Karma - Le Guide d'un yogi pour façonner sa destinée

by Sadhguru, Fabrice Midal (Contributor)

Le karma n'est pas seulement le tribut que nous payons, positif ou négatif, à nos vies antérieures. Il est aussi notre destin, qui est dans le creux de nos mains. Sadhguru, l'un des principaux maîtres spirituels vivants, présente une nouvelle perspective libératrice sur ce qu'est le " karma ".
Oubliez tout ce que vous croyez savoir de cette notion. Le karma n'est en rien une sorte de bilan de vos bonnes et de vos mauvaises actions qui déterminerait de façon irréversible votre existence. En vérité, le karma désigne votre capacité d'agir, de transformer votre vie, il est donc la condition même de votre bonheur !
Dans Karma, Sadhguru vous montrera comment passer du statut de passager soumis aux aléas de la vie, inquiet et souvent malheureux, à celui de conducteur confiant.
Un livre qui vous donnera toutes les clés pour découvrir
comment inventer votre propre destinée.

Genres: Spirituality, Self Help, Nonfiction, Philosophy, Psychology, Personal Development, Audiobook

336 pages, Pocket Book

First published April 27, 2021

About the author

Sadhguru is a yogi, mystic and visionary. Named one of India's 50 most influential people, Sadhguru's work has touched the lives of millions worldwide through his transformational programs. Sadhguru has a unique ability to make the ancient yogic sciences relevant to contemporary minds. His approach does not ascribe to any belief system but offers methods for self-transformation that are both proven and powerful.

An internationally renowned speaker and author​ of the New York Times Bestseller Inner Engineering, A Yogi's Guide to Joy, Sadhguru has been an influential voice at major global forums including the United Nations and the World Economic Forum, addressing issues as diverse as socioeconomic development, leadership and spirituality. He has also been invited to speak at leading educational institutions, including Oxford, London Business School, IMD, Stanford, Harvard, Yale, Wharton and MIT. In February 2017, Sadhguru was the recipient of the Padma Vibhushan Award by the Government of India, the highest annual civilian award, accorded for exceptional and distinguished service.

Dedicated to the physical, mental and spiritual wellbeing of humanity and gifted with utter clarity of perception, Sadhguru possesses a perspective on life that never fails to intrigue, challenge and surprise all those he encounters. Sadhguru established Isha Foundation, a non-profit, volunteer-run organization operating in more than 300 centers and supported by over 11 million volunteers worldwide. Through powerful yoga programs for inner transformation and inspiring social outreach initiatives, Isha Foundation has created a massive movement dedicated to addressing all aspects of human wellbeing.

Sadhguru has also initiated several projects for social revitalization, education and the environment through which millions of people have been given the means to overcome poverty, improve their quality of life and achieve community-based, sustainable development.

In the fall of 2017, Sadhguru initiated Rally For Rivers, a nationwide campaign aiming to implement sustainable and long-term policy changes to revitalize India's severely depleted rivers, which found great support among India's people and leadership. With over 162 Million individuals pledging their support, Rally for Rivers is the largest ecological movement in the world to date. In the fall of 2019, Sadhguru launched Cauvery Calling, a uniquely modelled project that focuses on enhancing farmer wealth while simultaneously impacting river flow and riverine ecosystems. It will enable farmers in the Cauvery basin spanning Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, to plant 2.42 billion trees.

In the United States, Isha Foundation is headquartered at the Isha Institute of Inner-sciences in the Cumberland Plateau of Tennessee, Isha Institute is established as infrastructure for raising human consciousness and offers a variety of programs that provide methods for anyone to explore and experience the yogic science in its full depth.

About Sadhguru: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_co...

Visit - https://sadhguru.org/karma

Reviews

[Kevin Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading an advance copy of Sadhguru’s “Karma” book was a profound experience. It brought back glimpses I have had of the unknowable and unexplainable, and finally gave them meaning and context.

