The Wheel of Reciprocity: Karma Yoga, Service, and Self-Care

Send us a text

In this episode of A Woman’s Gita Podcast, Kamala Rose and Nischala Joy Devi dive deep into Chapter 3 of the Bhagavad Gita, exploring verses 3.15–3.16 on selfless action, universal consciousness (Brahman), and the great “wheel” of reciprocity that sustains life.

Drawing from the Gita, the Upanishads, and lived experience as women, teachers, and long-time practitioners, they unpack how karma yoga calls us to serve others without attachment to personal gain—while also honoring the very real need for boundaries, rest, and self-care, especially for women who are often conditioned to over-give.

Through stories, scriptural insight, and practical reflections, this conversation invites listeners to reimagine service not as self-erasure, but as a path to a lighter heart, deeper connection, and a more sustainable way of living in the world.

In this episode, we explore:

• The meaning of karma yoga and why “every selfless act is born from Brahman”
• Verse 3.16’s image of the “wheel” (chakra) and how all of life turns through reciprocity
• How universal consciousness expresses itself through everyday acts of service
• The danger of indulging the senses and living “in vain” by ignoring the needs of others
• The metaphor of weighing the heart against a feather and what makes a heart “light”
• Why every spiritual tradition emphasizes service as a way to purify the heart
• The tension between American individualism (“greed is good,” “look out for number one”) and the Gita’s call to selfless action
• The connection between happiness, attachment, and constant wanting (“25% more”)
• How art, music, and ritual keep the heart open in a culture that overvalues the mind
• The role of daily practices (like meditation, lighting a candle, morning/evening reflection) as modern equivalents of Vedic fire rituals
• The risk of burnout and over-giving, especially for women, mothers, and caregivers
• Why true service must be paired with self-care and healthy boundaries
• The Sufi teaching: “Never give from the depth of your well, only from the overflow”
• How the four āśramas (life stages) point to a natural shift toward more practice in later life
• Why it’s so helpful to begin spiritual practice early—not just in the “winter” of life

Tune in for a heartfelt, grounded exploration of what it really means to participate in the wheel of life with an open heart—offering, receiving, and learning to care for yourself as tenderly as you care for others.