Swamiji on Karma Yoga

People say they are karma yogis because they go to work. Well, the whole world is practicing karma yoga then, right? No, karma yoga, like bhakti yoga, has a very high definition: karma yoga is completely dedicating the mind and body to the work at hand as well as completely dedicating the fruits of that work to God. All work and profits made from that work should help humanity. Until then, you are not a karma yogi: you are only a bhoga yogi—only filling yourself.

Did you think the path of yoga was so easy? No, everything one has—the body, mind, actions, and fruits of those actions—must be dedicated to God; everything one has—not a piece or a little bit—must be offered to God. Then, one qualifies as a bhakti yogi; one qualifies as a karma yogi. Outside of this, you are just like anyone else. Nothing wrong with this’work and be happy; in time, you will properly understand devotion and dedicated action.

— Swami Sai Premananda