________________
PRACTICE OF KARMA YOGA
health is a miserable condition, even if one is the Lord of the whole earth.
Man enjoys good health on account of good Karmas done in his previous birth. He who has done meritorious services in his previous incarnation, he who has shared what he had with others, he who has helped the poor and the needy, he who has done worship, meditation, Yogic Kriyas and Pranayama in his previous birth, enjoys sound health in this birth. The law of causation is inexorable and unrelenting.
What is the greatest thing that a man can achieve in this world? It is Self-realization. What are the advantages or benefits of Self-realization? Why should we attempt Self-realization at all? The attainment of Atma Jnana or realization of the identity of the Jiva (individual soul) and Brahman (supreme soul) can alone put an end to the wheel of birth and death with its concomitant evils of disease, old age, pain, suffering, worries and various other sorts of trouble It is Atma Jnana alone that can give you unalloyed eternal bliss, supreme peace, highest knowledge and immortality .
The next question is, why should we have good health? We should have good health in order that we may achieve the four kinds of PurusharthaDharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha (righteousness, wealth, desires and liberation). If you do virtuous deeds, you will get wealth and you can gratify your worldly desires. Then you can attempt realization of
70