In the twenty-first century, stress has emerged as a common affliction affecting people across all walks of life. Humankind has made remarkable strides in mastering the material world through cutting-edge technologies. But have we really moved forward when it comes to managing our own minds?
In the fast-paced world of social media and smartphones constantly buzzing, do you ever feel like you can’t catch a break? You are not alone. More and more people are feeling overwhelmed. Stress is particularly prevalent among high-performing corporate professionals, often earning the label of the "executive's disease."
But what exactly does stress do to us? Emotionally, it brings tension, fear, anxiety, and unease. Physically, it can lead to serious health issues like headaches, ulcers, high blood pressure, even heart disease and obesity.
What is Stress?
Stress is the tension and anxiety we feel as we try to keep up with the constant changes around us. Think back to when you were a baby. Didn’t you feel distressed when you were hungry and could not express it except by crying for your mother? Fast-forward to adulthood—your boss is giving you that vague, unsettling comment about your performance. Your mind races: Is my job at risk? And if you are a parent, stress might hit when your child struggles with grades or does not get into the school you had hoped for. No matter your age or stage in life, stress finds a way to sneak in.
Why Does Stress Develop?
Stress develops when we are attached to a particular outcome and worried that things may not turn out as we desire. Consider the businessperson who desires profit but incurs a loss, or the salesperson who misses a target. Their stress does not stem from the events themselves, but from an internal resistance to alternate outcomes. So, how do we deal with this effectively?
Focus on the Process, Not the Outcome
Once we understand the cause, the remedy for stress is simple—give up attachment to preconceived or wishful outcomes of our efforts. Put in your best efforts without attachment to the results. The Bhagavad Gita instructs: karmaṇy-evādhikāras te mā phaleṣhu kadāchana (2.47). ‘You have a right to perform your work, but you are not entitled to the fruits of your actions.’ Relish your work and offer the fruit of your efforts to God.
Hence, do not be attached to outcomes; focus solely on your effort. It is a very small point, but it is this secret of the science of work. It is something that we seem to miss.
After all, efforts are in our control, results are not—they depend on many things. They depend upon several factors such as circumstances, assistance from others, efforts of competitors, sheer luck, coincidence, God’s will, and other factors not always within our control. Thus, wisdom demands that we put in our best efforts and be content with whatever results we get.
Swami Mukundananda beautifully describes this state as NATO—Not Attached To Outcome. This is not an alliance with nations but a pact with your own mind to remain detached from outcomes and give it your best shot. Let us explore an example of working without attachment.
Let Go of the Score and Elevate Your Game
When people step onto the golf course, their minds often become entangled not in the game, but in its outcome—the score that appears on the board. Their thoughts race around numbers: how far under or over par they are, how close they are to winning or losing. And in this constant calculation, they lose sight of the joy that lies in the act of simply playing.
The game becomes reduced to a chase after results. The score becomes the barometer of happiness—if it reads well, the players smile; if it falters, they frown. Their peace hangs on digits, not presence.
But what if, just for a moment, they let go of the obsession with the final tally? What if they turned their awareness fully to each shot, each swing, each breath? In doing so, they would find a quiet joy rising within, unshaken by numbers, rooted in the now.
The golfer becomes calm, clear, and centered. From that stillness, the best game often emerges—not because it was chased, but because it was allowed.
Hence, working without attachment to results enables us to perform our best because we are concentrating on putting our best efforts into the task at hand. The priority becomes delivering excellence at every step by putting in your best effort at the task at hand in the present. In the process, one relishes small achievements and learns from failures, rather than fretting over them. Therefore, getting stressed about outcomes is counterproductive. Instead, focusing on efforts is a better style of working and one that eliminates stress.
Karm Yog – Divine Art of Working Without Attachment
If attachment is indeed the root cause of stress, then how do we transcend it? The Bhagavad Gita offers a profound yet practical solution—it does not ask us to eliminate attachment, but to sublimate it by reorienting our attachment toward the Supreme Divine Personality. This is the essence of Karm Yog.