In the book Sadhguru describes karma as a vast library of past, present, and future events – a place he said he often ventures into for answers to life’s most complex questions. So many times, I’ve seen someone ask Sadhguru a question, and then he glances away and closes his eyes for a split second, and then returns with the perfect answer.

Sadhguru has explained in “Karma” how we are creating new additions for the karmic library, and how we can gain more control over the direction our lives are taking. It becomes clear when reading this book why Sadhguru stresses responsibility and awareness in Inner Engineering, and the inevitability of the moment – because of each of us are creating our lives using a karmic pattern that everyone who has ever lived on this planet has contributed to.

How did we get to where we are now in life? Where is it going next? Why does the groupthink of society seem to be going in the wrong direction? All of the answers are in this karmic library of experiences, memory, and potential futures.

So, what can we do to change it with the small hands, head, and heart that we have? That is the essence of why I was first moved by Sadhguru. Working together, we might be able to help the world change course.

I think Sadhguru’s book, “Karma,” could be the first step in that direction for many people who have not yet experienced what we have as Isha meditators. It provides answers to so many deep questions. That’s why I highly recommend getting a copy of this book, reading it for yourself, and then sharing it with your friends.

[Arvind Benegal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Karma means Action. Your life is your Karma. It is entirely your doing!

With these simple yet profound truths, Sadhguru delves into exploring the mechanics of this oft misunderstood and maligned word. It leaves the reader with said truths prevailing and shining through this riveting and utterly absorbing user manual, which most of humanity has unfortunately long ignored to pay attention to.

The book aims to completely upend the conventional misinterpretation of the term Karma, and succeeds brilliantly by providing utmost clarity about what it really is! What becomes clear through the entirety of this wonderfully crafted manual is that Karma is the most dynamic way to exist, and brings to fore our own limitations in dealing with it head on. Karma is an elaborate and sophisticated mechanism, but we simply don’t have a grip on it, primarily because we haven’t taken charge of our life and faculties!

Even when one is not doing anything in particular, one’s body, mind, emotions and energy are all in action. These four actions of Karma are happening every moment of one’s life - in wakefulness and in sleep. The real question is how much of it has been conducted consciously, and how much is purely accidental?

With his inimitable wit and wisdom, Sadhguru demystifies this complex subject into a practical guide, enabling and empowering one to craft one’s own destiny.

[Tina Shah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sadhguru has written a masterpiece, a beautiful one-of-a-kind book on what it means to be a human being and what we can do right now.

Karma is a trip! For a long time, I thought that the point of life was to get good karma to have a pleasant life. It turns out karma is not what I thought it was. It's not something to get ahead of. Instead, it is an absolute miracle worth exploring.

Read this book if you want to be amazed, empowered, and want an action plan for life.

[Christine Perakis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had no idea, before reading Sadhguru’s Karma book, just how wrong I got it. I thought that “karma” was a system of punishments and rewards, that when misfortune happened, I was paying back a past-due debt, and good deeds were a deposit towards some future reward. Even if I handled whatever was thrown my way, I secretly believed that I didn’t really have control, and life felt like suffering – a series of judgments of good and bad, with no equanimity.


In this beautiful, eye-opening book, Sadhguru turns the tables by showing us clearly that Karma is an empowering possibility for taking charge of our lives by choosing how we respond to what is happening. This book gives us the tools and actual practices to make this shift in taking responsibility, as the first step towards our true liberation and a more conscious planet.


Sadhguru challenges us to start by bringing joy and gratitude to everything we do, and eliminating a single question, “what about me?” as a necessary step to annihilate an inflated sense of self-importance to reach our true potential, as individuals and as a part of humanity. I cannot think of a more important book to share!

[Ashish Iyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sadhguru has broken the karma concept in easy language. It gives a clear understanding of the term karma and give clear meaning with prompt examples for better understanding. How living in the moment makes such a big difference and why it is important. It dispels many misconceptions about Karma and make us realized how lightly we are using 'karma' word for everything. Each chapter has Sadhana or Kriya for practice. This book will change the very purpose of life. Even his previous book Death changed many perspective of mine. It changes the way how we look towards life. I recommend everyone to read his Karma and Death book. Enlightening read they were.

