Nishkama Karma
{{Short description|Selfless or desireless action in Hinduism}}
{{Italic title}}Nishkama Karma (Sanskrit IAST : Niṣkāmakarma{{cite book|author=Jonardon Ganeri|title=The Concealed Art of the Soul: Theories of Self and Practices of Truth in Indian Ethics and Epistemology|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vpLIXJKhu1YC&pg=PT113|date=5 July 2007|publisher=Clarendon Press|isbn=978-0-19-160704-2|pages=113}}), self-less or desireless action, is an action performed without any expectation of fruits or results, and the central tenet of Karma Yoga path to liberation. Its modern advocates press upon achieving success following the principles of Yoga,{{cite news | last = Kriyananda | first = Swami | title = Material Success Through Principles of Yoga | newspaper = The Times of India | location = | pages = | language = | publisher = The Times Group | date = 3 August 2005 | url = http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1189362.cms | access-date = 25 February 2022}} and stepping beyond personal goals and agendas while pursuing any action over greater good,{{cite news | last = Goyal | first = Malini | title = 'Get over that mindset of networking with an agenda' | newspaper = The Economic Times | location = | pages = | language = | publisher = IndiaTimes | date = 20 August 2007 | url = http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/News_By_Industry/Indl_Goods__Svs/Metals__Mining/Get_over_that_mindset_of_networking_with_an_agenda/articleshow/2293231.cms | access-date = 25 February 2022}}{{cite news | last = Das | first = Gurcharan | title = A small matter of the ego | newspaper = The Times of India | location = | pages = | language = | publisher = The Times Group | date = 12 December 2004 | url = http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/956280.cms | access-date = 25 February 2022}}{{cite news | last = Ambani | first = Anil | title = "THE SPEAKING TREE: Father, Lead Me from Sakam to Nishkam" | newspaper = The Times of India | location = | pages = | language = | publisher = The Times Group | date = 4 December 2004 | url = http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/945793.cms | access-date = 25 February 2022}} which has become well known since it is the central message of the Bhagavad Gita.{{cite news | last = Langar | first = R. K. | title = Gita's Emphasis on Good of the World | newspaper = The Times of India | location = | pages = | language = | publisher = The Times Group | date = 6 January 2004 | url = http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/408365.cms | access-date = 25 February 2022}}
In Indian philosophy, action or Karma is divided into three categories based on their intrinsic qualities or gunas. Nishkama Karma belongs to the first category, the Sattva (pure) or actions which add to calmness; the Sakama Karma (Self-centred action) comes in the second rājasika (aggression) and Vikarma (worst-action) comes under the third, tāmasika which correlates to darkness or inertia.{{cite news | last = Tripathi | first = G. S. | title = Relaxation, a must for better mind power | newspaper = The Times of India | location = | pages = | language = | publisher = The Times Group | date = 28 July 2008 | url = http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Speaking_Tree/All_Work_And_No_Play_Makes_You_Dull/articleshow/2983723.cms | access-date = 25 February 2022}}
Nishkama Karma in the workplace
{{hindu philosophy}}
The opposite of Sakama Karma (action with desire),{{Cite web |url=http://www.hindubooks.org/samskars/krishna_bhatta/sakamkarma/index.htm |title=Sakam Karma |access-date=2008-12-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090129080007/http://hindubooks.org/samskars/krishna_bhatta/sakamkarma/index.htm |archive-date=2009-01-29 |url-status=dead }} Nishkama Karma has been variously explained as 'Duty for duty's sake' Psychology in Human and Social Development: Lessons from Diverse Cultures: a Festschrift for Durganand Sinha, by Durganand Sinha, John W. Berry, R. C. Mishra, Rama Charan Tripathi. Published by SAGE, 2003. {{ISBN|0-7619-9535-8}}. Page 61. and as 'Detached Involvement', which is neither negative attitude nor indifference; and has today found many advocates in the modern business area where the emphasis has shifted to ethical business practices adhering to intrinsic human values and reducing stress at the workplace.[https://books.google.com/books?id=6FpCMSAt52sC&dq=%22Nishkam+Karma%22&pg=PA181 Human Values and Indian Ethos] Human Action in Business: Praxiological and Ethical Dimensions, by Wojciech Gasparski, Leo V. Ryan. Published by Transaction Publishers, 1996. {{ISBN|1-56000-258-1}}. Page 181.[https://books.google.com/books?id=hUidsEFUoYEC&dq=%22Nishkam+Karma%22&pg=PA296 Nishkama Karma] Ethics in International Management, by Brij Kumar, Brij Nino Kumar, Horst Steinmann. Published by Walter de Gruyter, 1998. {{ISBN|3-11-015448-X}}. Page 296.
Another aspect that differentiates it from Sakama or selfish action, is that while the former is guided by inspiration, the latter is all about motivation, and that makes the central difference in its results, for example, Sakama Karma might lead to excessive work pressure and workaholism as it aims at success, and hence creates more chances of physical and psychological burnouts. Moreover, Nishkama Karma means a more balanced approach to work, and as work has been turned into a pursuit of personal excellence, which results in greater personal satisfaction, which one would have otherwise sought in job satisfaction coming from external rewards. One important fallout of the entire shift is that where one is essentially an ethical practice inside-out leading to the adage, ‘Work is worship’ show itself literally at the workplace, leading to greater work commitment, the other since it is so much result oriented can lead to unethical business and professional ethics, as seen so often at modern workplace. Globalisation Managing Org. Adaptation, by Murthi. Published by Anmol Publications PVT. LTD..{{ISBN|8126104961}}. Mantra of Karma Yoga -Page 333-334.
