________________
PRACTICE OF KARMA YOGA
A landlord or a money-lender sucks the blood of poor peasants and builds a palace He gives a donation of several thousands of pounds to a Hindu university out of his reserve fund of a hundred thousand. He builds a temple for a few thousands and puts his name on the marble slab in front of the temple in bold letters This is not Karma Yoga. This is pompous advertisement for acquiring name and fame. On the other hand an ordinary labourer who earns a few shillings at the sweat of his brow may offer his money in charity by feeding a few starving or sick people, and may himself starve on that day. This is real self-sacrifice. This is real Karma Yoga.
In olden days, Madura in South India was ruled by Pandian kings. One of the Pandian kings spent two lacs of rupees in doing Utsava of Lord Soma Sundareshwar in a certain year. He had a great deal of ego or Abhimana. He thought within himself: "I am a great devotee of Lord Siva I have spent a large sum of money in the worship of the Lord. Thousands of Brahmins, Sadhus and the poor have been fed. I have given rich presents to Brahmin Pandits. There is no king who is so pious as myself” Lord Siva appeared in his dream that night and said. “O king! Do not be proud of your piety, devotion and charity. I am not pleased with you in any way. Wherever there is pride, there cannot be any real devotion and holiness Just go and see My humble devotee, the wood-cutter, who lives in a small hut on the banks of
142
