Lord Krishna has also shown us another path, whereby we can acquire material happiness. What is the definition of ‘Nishkam Karma'? You have some household income, some income from your farm, and on top of that you start a printing business, expecting to make money there too. You expect to make an income of around 20,000-25,000 but if you only make about 5,000, you feel a loss of 20,000. But what if you had no expectations at all? ‘Nishkam karma' means to continue working without harboring any expectation of rewards (of your karma). Lord Krishna has given us something very beautiful, but it is not possible for anyone to do it. Man does not have the capacity for that, does he? It is difficult to understand the exact meaning of ‘nishkam karma . That is why Lord Krishna said that perhaps only one person will understand the subtlest essence of the ‘Gita'.

Questioner: How can one become nishkami ?

Dadashri: Continue working without thinking about the consequences. Continue working without worrying about the boss getting upset with you. If you have to give an exam, do so without worrying about whether or not you will pass.

People define nishkam yoga as, doing work without expectations of the rewards. Alas not even a bug would venture out of its burrow without expectations. No one would do any work without expectations. Who would go to the market without expecting to buy vegetables? If someone said that there were no vegetables at the market today, then no one would go. Nevertheless, we have to say, “Continue working without the expectations of the fruits.” Then if you are working, you will be reminded of this statement: “The Lord has said to keep working without expectation of rewards,” and because of this, the result will be good. People would make progress if they worked without expectations of rewards; no one understands what Lord Krishna has said.

Lord Krishna said, “If you go out to buy vegetables you may have expectations of the vegetables, but after you buy them you find that they are bitter, then whatever you bought is your ‘fruit'.” You did not have any expectation of that fruit, and therefore you must not do raag - dwesh towards it. Regardless of what the outcome may be, accept it. If your pocket is picked, stay calm and do not lament over it. Maintain equanimity and do not do raag-dwesh . If you go out to buy a saree , you have expectations about the saree for sure, but if the saree turns out to be unsatisfactory, do not get upset over it. Let the saree be the way it is. Don't have expectations for the fruit there. Do not do raag - dwes.; That is what he (Lord Krishna) is saying. Otherwise, why would anyone go to a shoemaker without any expectation for shoes? Go to the shoemaker if you please, but have no expectations about right or wrong, likes or dislikes. Therefore, nishkam karma is to not have likes or dislikes.