Karma is derived from the Sanskrit word kriyate, which means "action" or "deed". In common usage in Norway, the word karma is used as a "reaction" to an action. "What goes around, comes around". We talk about good and bad karma. What happens in our lives, good or bad, is our karma, a reaction to actions we have committed in the past, either in this life or a previous lifes. Our body is also given to us as a result of our actions in previous lives.

Karma-yoga

The word "yoga" comes from the Sanskrit root Yuj, which means to join or combine. In the Bhagavad-gita, Lord Krishna emphasizes karma-yoga as a powerful practice for performing one's duties with selflessness and without attachment to the results. Instead of avoiding action or taking responsibility, karma-yoga encourages individuals to fulfil their duties, but with a unique twist: to detach themselves from the desire for personal reward. The goal is to act for the greater good, aligning one's actions with a divine purpose.

One is understood to be in full knowledge whose every endeavour is devoid of desire for sense gratification. He is said by sages to be a worker for whom the reactions of work have been burned up by the fire of perfect knowledge. Abandoning all attachment to the results of his activities, ever satisfied and independent, he performs no fruitive action, although engaged in all kinds of undertakings.

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is. 4.19–20

In karma-yoga, actions are performed with the consciousness of being of benefit to others instead of seeking personal gain. This principle teaches that we have a right to perform our duties, but not to the fruits of those actions. The results are ultimately controlled by Krishna (God), and understanding this leads to a peaceful acceptance of all outcomes, whether success or failure. While traditional karma-yoga focuses on selflessness, actions in the bhakti tradition are performed as a service to Krishna. This attitude transforms ordinary activities into acts of devotion, making everyday life a means of spiritual growth.

The steadily devoted soul attains unadulterated peace because he offers the result of all activities to Me; whereas a person who is not in union with the Divine, who is greedy for the fruits of his labor, becomes entangled.

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is. 5.12

Practices of karma-yoga in the Hare Krishna Movement

• Service in temples: Many devotees engage in voluntary service, known as seva, such as cooking, cleaning, and assisting in temple operations.
• Community Outreach: Initiatives such as food distribution (prasadam distribution) or charity work are examples of Karma Yoga, where actions are performed for the well-being of others without expecting anything in return.
• Offering work to Krishna: Many devotees dedicate their careers and skills to Krishna by viewing their jobs as services to society and offering the results to God. This can be done by donating a portion of your income to charity or maintaining a prayerful attitude at work.

Karma-yoga offers freedom from the mental bondage of expectations, creating a balanced and peaceful mind while uplifting oneself and others. It is a discipline that cultivates humility, patience, and resilience, and teaches that true joy comes from serving, rather than receiving.