the questions be tweaked a little and/or if some variations were to be cleverly introduced by the examining authority – something that often ends up happening.  To have safe passage and peace in life, it is always better to learn a topic/subject by understanding it rightly.  To understand correctly, one has to read between the lines and be comfortable ‘outwardly and inwardly’.  The phrase ‘outwardly and inwardly’ is a coinage that we have come across in the discourses and books of Prajnanpurush Sri Sri Babathakur (the Master).  I firmly believe that if we are able to understand and appreciate the true meaning of this phrase and apply it consciously in life, peace and bliss shall not be a distant dream but rather a stark reality in this life itself.  We shall dwell on this notion further as we move on through the remainder of the article.  

The habit of going deep into a topic/subject to understand it properly from school days pays rich dividends throughout one’s life journey.  To start with, as a student, one enjoys his/her studies if this habit is imbibed.  Education does not remain a burden or a forced activity.  Once this habit develops in the name of education, it gradually gets imbibed in one’s innate nature (swabhava) and carries forward to other activities like sports, hobbies, debates, plays etc.  Such a young one, without any extra effort, will automatically get projected in the eyes of others as a happy and pleasant person to work and deal with.  If one is indeed able to create such an impression of himself/herself within others, it is a boon, life becomes easier - with all-round support from mother-nature and others becoming readily available.  Difficult tasks get done easily and on time.  In fact, time -  that most precious of commodities - becomes one’s friend.  Knowingly or unknowingly, that young man has taken a significant step towards being comfortable both ‘outwardly and inwardly’.  In other words, he is easily able to link with activities in the outer nature and also be able to enjoy the experience of such interactions, inwardly.  There is no apparent outward-inward disconnect.  Although he may be unaware, his journey within has begun.  If this practice is continued, then a time will come when mother-nature will provide him with the opportunity to come in contact with either a Guru of the third stage (Paraparamguru), i.e. one who will reveal to him the inner spiritual world, or else at least provide him with a platform where this knowledge is cultured.

A brief mention of the Master’s ‘four-in-one and one-in-four’ Guru-formula is worth making to better understand the significance of a Guru of the third stage.  First Guru (Mahaguru) are one’s parents who provide the essential support for the sustenance of a new-born and the knowledge of the basics of proper living in the world.  Second Guru (Paramguru) is a teacher/professor who provides the material knowledge to understand the outer world, deal with it, and be successful at living within it.  Third Guru (Paraparamguru) is a God-realized Soul who introduces the inner and central spiritual world of God to the aspirant seeker.  The real journey within to realize God/Self starts under the directions of such a Guru.  Paraparamguru imparts the Right Knowledge only to the qualified seeker who is truly and sincerely ready to receive Supreme Knowledge.  Guru of the fourth stage is Parameshtiguru who is Absolute personified, the Supreme Self I-Reality Himself.  The advent of such a Soul is very rare.  The Absolute Truth reveals of Its own accord within Him without any distinction whatsoever, and He remains forever the perfect Witness of such a revelation.

When the journey within begins, one starts noticing the impact of the volatility of outer nature on the inner nature. Nice cool weather strengthens the vitals (pranshakti), and we feel energetic. It is however only a feeling, simply because of our strong connection with the outer world and its incessant movements.  As soon as the weather changes to murky and cloudy, its stillness steals away our vitality and we start feeling down and morose.  Similarly a hot sweaty day eats into our vitality.  These features become the talk of the town.  As soon as you meet a friend, the first thing mentioned is the bad weather and its repercussions on mood and activity. An individual’s pranshakti is actually not controlled by outer nature; it is instead the other way round. How do we get to know this?  When we observe the behavior of a strongly energetic person under adverse outer-nature conditions, we find that their impact on him is negligible.  However upon traveling further within, we find that even a strongly energetic person is prone to dejection and unlikely to attend to tasks with his usual high levels of vigor and vitality when confronted with mentally challenging circumstances related to outer activities such as work, health and family.   In fact, the one who triumphs over such circumstances is a person who is mentally strong.  Mental strength is able to overcome the perceived negatives of outer nature and vitals.  Real life examples are offered by people seen to be recovering quickly from adverse health issues, relentlessly fighting adverse life conditions without losing hope and self-belief, bouncing back from down and out situations, inspiring a group in a losing scenario by hands-on action etc.  

