Last week we looked at karma (action) and how it binds a person to the cycle of repeated birth and death and the consequent suffering that arises from that. The Vedas therefore teach that the actual goal of our human existence is spiritual liberation. One way off this cycle is the ‘off-ramp’ provided through Karma-yoga. As stated in the Bhagavad-gita:
लभन्ते ब्रह्मनिर्वाणमृषयः क्षीणकल्मषाः ।
छिन्नद्वैधा यतात्मानः सर्वभूताहिते रताः ।।
“Those who are beyond the dualities that arise from doubts, whose minds are engaged within, who are always busy working for the welfare of all living beings, and who are free from all sins achieve liberation in the Supreme.” – Bhagavad-gita 5.25
This was also reinforced by the great spiritual personality Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu over 500 years ago when he stated:
“One who has taken their birth as a human being should make their life successful and work for the benefit of all other people. It is the duty of every living being to perform welfare activities for the benefit of others with one’s life, wealth, intelligence and words. By one’s work, thoughts and words, an intelligent person must perform actions which will be beneficial for all living entities in this life and the next.” Caitanya Caritamrita Ādi 9.41 – 43
