Karma-yoga

Karma-yoga is a foundational text compiled from a series of lectures delivered by the Indian monk Swami Vivekananda in New York City during the winter of 1895-1896. These talks were transcribed by J.J. Goodwin, a stenographer who became a devoted follower, and were intended to introduce the Vedantic philosophy of selfless action to a Western audience. The work explains the path of karma as a means of achieving spiritual liberation through duty performed without attachment to the results.

The book remains a seminal piece of 19th-century literature on Hindu philosophy. Vivekananda's approach was designed to bridge Eastern metaphysical traditions with Western intellectual sensibilities, emphasizing ethics and the psychology of the mind over rigid dogma. It has been continuously in print for over a century, serving as a primary text for students of yoga and philosophy worldwide, and is regarded as an essential guide to the practical application of spiritual discipline in daily life.