[Ahselhs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book about KARMA! That too by SADHGURU!!!! OMG! Karm Yog book by Swami Vivekanand had always been a gem of my life, I reread that book every year. And now knowing that I'll get to read more about it from Sadhguru's perspective is just ❤

[S Sharma · Rating 1 out of 5]

Nothing New Here

I see nothing special about this book. The topics herein have been discussed umpteen times ad nauseam. There is no unique insight contained within it's pages like many of Osho's literary offerings, no analytical rigor like that produced by the Great Shakyamuni , nothing timeless like the Bible or even more so, the Gita, no poignant commentary like that offered by Krishnamurti , no heartfelt bhakti as amply demonstrated by Ramakrishna and no evidence of deep realization anywhere , as possessed by the greatest of all modern saints, Ramana Maharshi.

Skip this light reading in favor of the aforementioned authors.

[Avani ✨ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Karma: A Yogi's Guide to Crafting Your Destiny by Sadhguru is a new perspective on the overused and misunderstood concept of "karma" that offers the key to happiness and enlightenment. The book definitely holds a lot of goodness to it. I have been always wanted to read his books, and hence I picked this up.

In Karma, Sadhguru seeks to put you back in the driver's seat, turning you from a terror-struck passenger to a confident driver navigating the course of your own destiny. By living consciously and fully inhabiting each moment, you can free yourself from the cycle.

Karma is an exploration and a manual, restoring our understanding of karma to its original potential for freedom and empowerment instead of a source of entanglement. Through Sadhguru's teachings, you will learn how to live intelligently and joyfully in a challenging world.

I am currently half way through the book and I am quite impressed with the thoughs and writings of Sadhguru in this book. But however, there are some lessons and learning which does not line with my principles, but nevertheless, this happens with every spiritual and self-help book, and we should always seek to explore new perspectives on these topics.

[Trent · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading “Karma” was a profound journey of realizing just how little I actually understood about karma. As I came to terms with all the falsehoods I’ve held about this term, I began to understand that karma offers the possibility of living in a conscious and inclusive manner.

“Karma” illustrated the immense agency I have in moving from habitual and compulsive patterns to action that is discerning and conducive for my growth. I have found its insights trickling into my daily routine and activities -- continuous reminders that my life is my making. I no longer see karma as a bondage or punishment system; rather, I experience it as a pathway to a liberated life.

Beyond all the lessons learned, what stood out most to me was Sadhguru’s emphasis on the miracle of being human: we have the potential to live in absolute freedom, crafting an enduring experience of joy, bliss and peace. I feel inspired to work upon myself and see my life as an intentional expression of my happiness -- no longer a pursuit of it.

[Suresh Alankar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sadhguru’s Karma book is a riveting read, a must for all interested in understanding how life works.

Sadhguru totally shatters the myth that karma is destiny and so many other myths that have gathered around this word. He methodically, and painstakingly explains in detail how karma actually works and how it can be a source of our empowerment. He anticipates, counters and answers our unasked questions through out the book, including specific questions in the latter part of the book. He speaks from a certain knowing, and his piercing logic and clarity is apparent in the precise, and sometimes brutal, honesty with which he discusses the topic.

This book can be looked at as a treatise on Karma. It explores the topic intellectually and in great detail, for example, defining and classifying the different types of karma. At the same time, it is a practical guide that can be used to live one’s life consciously and joyfully. In the second part of the book, he gives specific methods and tools how one can do this and move towards liberation.

In his own inimitable style, Sadhguru intersperses the discussion on Karma with deeply insightful and witty stories which drive the point home beautifully.

The ultimate goal of the author is to get us started on a journey of self exploration of “freedom and discovery. “ He states, he is “ not interested in offering spiritual advice. …What I offer is a way, a living process”

In many ways, I felt this is a book about how life works and how we can use the process of life to create our destiny.

It is a book highly recommended for all- the novice, the intellectual, the academic, the seeker, the spiritual or simply, the curious ones.

