A comprehensive guide on how to work with the right attitude to achieve perfection in work and life. Annotated with self-reflective worksheets and explanations, the book presents the words of Sri Aurobindo and The Mother, in an interactive style and facilitates experiential insights. The book has been beautifully and aesthetically created to take the reader into the knowledge, experience and practice of Self-discovery and Mastery. The book also presents certain key concepts from the Bhagawad Gita and ways to practise these in one's life and work. It offers a unique perspective, based on Integral Yoga, on how to do any work, even Business, with a spiritual attitude, and how to experience Delight in whatever one does.

1. The
Interactive
Self-Discovery
Series
Selections from the Works of
Sri Aurobindo and The Mother
KARMAYOGA
Perfection in Work
Compiled with Introductions by
Ameeta Mehra

2. KARMAYOGA
Perfection in Work
Selections from the Works of
Sri Aurobindo and The Mother
Compiled with Introductions by
Ameeta Mehra
The Gnostic Centre
New Delhi, 2020

3. Note 1: This compilation on Karmayoga has been written
with the perspective of practical guidance for practice. The
philosophy has been kept to the minimum, with introspective
sheets especially designed for the serious practitioner.
Each section is complete in itself, and the reader may begin
his exploration from any point.
Note 2: All the books in this series have emerged from
workshops on these subjects, and therefore have been
especially designed for theory and practice.
Note 3: This compilation, mainly consisting of extracts from
the published works of The Mother and Sri Aurobindo,
is intended to give the reader a basic idea on the subject
chosen, which may inspire him to make an in-depth study
of their complete works. Titles, captions and introductions
are given by the compiler. Sources from which the passages
have been extracted are mentioned in the list of references
at the end of the book.
All other passages (by the compiler or from other writers) are
referenced at the bottom of the page where the passage ends.
ii

4. A hidden Power is the true Lord
and overruling Observer of our
acts and only he knows through
all the ignorance and perversion
and deformation brought in by
the ego their entire sense and
ultimate purpose.
Sri Aurobindo
iii

5. iv
KARMAYOGA
Perfection in Work
Acknowledgment
I would like to mention a
special word of thanks to the
following:
Dr. Nirodbaran who has
guided my study and practice
on the path.
R i t i k a G o y a l fo r h e r
unfailing support and legal
and financial efforts for making
these compilations possible.
Anuradhaforherpainstaking
and tireless work in typing,
formatting and contributing to
the layout.
Kirti for her back-up support.
M y f a m i l y f o r t h e i r
encouragement.
Sri Aurobindo Ashram Trust
for the permission to quote
from the collected works of Sri
Aurobindo and The Mother.
Elisabeth Beck for her
permission to use photographs
taken by her.
Ameeta Mehra
The Interactive
Self-Discovery Series
Copyright © Reserved
Ameeta Mehra
Compilation 2000
Published by
The copyright of
the works of Sri
Aurobindo and The
Mother belongs to
the Sri Aurobindo
A s h r a m Tr u s t ,
Pondicherry, India.
The Gnostic Centre

6. v
Approach to the Book
Dear Reader,
There is a growing belief, especially amongst
mystics and yogis, that the 21st century will be a new
spiritual age of awakening, an age when once again
Man will turn towards an integration of spirit and
matter in life.
We see already around us, the signs of this
dawning, with the increasing growth of meditation
courses, reiki, pranic healing and various new age
movements.
India, the ancient home of spiritual knowledge, is
increasingly being called upon by the world at large to
pour forth her ever-present wisdom and knowledge
in the spiritual and yogic sciences.
Amongst the various paths she has developed and
brought forth, the path of Karmayoga, Perfection in
Life and Works through yoga, would perhaps be the
most sought after as it is most in keeping with the
modern day spirit. For Man is fed up with the old
modes of life, and is seeking for a divinity in action
and life, not in some far beatific beyond.
Therefore these passages on Karmayoga have
been compiled, keeping in view our modern day
demand and need.
Ameeta Mehra

7. vi
Contents
Approach to the book v
INTRODUCTION TO KARMAYOGA 1
What is Karma? 1
What is Yoga? 3
Karmayoga 4
SIGNIFICANCE OF WORK 9
The True Motive in Work 15
Integral Karmayoga 19
How to Choose Work 22
A Personal Analysis Worksheet 27
ATTITUDE TOWARDS WORK 29
Five Rules laid down in the Gita 31
Three Conditions of Success 36
Remember and Offer 39
'Niskama Karma' Worksheet 40
Meaning of 'Not to have Preferences' 43
A Few Questions 55

8. vii
STEPS IN KARMAYOGA 59
Spirit of Self-consecration: First Step 61
Renunciation of All Attachment
to the Result: Second Step 65
Abolition of the Ego-sense: Third Step 71
IS BUSINESS SOMETHING TAINTED? 77
DIFFICULTIES IN WORK 83
Working Faster and Better 85
TOWARDS PERFECTION 89
Total Conversion 89
The Delight of Works 93
STORIES 101
Garuda's Compassion 101
"Everything" 107
References 112
Picture Credits 114
Suggested Reading 115
A Note on Sri Aurobindo & The Mother 116
On The Gnostic Centre 118
About the Compiler 120

9. viii

10. 1
INTRODUCTION TO
KARMAYOGA
What is Karma?
Karma has a vast and profound meaning.
By Karma is meant all works, all action,
all thought. Therefore any action, even
so-called 'inaction' or meditation, eating,
sleeping, thinking can be called Karma.
Seeing it from this perspective, all life is a
field of Karma. In the Bhagavad Gita, it is
stated: "No one remains without doing any
work even for a moment; everyone is made
to do action helplessly by the modes, gunas,
born of prakriti."
Therefore, Karma in this book has
been presented keeping both the aspect of
action or work in mind, as also its wider
connotation.*
*
Compiler