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karma: An Indian Theory of Work

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Spirituality and Indian Psychology

Part of the book series: International and Cultural Psychology ((ICUP))

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Abstract

Industrial and organizational psychology is one of the branches of psychology that is dedicated to the study of work and work-related psychological variables. Other areas of psychology that also cover work-related issues include human factor studies, occupational psychology, and social psychology. Work is also central to human identity, a topic that is discussed in a wide variety of literature covering psychology, sociology, political science, and literary studies (Erez & Earley, 1993; Haslam, Ellemers, Platow, & Knippenberg, 2003; Thomas, Mills, & Helms-Mills, 2004). Work leads to social stratification, which has interested sociologists from the early days of the discipline, and Weber referred to work-related stratification as the merchant class. In more recent times, countries like the USA are stratified completely on the basis of the nature of work done by people (Beeghley, 2004; Gilbert, 2002; Thompson & Hickey, 2005). Psychologists have also been interested in studying work values and cultural differences in them from various perspectives and have explored and captured various shades in the meaning of work.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Verse 4.16: kiM karma kimakarmeti kavayo’pyatra mohitAH; tatte karma pravakSyAmi yajjnAtvA mokShyase’zubhAt.

  2. 2.

    Verse 4.17: karmaNo hyapi boddhavyaM boddhavyaM ca vikarmaNaH; akarmaNazca boddhavyaM gahana karmaNo gatiH.

  3. 3.

    Verse 2.39: eSA te’bhihitA sAGkhye buddhiyoge tvimAM zriNu; buddhayA yukto yayA PArtha karmabandhaM prahAsyasi.

  4. 4.

    Verse 3.9: yajnArthAtkarmaNo’nyatra loko’yaM karmabandhanaH; tadartha karma Kaunteya muktasaGgaH samAcAra.

  5. 5.

    Verse 9.28: zubhAzubhaphalairevaM mokSyase karmabandhanaiH; sannyAsayogayuktAtma vimukto mAmupaiSyasi.

  6. 6.

    Verse 2.47: karmaNyevAdhikAraste mA phaleZu kadAcana; mA karmaphalaheturbhUrmA te saGgo’stvakarmaNi.

  7. 7.

    Verse 2.48: yogasthaH kuru karmANi saGgaMtyaktvA DhanaJjaya; siddhyaasiddhayoH samo bhUtvA samatvaM yoga ucyate.

  8. 8.

    Adi zankara explains yogasthaH kuru karmANi saga tyaktva DhanaJjaya in his BhaSya as follows: yogasthaH san kuru karmANi kevalam IzvarArthaM tatra api Izvaro me tuSyatu iti saGga tyaktvA DhanaJjaya!

  9. 9.

    Verse 2.49: dUreNa hyavaraM karma buddhiyogAddhanaJjaya; buddhau zaraNamanviccha kripaNaH phalahetavaH.

  10. 10.

    bRhadaraNyak 3, 8. 10: Yo vA atadakSaraM GArgyaviditvAsmAllokAtpraiti sa kripaNaH. Cited in Adi zankara’s commentary (Goyandaka, 2004, p. 62).

  11. 11.

    KenopaniSad 2.5: iha cedavedIdatha satyamasti na cedihAvedInmahatI vinaStiH.

  12. 12.

    Verse 3.42: indriyANi parANyAhurindriyebhyaH paraM manaH; manasastu parA buddhiyor buddheH paratastu saH. The senses are said to be superior to the gross body, and manas is superior to the senses. Buddhi is superior to manas, and atman is superior to buddhi.

  13. 13.

    Verse 10.10: teSAM satatayuktAnAM bhajatAM prItipUrvakaM; dadAmi buddhiyogaM taM yena mAmupayAnti te. I give buddhiyoga to those who are constantly engrossed in me and chant my name with love. With buddhiyoga they achieve me.

  14. 14.

    Verse 18.57: cetasa sarva karmANi mayi saMnyasya matparaH; buddhiyogamupAzritya maccitaH satataM bhava. By surrendering all the karma with your citta or manas (e.g., voluntarily and naturally), surrender yourself completely to me. By taking shelter in buddhiyoga constantly place your citta or manas in me, i.e., become one with me.

  15. 15.