The central tenet of practicing Nishkama Karma is mindfulness in the present moment.{{cite news | last = Talukdar | first = Sudip | title = Mindfulness with Present Is Nishkama Karma | newspaper = The Times of India | location = | pages = | language = | publisher = The Times Group | date = 6 February 2007 | url = http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/OPINION/Editorial/Mindfulness_with_Present_Is_Nishkama_Karma/articleshow/1564920.cms | access-date = 2 March 2022}} Over time, this practice leads to not only equanimity of mind as it allows the practitioner to stay detached from results, and hence from ups and downs of business that are inevitable in any business arena, while maintaining constant work commitment since work has now been turned into a personal act of worship.{{cite news | last = Shah | first = Lalbhai | title = How are CEOs beating the crunch factor? | newspaper = The Economic Times | location = | pages = | language = | publisher = The Times Group | date = 1 June 2007 | url = http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/2091131.cms | access-date = 2 March 2022}}{{cite news |last = Goodell |first = Jeff |title = The Guru of Google |newspaper = Rolling Stone |location = |pages = |language = |date = 17 April 2008 |url = http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/story/19968512/the_guru_of_google/5 |access-date = 2 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080409223740/http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/story/19968512/the_guru_of_google/5 |archive-date=9 April 2008 |url-status=dead}} Further in the long run it leads to cleansing of the heart but also spiritual growth and holistic development.Human Values and Ethics: Achieving Holistic Excellence, by SK Chakraborty, D Chakraborty. Published by ICFAI Books. {{ISBN|81-314-0379-3}}.Page 190.
Nishkama Karma in the Bhagavad Gita
Nishkama Karma has an important role in the Bhagavad Gita, the central text of Mahabharata,Critical Perspectives on the Mahābhārata, By Arjunsinh K. Parmar. Published by Sarup & Sons, 2002. {{ISBN|81-7625-273-5}}. Page 111. where Krishna advocates 'Nishkama Karma Yoga' (the Yoga of Selfless Action) as the ideal path to realize the Truth.{{cite news | last = Ritu| first = S. | title = Karma Sutra: Understanding the concept of 'nishkama karma' | newspaper =The Indian Express| location = New Delhi| publisher = Express Publications | date = 19 July 2016 | url = https://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/life-style/karma-sutra-nishkama-karma-2923264/ | access-date = 21 January 2021}} Allocated work done without expectations, motives, or thinking about its outcomes tends to purify one's mind and gradually makes an individual fit to see the value of reason and the benefits of renouncing the work itself. These concepts are described in the following verses:
{{Blockquote|text=To action alone hast thou a right and never at all to its fruits; let not the fruits of action be thy motive; neither let there be in thee any attachment to inaction.
— Verse 47, Chapter 2-Samkhya theory and Yoga practise, The Bhagavadgitaverse 47, Chapter 2-Samkhya theory and Yoga practise, The Bhagavadgita - RadhakrishnanEssence of Maharishi Patanjali's Ashtang Yoga, by J.M. Mehta, Published by Pustak Mahal, 2006. {{ISBN|81-223-0921-6}}. Page 23.
Fixed in yoga, do thy work, O Winner of wealth (Arjuna), abandoning attachment, with an even mind in success and failure, for evenness of mind is called yoga
— Verse 2.48verse 48, Chapter 2-Samkhya theory and Yoga practise, The Bhagavadgita - Radhakrishnan
With the body, with the mind, with the intellect, even merely with the senses, the Yogis perform action toward self-purification, having abandoned attachment. He who is disciplined in Yoga, having abandoned the fruit of action, attains steady peace...
— Verse 5.11{{cite web
| last = A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
| author-link = A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
| title = Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Bhagavad-gita As It Is, Verse 5.11
| publisher = Bhaktivedanta VedaBase Network (ISKCON)
| date =
| url = http://vedabase.net/bg/5/11
| accessdate = 2008-01-14}}}}
Nishkama Karma in the Kural
The concept of Nishkama Karma is spread across various chapters of the Tirukkural, with the essence being elaborated in the last five chapters of Book I in particular. Accordingly, Valluvar insists that all worldly attachments be renounced gradually and in right time.{{cite news
| last = Vijayaraghavan
| first = K.
| title = The benefits of nishkama karma
| newspaper = The Economic Times
| location =
| pages =
| language =
| publisher = The India Times
| date = 22 September 2005
| url = https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/the-benefits-of-nishkama-karma/articleshow/1238756.cms?from=mdr
| access-date = 28 April 2025}} This can primarily be noted in couplets 341 and 342 of Chapter 35.
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{wikisource|The Bhagavad Gita}}
{{wikisource|The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda/Volume 4/Lectures and Discourses/Thoughts on the Gita}}
- [http://www.realization.org/page/gloss/nishkama_karma.htm Ramana Maharishi talks of Nishkama Karma]
- [http://www.experiencefestival.com/bhagavad_gita_-_on_nishkam_karma_yoga Bhagavad Gita on Nishkama Karma Yoga]
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