YOGIC SERVICE
Karma
Yoga is
Love in Action
By Pamela Tosh / Karma Yogi IndiPam
Serve, love, give, purify, meditate, realize...these are the
words of one of the greatest Karma Yogis this world will
ever know, Sri Swami Sivananda, father of Rishikesh.
T
he essence of this truth is
deeply rooted in Rishikesh
which has become the world’s
gateway to spiritual
enlightenment, however there is a great
lack of understanding and practise of
this yogic art. If there were ever any
additional words one could include in
this phrase to offer more insight into the
progression of ‘the journey’ they would
be, in my opinion, transformation and
expansion.
My first journey to India in June/July
2013 defined my purpose and gave me
belief in something far greater than ‘I’,
my ‘Self’. I was 37 years old, weighing 78
kilograms, on anti-depressants. Using
the words ‘unhappy with my life and my
looks’ was an understatement. During
this time I experienced the worst
monsoon floods in over 88 years which
caused devastating effects in the
northern region leaving many, including
already homeless sadhus, in dire
circumstances. I was compelled with
the skills I had to begin working on the
52 www.yogicherald.com Oct./Nov. 2019
streets providing specialist foot care,
first aid, and health and hygiene
education. Since then my humanitarian
efforts have extended towards various
animal, social and environmental
initiatives. In a natural motherly role I
became a carer and friend for many,
and am assured of a much deeper soul
connection to those I have touched.
6 Years later, looking back on all that
has been accomplished, including the
challenges and sacrifices, there is
evidence that Karma Yoga is a 21st
century solution to the dilemma many
yogis are facing in a saturated and
competitive industry.
Karma Yoga can inspire, unleash creative
potential, change attitudes and become
an important tool for growth and
development in anyone’s life. And, it can
bring in a new perspective, clarity and
abundance, for yoga teachers struggling
to find their individuality and true purpose.
In these years I have experienced an
evolution of my own consciousness, a
spiritual awakening, and, a desire to
fulfil a calling. I have also repeatedly felt
a burning desire to ‘return home’ and
have ultimately realized it is loving and
nurturing a relationship with oneself
that connects us to the Divine.
Understanding how to apply the
techniques offers one an opportunity to
become reacquainted with a deeper,
truer sense of self, healing many different
aspects of mind, body and spirit to
bring one into union with God, LOVE.
Devotion to living this way, as the true
essence of man, has given me the
energy to pursue humanitarian work
and overcome many obstacles. The
phrase ‘the truth will set you free’, as
cliché as it may sound, is true when one
openly receives this knowledge, applies
and practises it with conviction,
renouncing all action in service, and
without expectation of reward.
Receiving some basic knowledge during
my first two hundred hour yoga teacher
training was a catalyst to an