How do we practice that? Karm Yog is the divine synthesis of karm—our worldly responsibilities—and yog—our inner connection with God. It is the art of living with the body in the world, yet the mind is absorbed in the Divine. A Karm Yogi engages fully in life’s duties, yet inwardly the mind is attached to God.
The practice of karm yog is the main focus of the Bhagavad Gita. It teaches us not to artificially renounce work, thinking of it as cumbersome; instead, to be in internal equilibrium even while doing complex tasks. When Arjun wanted to abdicate his worldly duties because they were too stressful and confusing, Lord Krishna replied, ‘No, Arjun! You have your responsibility to family, society, and the path of righteousness. Do not give it up, rather be a karm yogi.’
sarveṣhu kāleṣhu mām anusmara yudhya cha (Bhagavad Gita 8.7)
‘Remember Me at all times and continue to work.’
Karm Yog is a transformation of consciousness—not in action, but in intention. Most of us work for material gain: money, prestige, and comfort. Our minds are fixed on the fruit of our labor. This desire to enjoy the fruits leads to anxiety and stress.
But Karm Yog shifts the consciousness. The fruit of our work is no longer for us—it is for the pleasure of God. With this single shift in purpose, the same work becomes a spiritual offering. The action remains unchanged, but the intention is purified.
When the mind is in the Supreme, we naturally work for His pleasure, offering the results of our efforts to Him. The Bhagavad Gita states:
yat karoṣhi yad aśhnāsi yaj juhoṣhi dadāsi yat
yat tapasyasi kaunteya tat kuruṣhva mad-arpaṇam (9.27)
‘Whatever you do, whatever you eat, whatever sacrifices you perform, whatever you give away in charity, and whatever austerities you undertake, do them all as an offering unto Me.’
Thus, invested in pleasing the Almighty, karm yogis engage their body in worldly works, but their goal is to please God through them, not self-gratification. So, if they do not get the desired results despite their best exertions, they think, ‘Probably, it was not the will of the Lord. Let me submit to His wish and be happy.’ This sense of detachment frees them from stress, anxiety, tension, and fear.
Karm Yog is the sure-shot way to reduce stress and optimize work.
Let us understand this further through a beautiful story.
A temple is under construction in Vrindavan. Laborers from various states toil under the sun. Ask one, “Why are you working?” and he replies, “For my daily wage.” Another says, “Because it brings me joy.”
Then there are sadhus—holy men—who also join the labor, not for money or comfort, but as an offering to God. The task is the same, but the consciousness is entirely different.
While the first two workers are invested in the fruits of their work, the sadhus are working as an offering to God.
In this way, by consecrating all works for the pleasure of God, we are freed from attachment. By virtue of pure intentions behind our actions, stress disappears.
Practical Examples of Karm Yog
What does karm yog mean for us? Let us understand through some practical examples.
● In family life, develop the consciousness that the family members are all children of God, and one has a responsibility to take care of them for His pleasure.
● While earning, one can think, “I wish to maintain my family and myself with the earnings to enable us all to engage in devotion. And whatever I can save, I will donate in the service of God.”
● When exercising, we can develop divine consciousness: “I need to keep my body healthy so that I can serve God with it.”
Benefits of Karm Yog
Engaging in daily duties while keeping the mind united with the Divine is very powerful. When our consciousness is anchored in God, our entire perspective shifts—we begin to view people, situations, outcomes, and even ourselves through a divine lens. This sacred technique of Karm Yog bestows a multitude of inner and outer benefits:
1. We Understand Our True Identity
We begin to see ourselves as eternal fragments of the Supreme. By seeing yourself as a little piece of the divine, you build a strong self-identity, based not on your ego or social judgment, but on the true reality of your soul. It helps you stay humble.
2. Work Feels Joyful
Our duties are no longer burdens to endure, but opportunities to serve. When you view your daily work as service to the divine, it stops being a boring task. Instead, it becomes something you actually enjoy doing. This shift infuses even the most mundane responsibilities with joy and meaning.
