One of the most challenging aspects of karm yog is detaching ourselves from the fruits of our actions. This practice is rooted in two fundamental truths:

As souls, we are tiny fragments of the all-powerful God. Our constitutional position is to serve Him for His pleasure, much like a hand serves the body and receives nourishment in return.

God is the ultimate source of our ability to act. Our body, powered by the soul's energy, is merely an instrument, not the primary doer of actions.

The difficulty in freeing oneself from attachment to karm and its outcomes stems from the type of consciousness we possess. Material consciousness generates thoughts like, “I own everything I have. It is all for my enjoyment. I have the right to increase my possessions and maximize my pleasure.” In contrast, spiritual consciousness is guided by thoughts such as, “God is the creator and enjoyer of the entire universe. My purpose is to serve Him selflessly. I should use everything I have in His loving service.”

Understanding these truths helps us realize that claiming ownership of our actions or their results is a self-serving attitude that fails to acknowledge God's supreme role. The Bhagavad Gita offers practical wisdom in this regard. Shree Krishna, in one of the most renowned verses of the Bhagavad Gita, offers profound guidance on this matter:

कर्मण्येवाधिकारस्ते मा फलेषु कदाचन | मा कर्मफलहेतुर्भूर्मा ते सङ्गोऽस्त्वकर्मणि || 47 ||

karmany-evadhikaras te ma phaleshu kadachana

ma karma-phala-hetur bhur ma te sango ’stvakarmani

You have a right to perform your prescribed duties, but you are not entitled to the fruits of your actions. Never consider yourself to be the cause of the results of your activities, nor be attached to inaction [BG 2.47].

This verse highlights a practical reason for detachment – the outcome of our actions depends on numerous factors beyond our control. Our efforts, past karm, the actions of others, circumstances, and divine will, all play a role. Attachment to specific outcomes can lead to anxiety and disappointment when things do not go as planned.

Cultivating Detachment: A Path to Inner Peace

How do we cultivate detachment from worldly matters and things? It begins with the right knowledge – understanding that we are neither the ultimate doer nor the enjoyer, and everything related to karm belongs to God. This wisdom empowers our intellect to guide our minds and senses away from attachment to outcomes.

The story of King Akbar and Tansen exemplifies the difference between karm and karm yog. When Akbar heard the bhajan sung by Swami Haridas ji, Tansen's Guru, he was moved by the divine quality of his voice. He asked Tansen why he could not sing like his Guru. Tansen explained that while he sang for worldly fame and favor from the king, Swami Haridas sang selflessly and solely for the pleasure of God, expecting nothing in return.