[Rodrigo Herrera · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Karma” de Sadhguru es un libro transformador que ofrece claridad cuando la vida parece confusa o abrumadora. Al leerlo, uno se da cuenta de que muchas de las cosas a las que solemos darles tanta importancia son en realidad triviales y transitorias. Sadhguru nos guía hacia una comprensión más profunda de nuestras prioridades, enseñándonos que el verdadero valor está en el momento presente, en soltar el pasado y dejar de preocuparnos tanto por el futuro.

El autor explica cómo el karma no es un castigo o una recompensa, sino una acumulación de nuestras acciones, pensamientos y emociones que influyen en nuestra percepción y experiencia de la vida. Lo más revelador es cómo plantea que para trascender, debemos dejar de aferrarnos a nuestro ego y a la necesidad de sobresalir. Como él lo dice, “nadie que deja huella puede volar”. Esto implica renunciar al peso del ego y de nuestras ambiciones egoístas si realmente queremos vivir libres de karmas.

Sadhguru también enfatiza que la verdadera liberación del karma sucede cuando dejamos de cuestionarnos constantemente “¿and what about me?”. Ese enfoque constante en el “yo” es lo que nos ata y nos hace cargar karmas, pero al desprendernos de esa perspectiva, comenzamos a vernos como parte de algo mucho más grande.

En conclusión, Karma es un libro que ayuda a reorganizar los pensamientos y las prioridades, poniendo en perspectiva lo que realmente importa en la vida y mostrando el camino hacia una existencia más consciente y trascendente. Es una lectura recomendada para quienes buscan sentido en sus experiencias y desean liberarse de los condicionamientos que ellos mismos han creado.

[Kushagra Singh · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book cannot contain Karma as a concept and its intricacies; Karma is an experience that dawns upon a seeker in time. Sadhguru isn’t trying to explain intricate philosophies as well via the book. Through the book, he espouses a way of living that no matter what kind of action you perform, you can make it joyful for you.

What I most admire and resonate with Sadhguru is how he treats karma as a matter of taking responsibility. Without getting into endless debates on how, what, when, why (although such themes are addressed to an extent), the reader is encouraged to take stock of what is and try and make something good from it for themselves and the world around them.

The long time followers of Sadhguru’s work will not find any new content as such. Much of the book’s content has already been disseminated in Inner Engineering programs, the Inner Engineering book etc. However, the book is a nice reinforcement of the good ideas accumulated from the programs and is a page turner.

Everyone will enjoy the book as well written, easily understood (at least on gross level) and comes handy with nice exercises (Sadhna) one can try and experiment by themselves.

A pleasant read. 😊

[Seon Ji (Dawn) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good but a bit confusing, or overwhelming, to me at times.

Sadhguru is a fully enlighten being, and speaks from experience and observation.

There is an abundance of information and I would say that not everyone will be receptive to what is conveyed. He asks only that you explore and observe for yourself, not to blindly trust. He intertwines sadhanas, tools for self exploration, so you can do so.


He dispels myths about Karma and explains how one can work toward not accumulating anymore as we all work in this lifetime to burn up our allotted karma.

My only wish is that he elaborate more on certain topics.

[applekern · Rating 1 out of 5]

With 97% of readers liking this book, I am not sure whether we read the same book.
I learned about karma, I am open to many of the ideas and concepts that were presented. I liked the practical advice and the Q&A section in the back. However, I can't help but feel as if I am being lectured to for 300 pages, with superficial examples and twisted "scientific evidence".

[mahesh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Received this copy on Apr 27th, Content in the book try to debunk the myth and distortion corrupting the meaning of "Karma". Once you reach the ending of the book, Your discretion theory of Karma will take a turn towards personal responsibility. The book is divided into three segments Firstly, it reveals the fallacy in our understanding of Karma and offers an authentic meaning. Secondly, it explores Karma yoga and the reduction of different types of karma through conscious practice. Every main topic ends with Sadhana in between to assimilate practice along with the wisdom. Lastly, books end with a question and answers related to Karma.
Though Content is enlightening and profound, You might get jaded to read if you have read Sadhguru's previous book because all these topics are explored in a separate chapter of the previous books.

