Chapter II, Hinduism, The Way to God through Work, Summary and Analysis

Karma yoga approaches religion on the basis of work and may be practiced in either the jnana or bhakti mode. Its principle is one of surrender to God according to the nature of the individual. It stresses doing what one must do without attachment, adapted to the way each individual sees himself—introspective or looking for the infinite Me. By concentrating on work with a kind of detachment, putting all-out effort into the work, there is no time for laziness, which is a form of selfishness. Whatever style one has for practicing karma, the objective is similar—the jnani sending love energy outward, diminishing self, and the bhakti seeking naughtness by focusing on the Atman within, thus diminishing the ego.