    Adi zankara also notes two kinds of buddhi in the opening statement of his commentary on the third Canto of the bhagavadgItA – zAstrasya pravrittinivrittiviSayabhUte dve buddhI bhagavatA nirdiSte, sAGkhye buddhiH yoge buddhiH iti ca. KriSNa enumerates two kinds of buddhi in the bhagavadgItA, a buddhi that is inner bound employed by the jnAnis or those who follow the path of knowledge and a buddhi that is outer bound employed by people pursuing material life (Goyandaka, 2004, p. 76).

  16. 16.

    Verse 2.50: buddhiyukto jahAtIha ubhe sukritaduSkrite; tasmAdyogAya yujyasva yogaH karmasu kauzalam.

  17. 17.

    Yogo hi karmasu kauzalaM svadharmAkhyeSu karmasu vartamAnasya yA siddhayasiddhayoH samatvabuddhiH IzvarArpitacetastayA tat kauzalaM kuzalabhAvaH (Goyandaka, 2004, p. 62).

  18. 18.

    Verse 2.51: karmajaM buddhiyuktvA hi phalaM tyaktvA manISiNaH; janmabandhavinirmuktAH padaM gacchantyanAmayam.

  19. 19.

    Verse 3.1: jyAyasI cetkarmaNaste matA buddhirJanardan; tatkiM karmaNi ghore mAM niyojayasi KeZava.

  20. 20.

    Verse 3.3: Loke’smindvividhA niSTha purA proktA mayAnagha; jnAnayogena sAGkhyAnAM karmayogena yoginAM.

  21. 21.

    Verse 3.4: na karmaNAmanArambhAnnaiSkarmyaM puriSo’znute;na ca saMnyasanAdeva siddhiM samAdhigacchati.

  22. 22.

    Verse 3.5: na hi kazcitksaNamapi jAtu tiSThatyakarmakrit; kAryate hyavazaH karma sarvaH prakitjairguNaiH.

  23. 23.

    Verse 3.6: KarmendriyANi saMyamya ya Aste manasA smaran; indriyArthAnvimudhAtma mithyacarH sa ucyate.

  24. 24.

    Verse 3.7: yastvindriyANi manasa niyamyArabhate’rjuna; karmendriyaiH karmayogamasaktaH sa viziSyate.

  25. 25.

    Verse 3.8: niyataM kuru karma tvaM karma jyayo hyakarmaNaH; zrIrayAtrApi ca ten a prasiddhyedakarmaNaH.

  26. 26.

    niyataM nityaM yo yasmin karmaNi adhikritaH phalAya ca azrutaaM tad niyataM (Goyandaka, 2004, p. 88).

  27. 27.

    Verse 3.9: yajnArthAtkarmaNo’nyatra loko’yaM karmabandhanaH; tadartha karma Kaunteya muktasaGgaH samAcAra.

  28. 28.

    Verse 3.10: sahayajnAH prajAH sriSTvA purovAca prajapatiH; anena prasaviSyadhvameSa vo’stviSTakAmadhuk.

  29. 29.

    Indra is the King of devas and the God of thunder and rain; agni is God of fire; varuNa is God of water; pavan is God of wind; rudra is the God that roars and evokes fear; maruta is the God of storm.

  30. 30.

    Verse 3.11: devAnbhAvayatAnena te devA bhAvayantu vaH; parsparaM bhAvayantaH zreyaH parmavApsyatha.

  31. 31.

    mahAbhArata 12.110.11: dhAraNAd dharma iti Ahur dharmeNa vidhrtAH prajAH; yat syAd dhAraNa saMyuktam sa dharma iti nizcayaH. Dharma upholds both the material world and the world beyond.

  32. 32.

    Verse 3.12: iStAnbhogAnhivo devA dAsyante yajnabhAvitAH; taittanpradArdayaibhyo yo bhuGkte stena eva saH.

  33. 33.

    Verse 3.13: yajnaziSTAzinaH santo mucyante sarvakilbiSaiH; bhuJjate te tvaghaM pApA ye pacantyAtmakAraNAt.

  34. 34.

    Verse 3.14: annAdbhavanti bhUtAni parjanyAdannAsambhavaH; yajnAdbhavati parjanyo yajnaH karmasmudbhavaH.

