Page 89 - Hinduism

are treated as different stages in the pilgrimage to God. The will is first disciplined, then thought and finally feeling as bhakti is stressed. Prapatti is the easiest way to God as He Himself becomes the way and the end and mukti is thus attained by the grace of God.
Karma yoga is a moral discipline by purifying the will. Its object is to change kāmya karma into niṣkāma karma or duty for duty's sake. No man can be without doing karma and karma includes thought, speech and overt action. Every man as a bodily self ordinarily follows his animal inclination or desire for sense-objects. He not only seeks sense-pleasures but also desires some outside ends like success (jaya), profit (lābha) and name and fame. These are called kāmya karmas because they are based on the desire of the person in sense-objects and sense- pleasures. Such ends are not desirable morally as they make the person the slave of sensibility. Besides, kāma leads to krodha or anger when the desire is not achieved; anger leads to confusion and moral death. Therefore, the Gitā prescribes the way of niṣkāma karma as the way of moral life. Karma is done because it is impossible to be without doing it. But it ought to be done without caring for the fruits or consequences, as niṣkāma karma. It is duty for duty's sake. Then the karma yogin is not a slave of the senses, but is a victor thereof. Every man has a station in life and some duties pertaining to it. He ought to do them as duties irrespective of the
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