If you need an honest answer, I have learned nothing novel here, the Sole purpose of buying this book is to contribute to the ISHA Foundation for the good fare of those in need. If you are already read Karma yoga by Vivekandad and previous books By Sadhguru, You might not be going to enjoy it entirely.

[Agas · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this book as it was lying around somewhere when I was traveling. Sadhguru is the master of hand-waving rather than anything else. I love how he always tries to build a construct with such authoritarianism. It is funny and at the same time amusing to me how a large audience gets sucked into it.

The whole book is a lot of fluff without much information to distill. This book is just basically "thoughts become actions ..." lesson packaged in an elborate jargon-filled bag targeted clearly towards his prime addressable market - insecure, money-rich, time-poor American Indian techies who grab on to anything to feel rescued. I love how we pay for marketing material these days. Totally BS, just dont waste your money and time on this.

Another strange thing is the author of the book is 'Sadhguru'. Nowhere does it say who Sadhguru refers to. In one shot, he sheds liability and uses his organization brand as the author. If he wants to take ownership of the content and stand by it, he should use his name 'Jaggi Vasudev'

[Arsh · Rating 3 out of 5]

If Karma revisits us from the past, it doesn't matter whether it is a past life or yesterday. Things can only be dealt with in the present.

This book contains some of the deep questions that have been contemplated by sages and seers for centuries that could settle a tensed and distracted mind and explore such deep questions.

However, its not very fruitful to use the doctrine of Karma to explain the world.
Worrying about the Karma of other people is in the end a useless preoccupation by itself.

[Katherine · Rating 1 out of 5]

It did not happen.

[Faiyam Rahman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sadhguru has been a part of my life since late 2017 when I took his InnerEngineering course and learned Shambhavi Mahamudra Kriya. Since then I've learned several other practices offered by him through the Isha Foundation, and I am truly truly grateful for how profoundly they've changed my life.

With this new book on Karma, Sadhguru is continuing on in his way of bringing a fresh and incisive way of expounding age old concepts. By now everyone has heard the word Karma and has some rudimentary idea of what it means.

What Sadhguru does in this book is break apart our rudimentary ideas on Karma to instead show us the deep mechanics of his this residue of all our past volition drives so much of our lives. And moreover, he gives us an intellectual foundation upon which to understand how to use this unavoidable existential mechanism to our favor. He explains the science, and then begins to point the way towards the technology that can transform karma from a source of bondage to a means for a divine existence.

If you're genuinely curious to know how to take your life to the next level (and beyond), this book can do wonders for you.

[Annette · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fascinating read, not that I understood everything. It’s one of those reads that I’d have to go back to understand it better. But the way we understand Karma is not the correct way. It’s not about good and bad or reward and punishment. We have the tendency to turn outward, but we need to turn inward hundred percent. Karma is about action, our action, our responsibility. How we behave and respond to what is happening to us becomes the accumulation of our Karma.

This concept aligns with the concept of spirituality. We need to turn a finger towards ourselves hundred percent. Whatever is happening to us, good or bad, is a lesson for us, not for someone else. By understanding this and living consciously fully each moment, we can free ourselves from the cycle of Karma. Once we understand why certain thing keeps happening to us and once we make a correction, we break the cycle.

Sadhguru makes a poignant point that with modern medicine, we can prolong life but the problem is we don’t know how to properly take care of our mental state. The pursuit of external science and technology should be accompanied by a pursuit of inner well-being.

This is an empowering read, teaching us how to live intelligently and joyfully in a challenging world.

[Niv · Rating 4 out of 5]

For most of us, karma is what we want it to be. It's the amorphous benevolent force that rewards us for our charity and punishes us for our crimes. We believe that it is a system that gives us what we deserve, whatever we deserve, based on how good or bad of a person we've been. While this idea may bring a certain kind of solace, it's clear to most that it isn't a true reflection of how life works. "Bad" things happen to "good" people, and vice versa. If karma as we know it exists, then how can we explain the fact that our world is rife with injustices?