  35. 35.

    Verse 3.15: karma brahmodbhav-aM viddhi brahmAkSarsamudbhavam; tasmAtsarvagatam brahma nityaM yajne pratiSThitam.

  36. 36.

    agnau prAstAhutiH samyagAdityamupatiZThate; AdityAjjAyate vriStirvriSterannaM tataH prajAH (manusmRti 3.76). The offering given properly to fire is placed in Sun; Sun causes rain, rain causes grains, and from grains come people.

  37. 37.

    Verse 4.23: gatasaGgasya muktasya jnAnAvasthitacetasaH; yajnAyAcarataH karma samagraM pravilIyate.

  38. 38.

    Verse 4.24: brahmArpaNaM Brahma havirbrahmAgnau BrahmaNA hutam; Brahmaiva tena gantavyaM BrahmakarmasamAdhinA.

  39. 39.

    Verse 4.25: daivamevApare yajnaM yoginaH paryupAsate; BrahmAgnAvapare yajnaM yajnenaivopajuhvati.

  40. 40.

    Verse 4.26: zrotrAdInIndriyANyanye saMyamAgniSu juhvati; zabdAdInviSayAnanya indriyAgniSu juhvati.

  41. 41.

    Verse 4.27: sarvaNIndriyakarmANi prANakarmANi capare; AtmasaMyamayogAgnau juhvatijnAnadIpite.

  42. 42.

    Verse 4.28: dravyayajnAstapoyajnA yogayajnAstathApare; svAdhyAyajnAnayajnAzca yatayaH saMzitavratAH.

  43. 43.

    Verse 4.29: apane juhvati prANaM prANe’pAnaM tathapare; prANApAnagatI rudhva prANAyAmaparAyaNAH.

  44. 44.

    Verse 4.30: apare niyatahArAH prANAnprANeSu juhvati; sarve’pyete yajnavido yajnakSapitkalmaSAH.

  45. 45.

    Verse 4.31: yajnaziSTAmritabhujo yAnti Brahma sanatanam; nAyaM loko’styayajnasya kuto’nyaH Kurusattama.

  46. 46.

    Verse 4.32: evaM bahuvidhA yajnA vitatA brahmaNo mukhe; karmajAnvidhhi tAnsarvAnevaM jnAtva vimokSyase.

  47. 47.

    Verse 4.33: zreyAndrvyamayAdyajnAjjnAnayajnaH paraMtapa; sarvaM karmAkhilaM PArtha jnAne parisamApyate.

  48. 48.

    harivaMza 3.34-40: veda-pAdo yUpa-DamSTraH kratuhastaz citimukhaH; agni-jihvo ­darbha-romA brahma-zIrSo mahAtapAH (3.34). ahorAtr’ekSaNo divyo vedAGgaH zruti-bhUSaNaH­; Ajya-nAsaH sruva-tundaH sAma-ghoSa-svano mahAn (3.35). dharma-satyamayaH zrImAn karma-vikrama-satkriyaH; prAyazcitta-nakhoghoraH pazujAnur mahA-bhujah (3.36). udgAtra’andho homalingo bIjauzadhi-mahA-phalAH; vAyvantarAtmA mantraphig vikramaH somazoNitaH (3.37). vedIskandho havir gandho navya-kavya’Ativegawan; prAg-mamza-kAyo dyutimAn NaNa-dikSAbhir arcitaH (3.38). dakziNA-hridayo yogi mahA-satramayomahAn; upAkarmo’StharucakaH pravargyA’varta-bhUSanaH (3.39). nAnA-cchando-gati-patho guhyo’paniSadAsanaH; chAyA-patnI-sahAyo vai meru-zriGga ivo’cchritaH (3.40).

  49. 49.

    Verse 3.16: evaM pravartitaM cakraM nAnuvartayatIha yaH; aghayurindriyArAmo moghaM Partha sa jIvati.

  50. 50.

    Verse 3.17: yastvAtmaratireva syAdAtmatriptazca mAnavaH; Atmanyeva ca saMtuSTastasya kAryaM na vidyate.

  51. 51.

    Verse 3.18: naiva tasya kritenArtho nAkriteneha kazcana; na cAsya sarvabhuteSu kazcidarthavyapAzryaH.