Going further deeper, we find that even a mentally strong person may fail in a situation where intellect is needed to determine the course of action in a crisis.  The ability to ascertain options, analyze circumstances and decide upon the right approach in crunch situations requires one to possess more than a mentally strong mind.   A strong mind is able to overcome the negatives of outer nature, inner vitals and mind.  However, the mere resolution of a strong mind to overcome a crisis is no guarantee of the right call being made or of ultimate success in solving the problem at hand.  Often, unwavering adherence to a specific course of action may prevent one from exploring options that are more effective.  Baudhishakti (i.e. intellect) is needed to conduct crucial analysis of facts and situations and select the optimal alternative to move forward.  We therefore see that for a common man, a strong intellect is most helpful in drive towards material prosperity, name and fame in the society. This holds true for a sincere aspirant who receives guidance from a proper Paramguru and has had good support from a Mahaguru in the earlier part of life.

Under the guidance of Paraparamguru, the development of the above mentioned faculties is balanced by being predominantly sattvic rather rajasic (as was the case under earlier gurus).  Dynamic, assertive and creative rajasic characteristics make the ego and mind strong and powerful, which in turn is helpful in achieving worldly prosperity.  However when sattvic qualities start manifesting themselves in the association of Paraparamguru, the follower develops balance, strength of character, spiritual discipline, self-control, right judgment, cheerfulness etc. which help in achieving the same results even better - because such results have been attained in an environment of ‘inclusivity’, as opposed to the earlier aggressive approaches that emphasized ‘exclusivity’.  The results are long standing, which command genuine respect and admiration for the humble and calm high-achiever.  Gradually such a follower becomes a true seeker of self-purification and resultant God-realization.  Worldly glory ceases to hold the interest of such an individual.  He becomes highly internalized, seeking the immortality and ultimate beatitude within.  This realization dawns when the aspirant seeker finds his objective, inwardly and outwardly.  Within and without, he is able find his Guru/Ishta/Ishwara alone.  The Guru then takes him to the perfect state of non-duality, wherein the seeker and the sought are but One.  The journey started in the school days of delving deep into the subjects of syllabus, moved on from the outer to the inner, to the central and finally to the Transcendental.  Such a realization is possible for any sincere, devoted and dedicated seeker in the present times as well - whatever may be the opinions propagated by conventional religion.  This has been asserted by the Master time and again.  Let us move on with utmost faith and belief in Him and His teachings.

Hindu Traditions and Science

by Smt. Susmita Devi


Since my coming to India 32 years ago I have often wondered about a number of traditions regularly fol-lowed by common people – especially women.  Many of these traditions have their roots in religion.  The ones mentioned below are actually based on scientific theories.
 
When greeting someone, the Indian custom is to join one’s palms (Namaskar). Apart from being a greeting, the gesture also ensures the individual balance of energy between the left and the right side of the body and brain as a gentle pressure occurs when the fingertips meet which helps memory and, last but not least, one helps avoid cross-contamination of germs by not touching the other person as may happen in handshakes.
 
Toe-rings, worn by many Indian women, are usually worn on the second toe, which in acupressure therapy connects to the reproductive organs and heart. Toe-rings are usually made of silver, as are anklets, because silver is an excellent conductor for polar energies from the earth to the body. In olden days queens had the right to wear gold on the feet.
 
A point between the eyebrows (Ajnya-chakra), where the tradition requires a ‘red dot’ (tilak or bindi) has direct connection to two important hormone glands, the Pituitary and the Pineal. These glands are activated when the dot is applied (whether a readymade one or a sindoor one).  Widows, by the way, are allowed only sandal paste dots, which are supposed to cool down thoughts. It is customary to apply the dot with the 4th finger (commonly called the ring finger) of the right hand as it usually is less used than other fingers and because it carries positive energies and thus help to control concentration and the blood supply to the facial muscles.
 
A part of the Hindu marriage ceremony involves that the groom applying vermillion powder (sindur) on the middle parting of the hair of his bride - who from that day till eventual widowhood, will apply it daily as a sign of her status as a married woman.  Sindur is prepared by mixing turmeric, lime and a tiny amount of mercury. Its intrinsic properties help in controlling blood pressure and also activate sexual drive (which ex-plains why widows are not allowed to wear sindur!).  The vermillion should be applied generously over the whole parting, up to the soft triangular spot on the top of the head (the fontanel), but now-a-days it is just a token small line which need not be in the middle, as the scientific benefits have been forgotten.  The fontanel is quite visibly throbbing on babies, but become smaller with age. The pulse can be felt there quite easily and it is said that when a person dies, the spirit (Atma) leaves the body from there. Mercury is known to remove stress and strain when used scientifically, and it is said a new bride in India generally experience stress as she must migrate from the parental house to the house of the in-laws. The vermillion line has, furthermore, the property to attract much needed cosmic energy.
 
