An Analysis of the Impact of Karma Yoga on Creativity A Special Reference to the Bhagavad Gita

Abstract

ABSTRACT newlineAmong the various types of Gita of the Hindu scriptures like the Vidura Gita in the Mahabharata, Rama-Gita in the Ramayana, Hamsa-Gita or the Uddhava Gita in the Bhagavatam, Guru-Gita and Siva-Gita in the Skanda Purana, and the Anu-Gita, the Bhagavad Gita holds an eminent place in the field of literature. The Bhagavad Gita has seven hundred verses in all and is contained in the sixth Parva of the Mahabharata called the Bhishma Parva from chapters twenty-five to forty-two. This universal book of guidance has deeply impacted litterateurs, philosophers, poets and thinkers, and scientists across the world. Humans tend to concentrate on external exploration and neglect their internal connection with themselves, leading to a fragmented and stressful experience of life. In contrast to other beings that are preprogrammed, humans have the capacity for self-awareness and conscious choice, but this potential is often underutilized or overlooked. Do our choices yoke our actions to our purposes? Do they enhance our creative efficacies in our pursuits or do we end up in a vicious circle where actions are motivated by ego and egocentric desires? None can remain without acting even for a minute. Unfortunately, human civilization has been bound in a compulsive frenzy of obsessive actions, attached to the pseudo identifications of one s mind. How can we use our actions to our best advantage such that these energy signatures are creative and fulfilling? The Bhagavad Gita deals with actions in a detailed manner. Karma and Karma Yoga are discussed extensively. While the scholars and academicians have produced a lot of work on the impact of Karma Yoga on leadership, job involvement, motivation in business development professionals, managerial effectiveness, ethical decision making, team building, detached actions, ethical integration, corporate governance, self awareness, time management, conflict resolution and emotional newlineintelligence, much work wasn t done on the impact that Karma Yoga had on creativity. It is a signific