Karma Yoga – Works for All

 

 

 

Proverbs 22:9

Those who are generous are blessed, for they share their bread with the poor

 

 

 

 

James 2:1-9, 14-17

My brothers and sisters, do you with your acts of favoritism really believe in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ? For if a person with gold rings and in fine clothes comes into your assembly, and if a poor person in dirty clothes also comes in, and if you take notice of the one wearing the fine clothes and say, “Have a seat here, please,” while to the one who is poor you say, “Stand there,” or, “Sit at my feet,” have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts? Listen, my beloved brothers and sisters. Has not God chosen the poor in the world to be rich in faith and to be heirs of the kingdom that he has promised to those who love him? But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who oppress you? Is it not they who drag you into court? Is it not they who blaspheme the excellent name that was invoked over you?

You do well if you really fulfill the royal law according to the scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you show partiality, you commit sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.

What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but do not have works? Can faith save you? If a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and eat your fill,” and yet you do not supply their bodily needs, what is the good of that? So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead.

 

Mark 7:24-37            

Jesus set out and went away to the region of Tyre. He entered a house and did not want anyone to know he was there. Yet he could not escape notice, but a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit immediately heard about him, and she came and bowed down at his feet. Now the woman was a Gentile, of Syrophoenician origin. She begged him to cast the demon out of her daughter. He said to her, “Let the children be fed first, for it is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.” But she answered him, “Sir, even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.” Then he said to her, “For saying that, you may go— the demon has left your daughter.” So she went home, found the child lying on the bed, and the demon gone.

Then he returned from the region of Tyre, and went by way of Sidon towards the Sea of Galilee, in the region of the Decapolis. They brought to him a deaf man who had an impediment in his speech; and they begged him to lay his hand on him. He took him aside in private, away from the crowd, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spat and touched his tongue. Then looking up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, “Ephphatha,” that is, “Be opened.” And immediately his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly. Then Jesus ordered them to tell no one; but the more he ordered them, the more zealously they proclaimed it. They were astounded beyond measure, saying, “He has done everything well; he even makes the deaf to hear and the mute to speak.

 

Jesus learns. The mother above was not considered a person "worthy" of Jesus's healing. Yet she had much faith. Therefore, Jesus laid aside his prejudice and in the name of her faith offered healing. Her faith, not her heritage, healed her. Jesus continued with this revised version of his ministry to heal many that disagreed religiously yet held in common a faith in Jesus.

Jesus further challenges all of us to do good work for all. To not be simply believers, but also doers, to not pick and choose who is helped, and to be generous. Karma Yoga is the branch of action and selfless service. I believe Jesus was challenging us all to practice Karma Yoga or leading by example. He challenged us to believe in him and serve all no matter what those we serve believe.

I get sad when I look at the state of the world. We can do so much better. Christians need to stop isolating themselves by denomination.  We may not agree but we can still be of service to each other. Beyond that Jesus calls us to learn and expand our mission beyond just Christians to all that need help. This is our Karma and our Karma Yoga. To help all in need without placing labels.  To love one another even if we disagree. To lead with a compassionate, loving, and open heart.

 

https://www.theyogasanctuary.biz/karma-yoga/

 

Karma Yoga

II Samuel 1:26

Jonathan lies slain upon your high places. I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan; greatly beloved were you to me; your love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women. -David

 

I keep thinking about this (and it is Pride Month), but this blog captures my thoughts...

https://wouldjesusdiscriminate.org/biblical_evidence/david_jonathan.html

 

 

 

II Corinthians 8:7-15

As you excel in everything-- in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in utmost eagerness, and in our love for you-- so we want you to excel also in this generous undertaking. I do not say this as a command, but I am testing the genuineness of your love against the earnestness of others. For you know the generous act of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich. And in this matter I am giving my advice: it is appropriate for you who began last year not only to do something but even to desire to do something-- now finish doing it, so that your eagerness may be matched by completing it according to your means. For if the eagerness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has-- not according to what one does not have. I do not mean that there should be relief for others and pressure on you, but it is a question of a fair balance between your present abundance and their need, so that their abundance may be for your need, in order that there may be a fair balance. As it is written, “The one who had much did not have too much, and the one who had little did not have too little.”

 

In other words take good care of everyone, including yourself. No one needs a “$400 million yacht,” give what is beyond generational wealth to the betterment of all people. This is Karma Yoga – giving freely to your fellow man.