The Sacred Holy Basil (Tulsi) plant not only represents a mother goddess (because of which it is wor-shipped), it is also very medicinally important. Tulsi is a remarkable antibiotic used to disinfect the inner or-gans when infused and drunk as hot infusion. Chewed and mixed with honey and a couple of pepper corns, it lightens the severity and duration of a common cold.  Crushed and applied on a sore, it prevents further infection. Having a Tulsi plant in the house or in front of the entrance, minimises the nuisance of insects – especially mosquitoes. Snakes are often kept away by a Tulsi plant near the entrance.
 
The scientific reason behind the use of temple bells is that their sounds clear the mind and help one in staying mentally sharp.  One is therefore able to stay fully focussed on devotional matters.  The scientific aspect of tolling bells is that the sound produced creates a unity between the left and right parts of our brains. Temple bells are made in such a way that they produce a sharp and enduring sound, which lasts for approximately 7 seconds. The echo activates the seven healing centres in a human body and helps to eliminate negative thoughts from the mind.
 
A few traditions were obvious to me like bowing before a Guru/deity and even touching the feet of an eld-erly or respected individual, thereby acknowledge their superior age and eventually knowledge.  The gesture of bowing low is meant to curb and thus reduced the ego.  Positive thoughts and energy (karuna), which may reach you through their hands and toes is therefore a valid blessing. It allows the flow of energy and allows a connection between two minds and hearts. It may also happen spontaneously the moment one is faced with someone whose vibration level is above the average – as it did for me the first time I saw Sri Sri Babathakur.  To bow down is, apart from tradition, rooted in science because the very act helps the spine to be flexible, stretches the backside muscles and compresses the abdominal ones, which has noticeable health benefits like moving the bowels and minimise back pain. A very devoted individual may also lie flat on the ground (floor) face down, which represents total submission to the Guru/deity. That gesture is medically helpful, as all the muscles on both front and back of the body are used as well as the shoulder joints, given the arms are stretched over the head and joined at the palms.
 
Change of seasons happens 6 times a year in India, with the two major ones being celebrated as Holi (spring) and Navratras (autumn).  Deepawali/Diwali (celebrated during the early autumn) is also the time when people repair their houses after the rains and clean it thoroughly. Navaratras (nava ratra = nine nights) last for nine days and people observe them so as to cleanse the body and mind and to prepare them for change.  The followers of Sanathana Dharm generally observe food rituals during that time to bring in positive energy and thus increase self-confidence. To avoid certain food items (partial fast) or total fast in which only water is allowed, increases will power and determination (which all need regularly!). Full or partial fasts are commonly observed for one or two days a week as per religious injunctions.  Accumulation of toxic residues in the digestive system may promote many diseases and mood-swings. Regular full or partial fasts reduce the risks of serious disturbances such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, immune disorders etc.
 
Every community has some rules for intake of food.  In India as a whole, with its vast variety of communi-ties and beliefs, the ancient sages prescribed that the beginning of the meal should be reasonably spicy, and the end be sweet. The spicy start activates the digestive juices and acids to flow, and the sweetness at the end reduces the speed of the digestion so that the food remains longer in the system and the hunger pangs therefore take longer to manifest.
 
Amongst the various energy sensitive spots on the body, a well defined spot on the top of the head, a bit behind the fontanel, is the meeting point of ascending nerves from the body and the brain. Religious minded males often sport a ‘sikha’ to protect and help boost the subtle energies.
 
In most villages of India, one can find a massive Peepal tree at the meeting point. I have relaxed under such trees during my travels all over rural India. The special quality of the Peepal tree is that, it generates oxygen even at night.  So to take rest under it is actually regenerating.  It is however also associated with religious connotations due to the above mentioned quality.
 
Mehndi (henna) is first and foremost a medicinal plant. Many use henna on the hair to strengthen it and to cover up grey hairs. Henna cools down the nervous system and thus the body. This is the reason why mehndi is applied on the hands and feet, which house nerve endings of the body. To colour hand and feet of the bride with intricate designs of mehndi is one of the rituals during marriage, which serve to control bridal stress. Even the female guests have mehndi applied as part of a pre-marriage ritual.
 