The answer is that karma as we know it is not karma as it is. In Karma: A Yogi's Guide to Crafting Your Destiny, Sadhguru dismantles our misconceptions surrounding the concept and offers a detailed explanation of exactly what karma is and how it operates in our lives. However, this book isn't a simple how-to manual; it does not dictate how you should live your life. It is a book that calls for self-evaluation. It calls for us to ask ourselves: what does it look like to consciously live life?

Regardless of whether or not you connect to the mystical aspects this book, it is chock full of useful nuggets that you can carry into everyday life. It's also quite an entertaining read if you enjoy fables, as Sadhguru uses many stories to help illustrate his points. Spiritually, it's the kind of book that evolves with you and calls forth a deeper level of introspection each time you read it. I personally foresee myself returning back to this book time and time again.

Thanks to Goodreads and Harmony Books for the free copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Maya RizkAllah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I always thought spiritual books are bound to be boring.
This book proved me wrong, big time! The clarity, simplicity, and profoundness with which Sadhguru unravels the mechanism of Karma is phenomenal. Spiced up with jokes, clear examples, and unparalleled insight into the human mind, patterns, and tendencies, this book is a must-read for everyone who wishes to take full control of their life and experience what success really is.

[Karn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was waiting for this book, and I am loving it so far. Every so often I need to stop and think. It's getting my brain going because its giving me a new context to look at my past. Its surreal at times. Not to mention, the stories sadhguru tells have me rolling--he's a funny man.

I wish this book came out years ago. Better late than never.

[Vaishali]

Just wow.

Notes
————

“Conceptual knowledge is the way of the academic. Perceptual knowledge is the way of the yogi.”

“In shifting responsibility from heaven to oneself, one becomes the very maker of one’s destiny.”

“Although karma means action, it does not necessarily refer to physical deeds… karma is action on three levels: body, mind, and energy.”

“Your five senses are collecting data from the outside world every moment of your life. You are literally being bombarded with stimuli at every instant. Over time, this enormous volume of sense impressions begins to assume a certain distinctive pattern within you. This pattern slowly shapes itself into behavioral tendencies. A cluster of tendencies hardens over time into what you call your personality, or what you claim to be your true nature… This becomes your karma - an orientation to life that you have created for yourself in relative unawareness.”

“… Karma is like old software that you have written for yourself unconsciously… As time goes on, your turn into a puppet of your accumulated past.. The backup systems are so efficient that even if you lose your body or your mind, you still do not lose your karma.”

“If one does not consciously rewrite one’s karmic software, the regularity of the pattern can feel like it is being imposed from without, rather than initiated from within. But this software is not a fate to be endured. It can be rewritten, dropped, or distanced…”

“… Whatever happens in the mind immediately imprints itself on the body as a chemical process… If you think of mountains, for instance, your chemistry will react in one way; if you think of tigers it reacts in another. So for every minute mental fluctuation there is a certain type of chemical reaction and sensation… You are therefore a living repository of karmic memory on levels you are not aware of.”

“If you touch the firmament of your mind just once, the resulting ripples are enough to keep going for lifetimes.”

“Over time, this has a cumulative impact on cellular and genetic memory, as well as on the energy system.”

“The unconscious mind is therefore a tremendous library of karmic memory. You will find this information very useful if you were approaching it consciously.”

“So karma is not some external system of crime and punishment. It is an internal cycle generated by you.”

“The solar cycle is a period of 4356 days (nearly 12 years). Someone who lives according to the solar cycle leads a life of great health, well-being, alignment and minimal friction.”

“If your life runs in 3-6 month cycles, you are in a serious state of psychological imbalance. The same inner upheavals or life situations will keep recurring every few months.”

“With yogic practices, the aspiration is to move toward the solar cycle so your balance and stability are assured… you no longer wear your karma as a tight-skinned garment; you learn to wear it more loosely.”