 

Mark 5: 21-43

When Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a great crowd gathered around him; and he was by the sea. Then one of the leaders of the synagogue named Jairus came and, when he saw him, fell at his feet and begged him repeatedly, “My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well, and live.” So he went with him. And a large crowd followed him and pressed in on him. Now there was a woman who had been suffering from hemorrhages for twelve years. She had endured much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had; and she was no better, but rather grew worse. She had heard about Jesus, and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, for she said, “If I but touch his clothes, I will be made well.” Immediately her hemorrhage stopped; and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. Immediately aware that power had gone forth from him, Jesus turned about in the crowd and said, “Who touched my clothes?” And his disciples said to him, “You see the crowd pressing in on you; how can you say, ‘Who touched me?’” He looked all around to see who had done it. But the woman, knowing what had  happened to her, came in fear and trembling, fell down before him, and told him the whole truth. He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.”

While he was still speaking, some people came from the leader’s house to say, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the teacher any further?” But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the leader of the synagogue, “Do not fear, only believe.” He allowed no one to follow him except Peter, James, and John, the brother of James. When they came to the house of the leader of the synagogue, he saw a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. When he had entered  he said to them, “Why do you make a commotion and weep? The child is not dead but sleeping.” And they laughed at him. Then he put them all outside, and took the child’s father and mother and those who were with him, and went in where the child was. He took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha cum,” which means, “Little girl, get up!” And immediately the girl got up and began to walk about (she was twelve years of age). At this they were overcome with amazement. He strictly ordered them that no one should know this, and told them to give her something to eat.

 

I relate to the woman with the hemorrhages. In fact, the picture of her and Jesus that is in the catacombs has been my wallpaper on my phone at times as a reminder. Jesus loves, accepts, and heals everyone: From this woman, to the dying/dead child, to the sexually diverse, to the unclean, to those of various religions, poor and rich alike. But he expects us to do the same. And this is where we all fail. This is where we can always do better. This is where we constantly need to be asking, “Do I have too much? too little?” What can I do to improve? And then try our best to make it so. This is my Karma Yoga.

 

The Talents Entrusted to Us

 

 

Matthew 25:14-30

Jesus said ‘The Kingdom of Heaven is as if a man, going on a journey, summoned his slaves and entrusted his property to them; to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. The one who had received the five talents went off at once and traded with them and made five more talents. In the same way, the one who had the two talents made two more talents. But the one who had received the one talent went off and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. After a long time, the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. Then the one who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five more talents, saying, “Master, you handed over to me five talents; see, I have made five more talents.” His master said to him, “Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.” And the one with the two talents also came forward, saying, “Master, you handed over to me two talents; see, I have made two more talents.” His master said to him, “Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.” Then the one who had received the one talent also came forward, saying, “Master, I knew that you were a harsh man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter seed; so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.” But his master replied, “You wicked and lazy slave! You knew, did you, that I reap where I did not sow, and gather where I did not scatter? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and on my return, I would have received what was my own with interest. So, take the talent from him, and give it to the one with the ten talents. For to all those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away. As for this worthless slave, throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

This story always leaves me confused. It would be easy to “compare and contrast” the idea of the Kingdom of Heaven to Nirvana. I believe the Kingdom of Heaven is here on Earth and that is not what my heart is led to write about today.  This time I went back to the top to figure out exactly what the slaves were asked to do. The word stuck out to me this time was entrusted.  What is the difference between trust and entrust? The “EN” prefix changes a noun into a verb - an action. If we think in terms of money a Trust is a place where money is held. To be Entrusted with money (in this case a talent or 15 years salary) means you will take action with this money. Much like financial advisors of today, these slaves were expected to take action with this money.  The first traded, the second made, the last hid. Hiding is not a financial action. Trading or making are financial actions.

What are we entrusted with in our lives today? Perhaps the care of a child, or the care of each other.  Perhaps we are entrusted to do the best work we can in our chosen profession.  To follow the yoga idea of Ashima or do no harm, while taking action to leave the world a better place. 

But what about those that are hiding perhaps unable to do better out of selfish dark inward fear, suspicion, neglect, and misery?  How can we help trade or make their lives better, a place of selfless light outward risk, faith, love, and joy? We all are entrusted to help others grow. The ending of this parable is not a punishment, it is consequence of not doing the good work entrusted to us in the Kingdom of Heaven here and now.

As a yoga therapist many entrust me with their health and healing. I model selfless light outward risk, faith, love, and joy using my skill set hoping to trade, make, or move my clients out of selfish dark inward fear, suspicion, neglect, and misery.  Karma yoga, free service, is a way to give to those that have nothing. For a period of time I led free meditations at the Family Resource Center and started a non-profit that offered yoga by donation to all in Rome, Georgia.

We all have different talents to contribute. How do you use the skills entrusted to you to make the Kingdom of Heaven here on Earth a better place?

 

Photo: "The Parable of the Talents" (1906), artist unknown. Bible card, Providence Lithograph