Alta is a red lac-dye that women in India apply on their feet during marriages and religious festivals. For Hindus, this has been a sacred dye known in Sanskrit as lakshya rasa. Alta is, however, also used as medicine when applied on the heels and sides of the feet to avoid or mitigate cracked skin. Alta is com-monly used not only during winter time, where walking bare feet causes cracks in the skin, but round the year for beautification. When I was a new bride, I used to apply the alta in a decorative way.  When I asked Guruji about the non-medical use of it, he jokingly said that in India, a man was not supposed to look at the face of a woman.  So using alta on the feet would draw his eyes towards the feet instead of the face like bulls are attracted to the red cloth of the toreador.  I laughed heartily at that explanation.
 
In villages, food is taken sitting on the floor, but in the cities, tables and chairs are most often used. Peo-ple have become used to the ease of using such props, and have forgotten the reasons for sitting on the floor. Sitting in the yogic “Sukhasan” position (cross-legged) helps improving digestion as the circulatory system can focus solely upon digestion and not on our legs dangling from a chair or on supporting the body while we are standing at receptions. It is definitely also more practical to make people sit in rows on the floor and eat from banana leaves if several people have to be fed at various social functions.
 
When I first came to India, I didn’t know that the sleeping direction had consequences. I was told to sleep with the head towards the south or east. To scare people the tale goes that Yama, the God of death, comes from the North. The scientific reason is that the human body has its own magnetic field and that the earth is a giant magnet. If the head is resting towards the north, the direction of earth’s energy is against it, and be-cause the body has a significant amount of iron, this may lead to blood pressure problems.  The heart would also be working more intensely to overcome the opposition in response to the magnetic poles and thus create pressure on the brain, leading to mental diseases, high blood pressure, and other ailments.
 
People living in tropical or sub-tropical climates have a tendency to become less physically active during the day due to climatic conditions. To counteract that, the Sages urged people to make it a habit of performing Surya Namaskar (greeting of the sun) very early in the morning. To look at the sun and salute it in specific yogic ways at dawn is leads to having increased levels of energy for the remainder of the day.  Also, the combination of movements undertaken while performing Surya Namaskar  will keep the body flexible for longer years than if one is just ‘sitting around’.
 
Indian physicians using natural remedies believe that piercing the ear lobes helps in the development of intellect, reasoning power and decision making faculties. It is also said to help reduce impertinent behaviour and keep the ear channels free from disorders. Ear piercing is, furthermore, used medically in acupuncture because the whole body is represented in a series of points. I myself had piercings done in the upper part of the earlobe cartilage as help for correct posture and back ache.
 
When I first experienced people worshipping an idol in the form of a monkey, an elephant, phallic symbol or some mythological figure, I was taken aback. Yet, there is a scientific reason for do so.  A person will shape the thoughts as per what is seen for the purpose of increasing concentration during prayers and thus enable himself/herself to absorb spiritual energy.
 
The friction caused by bangles worn by most Indian women enhances blood circulation and the electricity passing through the skin is again reverted to the body.  Thus it isn’t merely for beautification purpose that bangles are worn.  Even men from some communities use bangles of steel. In West Bengal, a married woman is urged to wear three bangles, a red, a white and a steel one (at least for some time after the wed-ding).  Those bangles have symbolic meanings.  The red one gives energy to pursue the multiple demands of a daughter-in-law, a wife and a mother. The white one reminds the woman to remain pure in thoughts and deeds and helps in regulating the water flow of the body.  Finally, the iron one signifies that the marriage should be as difficult to break as iron and because many women suffer from anaemia.
 
All of the above represent but tiny examples of the innumerable traditions currently followed in India. The inclusion of all the traditions regularly followed in, for example within West Bengal could fill several volumes. Traditions are mostly handed down orally from one generation to the next (but rarely with the scientific explanations) and some of them may even include superstitions.

 

Karma Yoga: Action as the Essence of Every Yoga




by Sri Ajit Halder


The first verse of the Bhagabad Gita reads as:

“Dharmakhetre Kurukhetre samavetaa yuyutsava /
Maamakaa Pandavaashchaiva kim akurbata Sanjaya “//.