“However it does not matter what volumes of karma you have; the moment you start stepping into the subtler dimensions of etheric and bliss bodies, your karma cannot touch you. The law of cause and effect can operate only on the physical, mental and energy levels… The moment you begin to taste the divine… your karma has no hold over you.”

“Depending on the type of [vasana] you emit, you attract certain kinds of life situations to yourself.”

“Depending on the nature of the work, I adjust the tone of my vasana… this is the way every spiritual master operates.”

“Every individual’s energies carry a certain fragrance. The physical body falls back to the earth; however the residue of each one of our thoughts, actions, and above all our energies lingers on… The more conscious the energy work, the more enduring it is.”

“The moment you view everyone with love, your intention is automatically inclusive. Regardless of what blunders you commit in the name of love, the karsti not accumulate beyond a point. Your intention makes all the difference. If you say something prompted by love, and another person gets hurt, that is his karma, not yours. But if you say something out of hatred and another person has no problem with it, it is good karma for them and not for you!
“It is not difficult to guess which will breed the worst karmas. By worst I do not mean the most immoral; I mean that which creates the worst consequences for you.”

“…[Operate] out of a state of inner fulfillment rather than inner hankering. Once this is accomplished your life becomes an expression of bliss, not a pursuit of it.”

“On an unconscious mission of self-destruction, we have compromised this extraordinary birthright of being the true masters of our life.”

“If you allow humanity to overflow, the divine will happen.”

“The rocks and trees and various objects around you are throwing out different vibrations right now. Every pebble, every stone, is saying something. The problem is only that most people are not sensitive enough to hear them or do not possess enough attention to decipher their language.”

“As the karmic volume increases in volume, the discerning mind becomes almost useless, because you now work largely by habits, patterns and cycles.”

“Suffering has to be baked fresh every day.”

“… I consciously remember several lifetimes. But I do not carry this as a burden…. I carry much more memory than most but I am not encumbered by it because I keep it at a distance.”

“Those who want to leave footprints will never fly.”

“I am an energy mechanic, above all else.”

“… Your physical body will age and decay. The mental body is a wonderful instrument but it can also rust with age… The energy body however can be completely unaffected by the aging process. You can maintain it just the way it was when you were born and keep it in mint fresh condition until you die.”

“… Kriya, a powerful yogic process that renews and reinvigorates the energy body… it does not involve the physical or mental body….If practiced regularly it ensures that the energy body remains vibrant and alive.”

“Most people unfortunately do not exercise their energy body so it remains weak.”

“… in a state of samadhi, or equanimity, when the dance of duality no longer touches you, you can play the external game if you want, otherwise internally you are fine just as you are.”

[Tarini Chandrashekhar · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm only writing the review of this book so that the reader knows what they should be expecting when picking up the book because to actually review the book would be like explaining the ocean with a drop, and it would imply I comprehended everything mentioned in the book, which I don't, yet. In the modern context, we throw around Karma as a blanket phrase to mean the 'punishing hand', 'an excuse to explain our inaction', and even as a lazy explanation for 'doing good deeds', 'being good', or 'being nice'. Rarely does Karma get mentioned and comprehended in the context of work that needs to be done, and its intent, without polluting it with the subjective ideas of good or bad.

There are many interesting and deep concepts concerning Karma, which are introduced throughout the book, and it might be overwhelming but if I had to observe a recurring theme throughout the book, which even the author admits to, openly, is the Karma Paradox - one who bases his every activity to shed his karma, is the one who ends up accumulating it more. It's something like living your life walking the rope of total involvement and abandonment all at once. It seems counter-intuitive at first if you're reading this. But the way this book puts it, it suddenly becomes clear, that if you're totally involved with the process, somewhere in the belly of the process, you've already distanced yourself from the outcome, and therefore your abandon is a natural outcome of your total involvement at the moment.

As is with most books, you'll only read it, when it's time to receive it. Until you're internally ready to be a receptacle, it might be hard to finish the book. So, it's okay, if you pick it up and then leave it for later. It doesn't reflect anything other than the fact that it isn't time yet.