  52. 52.

    Verse 3.19: tasmAdasaktaH satataM kAryaM karma samAcara; asakto hyAcarankarma parmApnoti puruSaH.

  53. 53.

    “  There are some things money can’t buy. For everything else, there is Mastercard.” A popular credit card commercial captures this quite beautifully.

  54. 54.

    Verse 3.20: karmaNaiva hi saMsidhimAsthitA JanakAdayaH; loksaMgrahamevApi saMpazyankartumarhasi.

  55. 55.

    Verse 4.15: evaM jnAtvA kritaM karma pUrvairapi mumukSubhiH; kuru karmaiva tasmAttvaM pUrvaiH pUrvataraM kritam.

  56. 56.

    Verse 3.21: yadyadAcarati zreSThastattadevetarA janaH; sa yatpramANaM kurute lokstadanuvartate. Verse 3.22: na me ParthAsti kartvyaM triSu lokeSu kiMcana; nAnavAptamavAptavyaM varta eva ca karmaNi.

  57. 57.

    Since God is gender free or can be either male or female, I prefer to use “he and she” when referring to God instead of he or she.

  58. 58.

    Verse 4.14: na maM karmANi limpanti na me karmaphale sprihA; iti mAM yo’bhijanati karmabhirna sa badhyate.

  59. 59.

    Verse 3.25: saktAH karmaNyavidvAMso yathA kurvanti bhArata; kuryAdvidvAMstathAsaktazcikIrSurloksaMgraham.

  60. 60.

    Verse 3.26: na buddhibhedaM janayedajnAnAM karmasaNginAm; joSayetsarvakarmANi vidvAnyuktaH samAcaran.

  61. 61.

    Verse 3.27: prakriteH kriyamANAni gunaiH karmaNi sarvazaH; ahaMkarvimudhAtmA ­kartAhamiti manyate.

  62. 62.

    Verse 3.28: tattvavittu m=MahAbAho guNakarmavibhAgayoH; guNa guNeSu vartante iti matvA na sajjate.

  63. 63.

    Verse 4.13: cAturvarnyaM mayA sriSTaM guNakarmavibhAgazaH; tasya kartAramapi mAM viddhyakartAramavyayam.

  64. 64.

    Verse 3.29: prakriterguNasaMmUDhaH sajjante guNakarmasu; tAnakritsnavido mandAnkritasnavinna vicAleyet.

  65. 65.

    Verse 3.30: mayi sarvANi karmANi saMnyasyAdhyAtmacetasA; nirAzIrnirmamo bhUtvA yudhyasva vigatajvaraH.

  66. 66.

    Verse 3.31: ye me matamidaM nityamanutiSThanti mAnavAH; zradhAvanto’nasUyanto mucyante te’pi karmabhiH. Verse 3.32: ye tvetadabhyasUyanto nAnutiSThanti me matam; sarvajnAnavimDhaMstAnviddhi nazTanacetasaH.

  67. 67.

    Verse 3.33: sadrizaM ceSTate svasyAH prakriterjnAnavAnapi; prakritM yAnti bhUtani ­nigrahaH kiMkariSyati.

  68. 68.

    Verse 3.34: indriyasyendriyasyArthe rAgadveSau vyavasthitau; tayorna vazamAgacchettau hyasya paripanthinau.

  69. 69.

    Verse 3.35: zreyansvadharmo viguNaH pardgarmAtsvanuSThitAt; svadharme nidhanaM zreyaH paradharmo bhayAvahaH.

  70. 70.

    We discussed in chapter four that manas is an Indian concept that cannot be captured by mind, since it is the locus of cognition, affect, and behavior.

  71. 71.

    We discussed in chapter four that buddhi is an Indian concept, which has an important role in the pursuit of self-realization that cannot be accurately captured by intellect.

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  1. Shidler College of Business, University of Hawaii at Manoa, 2404 Maile Way, Honolulu, Hawaii, 96822, USA

    Dharm P. S. Bhawuk

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Bhawuk, D.P.S. (2011). karma: An Indian Theory of Work. In: Spirituality and Indian Psychology. International and Cultural Psychology. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-8110-3_8

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