When Karma Aligns with Dharma

 When Karma Aligns with Dharma

“Do what you love. Love what you do.”

This is a nice motivational quote. But the reality is, that most of the people do not get to do what they love. Or even if they do, somewhere down the line, they get so drawn into the insignificant things that they can no longer love what they do.

So while these quotes are good to read, they may not be practical.

What is practical?

We must realise that love is not an action. 

Love is the satisfaction you get when your Karma (Action) aligns with your Dharma (Duty).

Sri Krishna says in Bhagavad Geetā (Chapter 2, shloka 38): 

“Fight for the sake of duty, treating alike happiness and distress, loss and gain, victory and defeat. Fulfilling your responsibility in this way, you will never incur sin.”

Arjuna’s dharma (duty) as a warrior was to fight the war. And hence his karma (action) aligned perfectly with his dharma, on the battlefield.

How do we treat work as duty?

By realising the Why behind duty and action.

Duty is not just a job description or a set of KPAs.

Duty is defined by our purpose.

When we identify the purpose behind our actions - be it a job, a business, creative work, social work, or anything - we get a much stronger motivation to do it.

From a corporate perspective:

Purpose can vary by context:

• At a practical professional level: To contribute to organisational growth through assigned role
• At a deeper individual level: To earn livelihood, create value, grow skills, or serve society via business impact.

Duty (Dharma):

• Perform responsibilities sincerely as per assigned role.

Action (Karma):

• Activities that cascade from duty - daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, annual, etc.

When we treat our work as duty,  then there is no need to love or hate it.

Because we achieve much more than just love.

We achieve the deep satisfaction of fulfilling our purpose.

Do you treat your work as duty, or are you still trying to love it?