Karmayoga Analysed through Spinoza’s Perspective on ‘Eternity’ and Bergson’s ‘Élan Vital’Karmayoga Analysed through Spinoza’s Perspective on ‘Eternity’ and Bergson’s ‘Élan Vital’

Abstract

This study aims to unveil the dimensions of karmayoga on duty and action exposed in the Bhagavad Gita from the philosophical perspective of eternity postulated by Spinoza and the concept of élan vital (the vital force or impulse of life) propounded by Bergson. The karmayoga, the yoga of action, postulates the theory of niskama karma, the action that disregards the results. Likewise, it also advocates for renunciation in action: performing actions without being mentally attached to them leads one to an ideal stage because what one thinks becomes one’s will. If the doer performs actions with craving or desires, the purity of action manipulates itself. When the doer rises above these binding factors of action, the banalities of the mundane world become puny. Then one realizes that the creation dwells within, and attains liberation, attaining reality in the whole integrated form. The karmayoga paves the path for the welfare of living beings. This philosophy of action finds its vibrations in the philosophical tenets of Spinoza and Bergson. To explore these concepts, this study implements the qualitative approach to research and exploratory methods. Likewise, Spinoza’s perspective of eternity and Bergson’s élan vital have been applied as the major theoretical lens to unravel the underlying contents and themes of karmayoga. The study opens new perspectives to understand the concepts of the karmayoga from new standpoints.