The verse quoted above is a query made by king Dhritarashtra about the activities of the soldiers, his sons and the Pandavas who have assembled in the holy field of action and are very keen to engage in the ensuing battle. We notice that the Gita text opens with a clear reference to ‘action’, which is the essence of Karma Yoga.  We also note that Sri Krishna after giving Arjuna a long spell of advice, tells him in verse sixty-three of the last chapter of the Gita: ‘Jathechhasi Tathaa Kuru’.  Here the word Kuru implies ‘intended action’.  This article stresses that Karma – action - is pertinent to all Yoga practices as shown in the opening verse of the Gita.  In fact, this emphasis on Karma continues throughout the text of the Gita, right unto verse sixty-three in the last chapter.

The Gita consists of eighteen Yoga chapters and the title of each chapter is a compound of two words; for example, the title of chapter eighteen is Moksha Yoga.  The front word ‘Moksha’ in the title is a noun word which signifies the principle of the type of Yoga under consideration. The second word ‘Yoga’ is a verb which is the word signifying the Karma needed for God realization. This article endeavours to emphasize that Karma is the main ingredient in the performance of every Yoga.

In the Gita, Yogeswara Krishna explains the various Yogas to Arjuna and through him, the entire humankind is benefited by receiving Jagatguru Krishna’s divine message that guides us to realize our link with God through spiritual activities.  The master teacher elaborates on a range of Yogas in the Gita but recommends the active form of Yoga, which He calls Karma Yoga.  He attaches importance to Karma in the practice of Yoga as illustrated in the verses of Karma Yoga in the third chapter of the Gita and continues on the role of Karma in Yoga practice in succeeding chapters.  To explore on the theme of this article, we have selected, in addition to Karma Yoga, three more Yogas namely, Gnana Yoga in the fourth chapter, Dhyana Yoga in the eighth chapter and Bhakti Yoga in the twelfth chapter for a careful introspection. . The discussion that follows covers this chosen set of four main Yogas.  In passing, mention may be made of the Hatha Yoga practice which is based on various bodily postures involving physical activities and so resonates with the theme of this article.

It is interesting to note that Sri Krishna gives prominence to Karma Yoga in chapter three and explains its principle in detail prior to elucidating the features of other Yogas appearing in subsequent chapters.  So the reader of the Gita is given an opportunity to acquaint him or herself first with the doctrines of Karma Yoga before he or she becomes familiar with the teaching of other Yogas.  By drawing attention of the reader to the role of Karma in different Yogas, Sri Krishna makes the argument that the path of action is integral to God realization and can, therefore, be found in all the various yoga practices.  It will be useful to study a set of verses from the four Yogas referred to above as a preparation to appreciate the role of Karma in the practice of Yogas. We begin with Karma Yoga; the yoga of action in the performance of one’s duty.

Karma Yoga

 In the first verse of chapter 3 titled Karma Yoga, Arjuna puts the following question to Sri Krishna: ‘O Janaardana, if knowledge is superior to action, then why do you ask me to engage in this terrible action to fight?’   To this Sri Krishna answers: ‘The two-fold path was given to the world in the beginning; the path of knowledge to the discerning and the path of work to the active person (Ch. 3, verse 2)’. 

The verse 4 in the same chapter reads as:

“Na karmanaam anaarambhaan naisakarmyaam puruso snute,/          
Na ca bamnyasanaad eva siddhim samadhigacchati”//           meaning

‘Not by abstention from work does a human attain freedom from action, nor by mere renunciation from action does that person attain perfection’.

In verse 8 the Lord advises Arjuna -

”Niyatam kuru karma tvam karma jyaayo hy akarmanah/
Sharirrayatraa ‘pi ca te na prasidhyed akarmanah”//. 

Sri Krishna tells Arjuna: ‘Do thou allotted work, for action is better than inaction; even the maintenance of thy physical life cannot be effected without action.’

In verse 9, the Lord comments –

”Yajnaarthaar karmano’nyatra loka’yam karrmabandhanah/
Tadartham karma  Kaunteya  muktasangah samaachara”//.

The verse states: ‘The world is bound by actions; O son of Kunti (Arjuna), perform action for Yagna alone, devoid of attachment’.

We finally quote verse19 that clearly stresses the importance of action:

“Tasmaad asaktah satatam kaaryam karma samaachara/
Asakto hy aacharan karma param aapnoti purusah”// .               It means-

‘Without attachment, perform always the work that has to be done’ for humans attain to the highest by doing work without attachment’.

The verses quoted above establish that Karma Yoga teaches one to act selflessly, without thought of gain or reward as a spiritual practice where all fruits of actions are given to God.  One can summarise the teaching of Karma Yoga as: Acting or doing one’s duties in life as per his or her dharma or duty without concern or craving for rewards but rather performing the act as a sort of constant sacrifice to the Supreme Lord. 

