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Karma yoga means serving

Karma yoga is the path of selfless service, the essence of spiritual practice. We gather in nature for sādhana, observing the world's beauty and ceremonies. The groups include those dedicated to seva, the karma yogīs. This practice is found in all religions, like nuns serving the poor, for God resides in everyone. Service is not only grand donations; it is the simple, mindful act of helping. Even in traffic, allowing another driver to pass is seva. Helping an elder with a bag or moving a creature from danger is seva. But one must serve with wisdom, understanding the true need. Action performed skillfully and selflessly is the foundation of yoga. All prayers and meditations are secondary to this. You always have time for seva in thought, word, and deed.

"Who can serve the poor people, the needy people? There is maybe God inside."

"Yogaḥ karmasu kauśalam. Yoga will be successful through the sādhanā, the karma sādhanā."

Filming location: Strilky, Czech Republic

Śrī Dīp Nārāyaṇ Bhagavān Kī, Devādhī Deva, Deveśvara Mahādeva Kī, Satguru Svāmī Madhavānjī Bhagavān Kī, Dīp Nārāyaṇ Bhagavān Kī, Jay Alakapurī Jī Mahādeva Kī, Oṁ Namaḥ Śrī Prabhu Dīpa Nārāyaṇam. Oṁ Namaḥ Śrī Prabhu Dīpa Nārāyaṇam. Hamsa Sabdhas Prabhu Saran Parayanam. Sabdhas Prabhu Saran Parayanam. Om Namah Siri Prabhu Deepa Narayanam. Om Namah Siri Prabhu Deepa. Hamsa Sabdhas Prabhu Saran Parayanam. Hamsabhadas Prabhusaran Ayanam Om Namah Siri Prabhudeep Om Namah Siri Prabhudeep Narayan. Hum Sabdasa Prabhusaran Parayanam. Sabdasa Prabhusaran Parayanam. Om Namo Sri Prabhudi Narayanam. OM NAMO ŚRĪ PRABHUDĪ NĀRĀYAṆAM. Today we had a program outside, in the meadow. It was a very beautiful morning with very nice clouds, all of our bhaktas and yoga students, big trees, and very nice, healthy air. We were doing our sādhana, walking in the meadow as a kind of practice. At the same time, we saw the beautiful programs of Lord Bhagavān Śrī Rāma, including a ceremony at a beautiful temple where our Prime Minister Modījī was present. There were beautiful mantras, creating a very beautiful atmosphere. I reminded everyone to keep distance so we could get fresh air, acknowledging the ongoing concerns about infection. After a nice breakfast, which made us a little late as the children were looking on, we continued with our four groups: Kriyā Anuṣṭhāna in a big hall, the teacher’s class, practitioners who want to practice yoga in their life, and fourth, the karma yogīs who do seva. Karma yogī means to do some seva. Many are doing seva. For example, in Christianity, all nuns are doing so much karma yoga; every nun is only doing seva, which we call karma yogī. I think karma yoga is actively practiced in religions like Christianity, where they take care of many people who are ill or poor. They feel this is one of the best śāvas to God because God is in everyone. They look to help the poor and needy because it is said, "Who can serve the poor people, the needy people? There is maybe God inside." There are many kinds of services. In America, I sometimes saw a big board on a highway that read, "If you have an old car, please give it to us for doing further for the poor people." They repair and sell the cars, using the money for the poor. Many different religions call it seva or service. We yogīs say karma yogī. In karma yoga, it is easier to progress further in yogic sādhanā and reach the high consciousness of the yogī. In some countries, people may not serve directly, but every week they give some money to a religion. You go to the temple or church and put some money in the box. In Austria, I would sometimes sit in the church. A good priest, a friend of mine, invited me and even asked me to give lectures during ceremonies. After prayers, everyone gave some money using a long bamboo stick with a pocket attached for quick collection. In India, it is not done that way; we walk. Of course, everyone gives something or not—that is called dharma. Dharma means doing good. Ashrams, churches, or temples are called the house of God. At the time of Jesus, it was called the temple. We also have temples. Later it became church, which has a very good meaning. That is Śiva. Whatever you want to get is seva. When you give, don't announce that you are giving for something. When you give a donation, put it in the box and don't tell the nun or anyone in the church. Once you have given, it is no longer yours, and you have no right to say how it will be utilized. That is the principle everywhere. That is called Seva. For example, in our ashram here, we have a very nice foundation. Everyone can give, but not by saying, "I give you the money." Long ago, this place was a king's castle, which was different. Now we have the Mahāprabhū Deep Satsaṅg Ashram, a foundation. We can help repair things, and from time to time, the government also gives support for repairs like water or electricity. They give it to the building, a place where everyone can have a good time, not to one person. We have a trust with certain conditions. Similarly, worldwide, we