3. You Become Less Stressed About Outcomes
Since you offer the results of your work for the pleasure of the Supreme, you let go of the need for specific outcomes. If you do your best but don’t get the result, you can simply think, 'Maybe this wasn't what the Lord intended right now. I'll just accept His will and be content.' This freedom from specific results is a huge relief, lifting away stress, anxiety, tension, and fear.
4. Harmonious Relationships
By perceiving all beings as manifestations of the Divine, we cultivate respect and compassion in our interactions. Our relationships become more nurturing, grounded in the spirit of mutual service and love.
5. Dissolution of Ego
Constant remembrance of God makes us aware that all abilities and achievements are possible only by His grace. This awareness protects us from the pride of doership and nurtures gratitude.
6. Progress Toward the Ultimate Goal
The supreme aim of human life is God-realization. Karm Yog allows us to advance steadily on the spiritual path without withdrawing from worldly responsibilities.
The Mindset Shift
In material consciousness, we say, “I did it.” “This is mine.” “I deserve the reward.” But in spiritual consciousness, the Karm Yogi says: “This is God’s world. I am His servant. All I do, I do for His pleasure.”
The shift is subtle yet seismic. It is the difference between ego and devotion, between stress and peace.
What happens when you start working in this spirit?
● 🌿Your actions become worship
● 🌿Your stress dissolves
● 🌿Your mind becomes sharp and serene
● 🌿And success — material or spiritual, follows naturally, like a shadow
The most crucial part of this practice is consistently keeping your consciousness connected to God. How to do that? Let us learn.
Practicing the Presence of God
The principle of Karm Yog teaches us to anchor the mind in the Divine alone, while fully engaging in our duties in the world. How do we implement this wisdom in our daily life? One powerful way is to practice feeling the presence of god all the time. Here are some practical steps:
Each morning as you sit at your desk, pause before diving into work. Visualize placing Shree Krishna or any form of God of your choice on an empty chair nearby. Remind yourself, “He is watching me; all my efforts are for His joy and in His service.” Then begin your tasks.
Since we are not yet perfected in Karm Yog, it is natural that our mind will wander as we get immersed in work. That is okay. After an hour, pause again and recall, “God is watching. He gently reminds me—‘You were to keep your mind on Me. What are you thinking now?’” This awareness uplifts our thoughts and halts the drift toward negativity.
Practice this pause every hour. Once it becomes natural, shorten the intervals to thirty minutes, then fifteen. With perseverance, a time will come when you will feel God’s presence constantly—with every breath and every action.
Conclusion: Body in the World, Mind in God
Swami Mukundananda’s wisdom is not an escape from the world, but a deeper engagement with it — one that is rooted in detachment and devotion. To work without stress is not to work less, but to work better — with a pure heart and a calm mind.
In every interview, every email, every exam, every conversation, remember: you are building a temple, not of stone, but of pure intention and the attitude of service to the Divine. Lay each brick joyfully, and keep your soul anchored in the Divine.
This is Karm Yog—the science of stress-free excellence.
Call To Action
1. Know more about the science of stress-free work. Order your copy of The Science of Mind Management at: https://www.jkyog.org/giftshop/product-details/7602382012461
2. Cement your knowledge of Karm Yog by delving into Swami Mukundananda’s Commentary on the Bhagavad Gita at: https://www.jkyog.org/giftshop/product-details/7602381717549
3. Immerse in this Karm Yog Sadhana Meditation by Swami Mukundananda to intensify the practice: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TOedQMRznik
4. Subscribe to the Swami Mukundananda YouTube channel and find the secrets of peak performance:How Do Top Performers Work without Any Stress? MUST WATCH | Swami Mukundananda on Stress- Management
Resources
● Mukundananda, S. (2020) The Science of Mind Management. Westland. New Delhi, India
● Mukundananda, S. (2021) Bhagavad Gita: The Song of God. Westland. New Delhi, India
● How Do Top Performers Work without Any Stress? MUST WATCH | Swami Mukundananda on Stress- Management
● How to do KARMA YOGA? Swami Mukundananda | Shree Krishna in Bhagavad Gita | Be STRESS FREE