Gnana Yoga

The fourth chapter on Jnana Yoga contains verses glorifying Karma in Yoga practice; here we quote two verses in support of this view.  In verse 12 we read:

‘”Kaanksantah karmanaam siddhim yajanta iha devataah/
Ksipram hi maanuse loke siddhir bhavati karmajaa/”//.

This verse states: ’those who desire success of their works offer sacrifices to the gods for the fruition of their works in this world is quickly obtained’.  

Verse 16 compares action to inaction;

”Kim karma kim akarme’ti kavayo’py atra mohitaah/
Tat te karma pravaksyaami yaj jnaatvaa moksyase’subhaat”//.

The verse means – ‘Even sages are bewildered as to what is action and what is inaction.  I (Sri Krishna) shall tell you (Arjuna) what action is, by knowing which you will be freed from evil’.

Dhyana Yoga

Most people would think if anyone wants to attain realization of God, then it would be better to sit and meditate on Him.  Even the act of meditation needs controlling the action of one’s sense organs, especially that of the fickle mind.  All of these operations require some concerted work.

Verse 1 of Dhyana Yoga chapter goes like this:

Anaasritagh karmaphlam kaaryam karma karoti ya.
Sa samnyaaysi  ca yogi ca na niragnir na ca kriyah”//.

Through this verse the blessed Lord asserts: ‘He who does the work without leaning to its fruit (reward of the action), is a sannyaasi (ascetic), he is a true yogi’.

The last verse 47 of Dhyana Yoga  reads

“Yoginaam api sarvesaam madgatenaan antaraatmanoa /
Shraddhaavaan bhajate yo maam sa me yuktatamo matah”//,

In this verse, Sri Krishna defines who the true yogi is and says: ‘of all yogis, the person who full of faith worships Me (meaning the person. who is engaged in the act of worshipping the Lord), I hold that steadfast person to be a true yogi.’  After giving Arjuna a long account of yoga discipline in this chapter, Sri Krishna concludes that His great devotee (bhakta) is also the great yogi.

Bhakti Yoga

In this Yoga, Sri Krishna is emphasizing the person of action, living in the world filled with Bhakti, gives himself or herself a spiritual status and that this concept is a break from the previous emphasis given on austere living to gain spirituality in this worldly life.

Verse 2 reads like this –

“Mayy aaveshya mano ye maam nityayuktaa upaasate/
Shraddhayaa parayo’petaas te me yuktatamaa matahsa”//.

This verse means; ’Those who engage in the action of fixing their mind on Me, worship Me, ever steadfast, endowed with Shraddhaa (devotion with respect), they are best Yogis (engaged in Yoga activity).

Verses 6 and 7 state:

“Ye tu  sarvani karmaani mayi samnyasya matparaah/
Ananyenai’va yogena maam dhyaanta upaasate//’
Tesam aaham sasmuddhartaa:mrirtyu samsaarasaagaraat
Bhavani nachiraat Paartha mayy aavesitacetasaam”//.

In these two verses the Lord declares: ’Those who lay all their actions on Me, worship Me, meditate on Me, with single-minded devotion and those whose thoughts are set on Me I straightaway deliver  them,  O son of Pritha (Arjuna), out of the ocean of mortal samsara.’

Some of the verses selected from Karma, Gnana, Dhyana and Bhakti Yogas and discussed in the preceding paragraphs contain the word ’karma’ while others display words which in English, mean, devotion (bhajate), worship (upaasate), and meditation (dhyaantaa) - all indicating some form of action (Karma).  It is obvious, therefore, that these words clearly support our proposition that Karma is integral to the practice of Yogas

Conclusion:
The four Yogas covered in this article namely, Karma, Gnana, Dhyana and Bhakti Yogas may look all different in their names and some reader may consider them as being distinct from one another.  Although the word Yoga appearing in respective chapter heading connects all four of them, there is a deeper connection that has every Yoga having Karma Yoga implied in its conception and practice.  To do justice to this concept and make it more explicit, the Yogas will glow with the descriptive word ‘Karma’ added to the title to read as: Gnana (Karma) Yoga which calls for engaging in the perfect action for gaining useful and applicable knowledge; Dhyana (Karma) Yoga which points to the perfect action of meditating; and Bhakti (Karma) Yoga which emphasizes the perfect action for offering devotion to God.