Karma yoga itself is enough for salvation ( inner peace ).
For meditators also, Karma yoga is the only outlet.
( That’s why I insist on meditative life, rather than just meditation ).
But mind well –
Karma yoga by itself is very difficult – and examples are all around.
For example – tell a husband to do his duties and not expect anything from the wife.
Or parents to do everything for their children ( which most people do ), but not expecting anything from them ( how tough it is ).
Or tell a business person to think of his customers over his own profits, etc.
You get the picture.
That’s why –
Karma yoga is very difficult on its own.
And that’s why meditation is essential, which develops a well-rounded personality by coming in contact with the consciousness.
That means meditators always will be better Karmyogis.
And that’s the path Krishna has shown –
श्रेयो हि ज्ञानमभ्यासाज्ज्ञानाद्ध्यानं विशिष्यते |
ध्यानात्कर्मफलत्यागस्त्यागाच्छान्तिरनन्तरम् || 12||
śhreyo hi jñānam abhyāsāj jñānād dhyānaṁ viśhiṣhyate
dhyānāt karma-phala-tyāgas tyāgāch chhāntir anantaram 12/12
Better than mechanical practice is knowledge; ( instead of living a repetitive mechanical life, try to KNOW life ).
Better than knowledge is meditation. ( Meditation is the only path to knowledge of the self ).
Better than meditation is renunciation of the fruits of actions because peace IMMEDIATELY follows such renunciation.
( What you realize in meditation is the only way to know its real impact is to put it in daily life, via action – via Karmphaltyag ( do the work and not expect the results ).
Only when you don’t expect the results of your actions, the actions themselves become the joy – and Shanti ( eternal peace ).