Meaning of Karma
As the popularity of yoga spreads, as eastern and western cultures continue to merge, more and more Sanskrit words enter our daily working vocabulary.
Words like: Yoga, dharma, asana, mantra, guru, and so many more.
At the same time we should not lose sight of the original meaning and usage of the term. Here are some thoughts on the word karma, another word that is frequently used in our English language.
Karma comes from the Sanskrit very karo meaning “to do”. Hence karma is the path of action. But not just any action, only selfless action. Doing good works and sacrificing to help others physically, mentally, or spiritually is that path of karma. The yogis say this is one veritable path to enlightenment. That is one definition of the term karma.
Then there is the law of karma. This refers to yoga’s theory of cause and effect. Doing good actions (sukarma) leads to good reactions (positive samskara). Doing bad actions (vikarma or kukarma) invites bad reactions (negative samskara). There is quite a bit more to the theory than this, but that is the basic idea.
In the past we did an entire workshop on this principle (i.e. law of karma)Â known as The Dharma of Karma. It was quite a participatory and situational program with many examples to think about and figure out.
Anyway, that is a little bit about karma. If there is any other Sanskrit word you would like to know more about, or if you have questions about this one, here is your chance…
Have a good karma day!!
Hi Satyam,
I’m curious as to the meaning of your name. One of my favorite mantras is Sat Nam and I’m curious as to how the meanings of Satyam and Sat Nam may differ or be similar.
Thank you,
Lisa
Namaskar Lisa,
Sat means eternal, truth, ever-lasting, unchangeable, noble etc. It is a prefix used in many Sanskrit words like satsaunga, meaning good or pious company.
Nam means name.
Taken together, Sat Nam means ‘The Name of the Great’ and over time has become a colloquial greeting. It is a common greeting within the Sikh community of Punjab (western state of India) as one of the names of the guru is Sat Nam. So that is one way for them to remember or honor their guru before any interaction. And I notice it has become a widely used within the contemporary yoga movement in the US as well.
Some use Sat Nam, some use Namaskar, others say Namaste. Generally it is intended as a greeting or salutation in common parlance. And the greater idea is seeing every person as the expression of the One.
Believe it or not, Wikipedia happens to have two very good explanations of Sat Nam that nicely complements the above.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satnam
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sat_Nam
Regarding the name, Satyam, that is derived from the word satya, which is one of the principles of yama and niyama (yogic morality and the first two steps of astaunga yoga (eight fold path)).
Satya means benevolent truthfulness or thinking, speaking, and doing for the welfare of others and not speaking / doing for one’s own petty gain. (I do believe that the same prefix ‘sat’ is employed here.) The name Satyam carries the same idea. The one who adheres to the code of satya.
Hope that gives a little clarification,
Satyam
Satyam,
In class last Tuesday you spoke about aligning thoughts, words, and actions. I’m not sure this was the exact wording but it is the general idea. Can you repeat your comments and/or expand on them?
Thanks,
Bill
Thank you for explaining your name, I think it’s very appropriate. Could you also expand on the word Dharma? I hear it used a lot but I’m unclear about the meaning.
Thanks Whale Woman for your query.
The word dharma means inherent characteristic or innate quality. For instance, the dharma of fire is to burn and the dharma of birds is to fly across the sky. Each and every being has its natural dharma.
According to the yogis, there are three main aspects of human dharma:
1) Vistara: To seek psychic expansion and discovery;
2) Rasa: To have a balanced mental flow in life;
3) Sevaya: To serve and help others.
According to the yogis, when one is involved in the above three qualities then they are following their human dharma (bhagavata dharma) and will achieve lasintg happiness or bliss (a’nandam).
Another meaning of dharma is righteousness: To do what is just and noble in life.
One day, I will write more about this in a blog post.
Thanks again – and keep the questions coming. Your queries are meaningful.
Satyam
Hi Bill,
I always wonder if people listen to my ramblings in class while you all are involved in your poses and now I got my answer- at least in this circumstance 🙂
Thanks for asking and thanks for listening.
According to the yogi, greatness in life is measured by one’s conduct and that conduct originates in the mind with a thought.
In normal life circumstances we consider a person honest and true if their words and deeds are aligned. And if their words and deeds are benevolent, then we take that individual to be good.
Yogis take it a step further.
According to the yogi, the highest grade of person is one whose thoughts, words and deeds are perfectly aligned. This state, of course, is much harder to achieve, but it brings tremendous strength, vitality, and momentum to the human personality.
Whatever we think can get expressed at any moment in a time of weakness- either when we are frustrated, tired, hungry, angry, intoxicated or whenever. In such circumstances, we may express a negative thought – either by word or deed or both – which we really do not want to express. In other words, then we reveal that thought which we do not want others to know we are thinking. It happens.
For instance, a person may preach to others not to smoke cigarettes and they themselves may not smoke. Yet internally they may secretly harbor a desire to smoke. So when they feel anxious or stressed, then even if they do not want to, they may one day reach for that cigarette and nicotine fix. Because that idea is present in the mind.
Whereas if they did not have that internal desire or thought to smoke, then when they are stressed they will go for a walk, or meditate, or express themselves in a more productive way other than by smoking.
So when our personality is sufficiently developed such that our thoughts, words and deeds are one, then that eliminates any potential for falling into bad habits or being duplicitous in any way, no matter how subtle.
In that case there is perfect symmetry within our entire human existence – and so long as our aim is benevolent – then that person will be of the highest character and will certainly achieve great things on this earth.
Hope that clarifies things a little bit…
Namaskar,
Satyam
Since we’re talking about semi-esoteric stuff I also wondered about the symbolic interpretation of how you hold your hands while meditating. I know it’s right cupped in left with thumbs touching. Is this some form of chakra alignment? I’ve been told it relates to wisdom holding compassion. What is your understanding? Also, why do people sometimes hold their fingers in circles with palms up or down while meditating or starting yoga? Enough hand questions? Does any of this relate to specific Sanskrit words or meanings?
Namaskar Whale Woman,
Nice question – nice thought – esoteric indeed.
Mudras (hand positions) have deep meaning and significance in yoga. Specifically, mudras are external representations of an internal idea.
We do that gesture or mudra to convey a particular idea such as a greeting or show of respect.
Regarding your question, some people say that having the right hand over the left in meditation signifies the introversial movement of mind.
One time I asked a great meditation teacher about the hand positions in meditation and he replied simply, “It is comfortable like that isn’t it.”
He was only half-joking. That’s to say, he was indirectly telling me to concentrate more on my meditative endeavor and less on the hand positions. Without proper flow of mind, those hand positions are almost meaningless.
That said, there is significance in every hand mudra – some I can explain in more detail – but along the way I have not pursued the inner meaning of meditative mudras to their optimal endpoint. I figure when I can meditate properly then that will become clear, as well as everything else in the universe.
I am sure there are some solid explanations out there. Do let us know if you discover something.
Satyam