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Philosophy of Swami Vivekunanda
own good deeds man can win over his ignorance and suffering. That also shows that man is basically free.
As we know, Vivekananda is a Vedāntist. He solves this problem in a Vedāntic way as well, showing that the apparent incompatibility of karma and freedom is only apparent and not real. The soul, in fact, is always free and never remains in bondage. The apparent state of karma is really a delusion created by ignorance. It is merely a Lilā or the play of Brahman in which the soul is also involved. When he finally wins over this delusion, he would be amused to find that in fact he was never in bondage,
Now we shall discuss some of the differences between the Law of Karma and Karmamarga.
Law of Karma and Karmayoga
Karmayoga is the knowledge of secret of work. From karmayoga we learn the secret of karma, the method of karma, the organising power of work. A vast mass of energy may be wasted in vain, if we do not know how to utilize it. It makes a science of work. We learn by it how best to utilize all the working of this world. Karma is inevitable, but we should work for the highest purpose.
Law is the method, the manner in which our minds grasp a series of phenomena; it is all in the mind. “Certain phenomena, happening one after another or together, and followed by the conviction of the regularity of their recurrence, thus enabling our minds to grasp the method of the whole series constitute what we call law."23
According to Karmayoga, the action one has done cannot be destroyed, until it has borne its fruits. No power in nature can stop it from yielding its result. If we do evil action, we must suffer. There is no power in the world to stay it. Similarly, if we do good actions, there is no power in the universe which can stop it from bearing good results. The cause must have its effect; nothing can prevent or restrain this.
As it has been stated before, Swami Vivekananda is greatly influenced by the Gitā doctrine of Karma. For him unselfish work should be the motto of life. Knowledge is the goal of