call it a temple. I hear that in the Bible, Jesus said when people were focused on money and gold that this gold and money is not a god. God is that which we can give and serve. Even you are here for your seminar, Anuṣṭhāna sādhanā, yoga, and daily life practice: helping and playing with little children, looking after our good trees. It is not about saying, "I give money." You will give money and also work for it. Therefore, it is said that the best practicing, meditations, ceremonies, and prayers are all secondary to seva. If we think we have no situation or time for seva, we are mistaken. You have enough time for seva. For example, if you are driving on the highway and someone is driving too quickly, you should not follow suit and also drive quickly. Think that maybe this person has urgent work or a family problem and has to go quickly to the hospital. Who are we to call them stupid? If someone needs to change lanes quickly, why not let them? That is also seva, and very important. Seva is not only for humans. If an animal dies on the road, we should help. When getting off a bus, if an elderly person has a heavy bag, we can help with their luggage and hold their hand to help them out. That is already seva. There are many things where you can do good or think good. That is seva. But we also have to think nicely about how to do seva. There is a story of a master and disciple. The master always gave instructions about seva: to help, to serve ill people, dead people, everyone. One day, during a season with a little rain, the grass and bushes were wet, and snails were slowly coming out to cross the road. Around ten in the morning, the master and disciple were walking on the road, with the disciple two meters behind, listening. The master, walking with a stick, said, "We should always help all creatures, give them food or something. It doesn't matter if it is human or animal. The best is seva." The disciple, who was very humble and always wanting to help—like our Vasant—saw a little snail crossing the road. Thinking that a vehicle might come and kill it, he picked it up, went 20 meters into the field, placed it near a bush, and returned. The Guruji asked, "Where are you? What did you do?" The disciple said, "No, Guruji, I did seva." The master said, "What kind of seva are you doing? I'm giving lectures, and you are running somewhere left and right." The disciple replied, "No, Guru Dev, I am on your footpath. There was this little creature, and I just put it on the other side." The master asked, "Why? What kind of animal?" Upon hearing, the master was angry. "How can you do like this, Gurudeva? I only helped him." The master explained, "Yes, helping is good. But you don't know that this one wants to cross the road to that side, and you took him back to the other side. Now he has to go that way again. Look, you made a mistake. This poor creature will have to come back. Therefore, seva is good, but you should know what kind of seva and how to do it. This snail wanted to go to the left side, crossing the road, and you took it again to the right side, a far distance. Maybe he has children or others there. Of course, we should know what to do. If you don't know, then give it to the master or someone who knows." This is what we call karma yoga. Therefore, in the Bhagavad Gītā, it is said: karma kauśalam. When you do karma, then kauśalam means you are doing good things. That is why the best first is karma yoga. It says, "Yogaḥ karmasu kauśalam." Yoga will be successful through the sādhanā, the karma sādhanā. We are doing very good. When you are standing, eating somewhere in the meadows with many people, and one finishes eating, then another, you can say, "Please, you sit down, I will take the plates." That is also karma yoga. Or while eating, if someone says, "Oh, I have no water, I want to drink," another person can stand up and say, "Sit down, I will bring water for you." That is what we call seva, dharma, etc. Though we sit and meditate and do anuṣṭhāna for a very long time, we should get up and walk a little bit. In this walk, if we can do something, it is a double benefit. So, yoga kāram su kauśalam. Yoga is successful through doing good karma. In that way, we know in our ashram, in our whole group, our friends are very respectful and happy, and they are giving a lot of seva help. There are many, many ways to do seva. If you say you don't have time for seva, oh yes, you have. While driving, while thinking, you have the opportunity for seva. Even in your office, while working, you can have certain things in your mind that you are doing as seva. That is the best way, Seva. That is the best way, Seva. Adios.

This text is transcribed and grammar corrected by AI. If in doubt what was actually said in the recording, use the transcript to double click the desired cue. This will position the recording in most cases just before the sentence is uttered.

The text contains hyperlinks in bold to three authoritative books on yoga, written by humans, to clarify the context of the lecture:

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