[Dr Kashmira Gohil · Rating 4 out of 5]

'Karma' by sadguru is a highly readable book to understand as to how the 'karma' in human life operates contrary to the people's belief of it just as a reward or punishment system for good or bad behaviour, that It's certainly more than that. The 1st part of the book, sadguru explains, what is karma and it's cyclical nature which affects three main layers of a human being, annamayakosha (physical body made up of food), manomayakosha (mental body) and pranmayakosha (energy body). He explains in detail about the collective karma (sanchit karma) and the prarabdha karma (present karma). In the 2nd part of the book,sadguru, explains as to how one can become free of this tedium of cyclic pattern of karma. Each chapter ends with a brief 'sadhna' session where certain breif steps are described as a spiritual discourse to start doing certain things to free yourself from collecting karma or free yourself from one. Intention plays a powerful role in doubling karma than the action and the present moment is more powerful than past (memories) or future (imagination) is what sadguru clarified in the book. The 3rd part of the book deals with queries of devotees answered by sadguru. The book is easy to read and understand -even the complex concept of karma and the chapters are also interspersed with little anecdotes of shankaran pillai as a quaintessential hero invented by the sadguru for humor. 4 stars for this one. Highly Recommended.

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like many people, I have always viewed karma as something negative that comes back to you as a result of misdoings on your part. After reading Karma by Sadhguru, I now realize that I have been looking at karma the wrong way. This very enlightening book explains that karma is neither good nor bad and has nothing to do with punishment or reward. Instead, karma means action and, as such, can be used to improve all aspects of one’s life. Divided into three parts, the first part of this book is spent on thoroughly explaining karma and how our lives are entangled within. Interesting scenarios are presented that help clarify and increase understanding. In the second part, we learn ways in which to free ourselves from karmic entanglements to live our best lives. The final section consists of questions that have been posed to the author and his corresponding answers. All in all, this book is filled with sage advice and will make you look at karma differently from before. I think everyone could learn something from this book and I would especially recommend it to readers who enjoy a more mystical view of things.
Disclosure: I received a free copy from Harmony Books in exchange for a free and unbiased review.

[Manuela M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can remember hearing the word Karma since I was in grammar school. Everyone was using it especially when they thought something unfortunate happened to someone they would immediately say, “Oh it’s their karma.”

I was reluctant to buy into that explanation for the events that play out in someone’s life-whether good or bad. That always felt like a trap or a blanket to hide under. But I was not able to find anything new on the subject although I read a lot of books and attended several lectures through the years. I wanted a better understanding of the concept and how one could use it to work on oneself and progress on the spiritual path.

And now finally here it is. This book takes you from a basic premise to a vivid explanation with some practices (sadhana) as well. It offers opportunities for self-reflection and verification. Best of all it offers a way to be renewed and fresh each day! – now that’s freedom!

[Daksh Jindal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such an amazing book which goes deep into my favourite part of Bhagwad Gita that is Karma yoga.
The way Sadhguru describes Karma and relates it to our real life is just eye opening. Part 1 of the book is my favourite as it goes deep into the practicalities of Karma and how to unchain ourselves from different types of Karmic memories.
Part 2 and 3 goes deep into metaphysical world which is a little difficult grasp but very fascinating to imagine. I can’t comment on that part much as I need to experience it to believe and I am sure I will experience it one day.
Overall a very good book which makes you feel like Sadhguru is sitting in front of you revealing all the yogic knowledge.

[Sharang Limaye · Rating 2 out of 5]

Underwhelming for the non-believer. While the author's effort to rationalize some age-old Hindu concepts are welcome, his premise for this book - the need to shed one's karma - is not something that would figure very high on the average Joe's priority list. Also, the very concept of karma remains hazy even after having read the book in its entirety. Then there are the references to Sadhguru's yogic powers that reek of self-aggrandizement. If you are on the lookout for a definitive guide to Hindu philosophy, look elsewhere.