30. Small Efforts, Big Gains
K rishna assures that even baby steps in the practice of karma yoga give good results and this dharma (discipline) protects us from great fears (2.40). The key point to note is that while sankhya yoga is characterised by pure awareness, karma yoga involves efforts. This is a definitive assurance from Lord Krishna for seekers who have just begun their spiritual journey and find the effort daunting. Krishna understands our difficulty and assures us that even a small effort can produce wonderful results. He motivates us to follow the path of nishkaam-karma (unmotivated action) and samatva (equanimity). One approach is to have shraddha (trust) in what Krishna said and start practising His teachings on karma yoga. Over time, as we consistently view our experiences through the lens of karma yoga , our realizations deepen gradually, leading us closer to our inner self. An alternate approach is to understand our fears and realise how the practice of karma yoga can r...