Karma, Yoga & the Self

Karma, Yoga and the Self

‘Yoga’ means ‘union’, and is a spiritual discipline that seeks to unite the physical and the mental in harmony. All yoga also focuses on meditation: calming of the mind to find inner peace and balance and bring wisdom and understanding.

The Bhagavad Gita

The Bhagavad Gita is part of Hindu Scripture, specifically of the Mahabharata.
- It is one of the holiest of Hindu scriptures and consists of 700 verses.
- It is a dialogue between a prince and Krishna (an avatar of Vishnu) who is the prince’s guide.
One of its key messages is that there are different paths to moksha (liberation). Some may find one more helpful than another.
- One of these paths to liberation is the discipline of yoga.

Karma

Hindus believe in the concept of Karma.
- This is the belief that all actions have consequences.
When we help others, they benefit and so do we.
- When we harm others, we hurt both them and ourselves.
It is of great importance that we develop the habit of selfless behaviour.

Karma Yoga

The idea of Karma Yoga is taught by Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita.
- It is sometimes called the yoga of action.
Not only is it important to perform the right actions, but it is also essential that we do so with the correct emotions and attitudes.
- Good actions done out of fear, or reluctantly, will not produce good karma.
- What is essential is that our good actions are a reflection of who we are, of our atman.
Krishna teaches that such actions are a form of worship.

Harmony in Karma Yoga

Creating harmony between the mind and the body can lead right-thinking into the right action.
- This is not something a person can achieve instantly.
- They have to let go of any expectation, not to act for reward but simply for the joy of the action.
This can be achieved by starting with small acts of kindness and letting go of expectation gradually.
- Then growing into a state where good intentions and actions become part of one’s very self.

Jnana Yoga

Another form of yoga is Jnana yoga. This involves the pursuit of knowledge and an effort to understand the nature of the self.
- Jnana yoga is the pursuit of moksha through knowledge and understanding and suits those who are drawn to philosophy and study.
It involves having a guru, or teacher. Then spending long periods in meditation and reflecting on the great questions of life. Such as the nature of the self and of Brahman.

The spread of yoga

Yoga is something that has spread throughout the world.
- Many people practice yoga even though they do not follow Indian religions. They believe in the value of achieving harmony between their thoughts and their actions.
Some simply want to be relieved of feelings of stress.
- They seek to achieve this through breathing exercises, yoga postures, and meditation.

1Year 7

1.1Origins of Abrahamic Faith

1.2Judaism

1.3Christianity

1.3.1The Nativity

1.3.2Christian Beliefs about the Baby Jesus

1.3.3Jesus' Ministry

1.3.4The Sermon on the Mount

1.3.5The Crucifixion

1.3.6The Last Supper

1.3.7The Resurrection

1.3.8Christian Beliefs about the Resurrection

1.3.9The Council of Nicaea

1.3.10The Nicene Creed

1.3.11Saint Augustine

1.3.12Protestantism

1.3.13The Reformation

1.3.14Christianity Today

1.3.15Evangelical Churches

1.3.16The Future of Christianity

1.4Buddhism

1.4.1Religion in India

1.4.2The Caste System

1.4.3Meditation

1.4.4Caste & Religion

1.4.5Puja

1.4.6Karma & the Cycle of Rebirth

1.4.7The Four Noble Truths

1.4.8The Three Marks of Existence

1.4.9The Buddha’s Noble Eightfold Path to Enlightenment

1.4.10How do Buddhists Live?

1.4.11The Four Sights

1.4.12The Buddha

1.4.13The Middle Way & Enlightenment

2Year 8

2.1Islam

2.1.1Pre-Islamic Arabia

2.1.2The Prophet Muhammad & The Qur'an

2.1.3The Hijrah & The Conquest of Mecca

2.1.4The Prophet Muhammad: The Final Sermon

2.1.5The Sunni/Shia Split

2.1.6Islamic Caliphates

2.1.7The Five Pillars of Islam

2.1.8Origins of Hajj

2.1.9Hajj Rituals

2.1.10Jihad

2.1.11Islam Today

2.2Hinduism

2.2.1The Prehistoric Roots of Hinduism

2.2.2Key Ideas in Hinduism

2.2.3The Caste System

2.2.4The Vedic Period

2.2.5The Upanishads

2.2.6Alexander the Great & The Mauryan Empire

2.2.7Revelation & The Sharing of Knowledge

2.2.8Understanding the Self

2.2.9Karma, Yoga & the Self

2.2.10The Divine Presence

2.2.11Hindu Statues and Icons

2.2.12British Colonialism & Gandhi

2.3Atheism

2.3.1Where Did Atheism Come From?

2.3.2The Impact of Scientific Developments

2.3.3Plato's Cave

2.3.4Challenging the Bible

2.3.5The Enlightenment

2.3.6Evolution

2.3.7Evolution & Religion

2.3.8Morality & God

2.3.9Morality Without God

2.3.10Frederick Nietzsche - How to Live Without Religion

2.3.11Militant Atheism

2.3.12Humanism

2.3.13The Future of Atheism

2.4Philosophy of Religion

2.4.1Who is God?

2.4.2Theists, Atheists & Agnostics

2.4.3Faith & Empiricism

2.4.4The Design Argument

2.4.5Is The Design Argument Convincing?

2.4.6The Cosmological Argument

2.4.7Criticisms of The Cosmological Argument

2.4.8The Problem of Evil

2.4.9Free Will Theodicy

2.4.10Soul-Making Theodicy

2.4.11Religious Experience

2.4.12Types of Religious Experience

2.4.13Criticisms of Religious Experience

3Year 9

3.1Life & Death

3.1.1What is the Right Thing To Do?

3.1.2Thomas Aquinas - Natural Law

3.1.3Building a Moral Code

3.1.4Criticisms of Natural Law

3.1.5Joseph Fletcher - Situation Ethics

3.1.6Understanding Situation Ethics

3.1.7Criticisms of Situation Ethics

3.1.8Sanctity of Life

3.1.9Quality of Life

3.1.10Abortion

3.1.11Moral Questions About Abortion

3.1.12Euthanasia

3.1.13Moral Questions About Euthanasia

3.1.14Capital Punishment

3.1.15Arguments Against Captial Punishment

3.1.16Animal Rights

3.1.17Alternative Views on Animal Rights

3.2Extremism

3.2.1What Does Extremism Mean?

3.2.2Extremism Explained

3.2.3Why do People Become Extremists?

3.2.4What are Conspiracy Theories?

3.2.5Why do People Believe Conspiracy Theories?

3.2.6What is Anti-Semitism?

3.2.7Anti-Semitic Stereotyping

3.2.8The Holocaust

3.2.9After the Holocaust

3.2.10Religious Fundamentalism

3.2.11The Problem of Fundamentalism

3.2.12Nationalism

3.2.13Nationalism & Extremism

3.2.14What is a Terrorist?

3.2.15Political & Religious Terrorism

3.2.16Free Speech

3.2.17Hate Speech

3.2.18How do we Fight Extremism?

3.3Equality

3.3.1Introduction to Equality

3.3.2Is the UK an Equal Society?

3.3.3Religion and Equality

3.3.4Interpreting the Scripture

3.3.5Racism and Scripture

3.3.6Scripture Against Racism

3.3.7The Fight for Racial Equality

3.3.8Gender Equality and Scripture

3.3.9Gender Equality; Women in Worship

3.3.10LGBTQ+ Matters

3.3.11The Fight for LGBTQ+ Equality

3.3.12Disability Matters

3.3.13The Fight for Disability Equality

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