Karma - Nine-tenths of our activities are Useless.

 Our seers have experienced that there is an omniscient , omnipotent reality beyond our outward sensory experiences (centrifugal), and its first stirring (spandan which is karma/movement)) in itself due to its energy (sakthi/maya),brings  forth all the material things that  we see and experience with our senses. In our ignorant state (ajnan, avidya) we feel separated from that reality and without basis think that 'it' is manipulating us , but with knowledge and penance, first we know its actual reality, gain control over ourselves and finally come to the realization that our existence is NOT apart from that reality. This later process will be gradual, requiring many births, but while this change is happening infinitesimally, our outlook towards the world also changes.

In the BEGINNING of the Gita Chapter 2, Sloka 14, Krishna tells Arjuna to bear with all  negative things(experiences) in life. At times one experiences negative tidings, at other times its polar opposite, sometimes heat, at other times cold, sometimes gain, other times loss. One is desirable of the positive experiences, which necessarily will be accompanied by its opposite, and  Krishna uses the word 'Thithikshsa' w.r.t bearing  the negative effects. This thithiksha is one of the preliminary steps , to make distinct and clear that 'small inner voice' in the inner recesses of the 'hridaya' (heart/mind) of one and all. ('Small inner voice' courtesy Gandhiji). If this voice is heeded to , and get strengthened  day by day, divine-wealth (daivee-sampath), will be accumulated, on the contrary if one ignores this voice and snuffs it out in due course, he will gather demonic-wealth (asuree-sampathee). These terms daivee and asuri  are from Chapter 16 of the Gita, and they do not connote any racist or ethnic terms defining Arya & Dravida, which had been used for political gains by men living on asuric wealth .Both daivee and asuree wealth are the qualities that determine our karmas. Therefore initially there is this tie/conflict in the inner-self. Individuals make the society, nation etc. Thus ultimately open conflict between these polar opposites become inevitable. One such modern event is our 'independence struggle'.

'God knows everything  and is perfect', -This knowledge our seers  have experienced becoming one with that reality (which is a degree above than Iswara/God), and such knowledge (a part of which is given above, as per my understanding) they willingly parted for posterity, explaining it in imperfect language. 

Since all have emanated from a source/reality, bereft of karma, we can be at ease/peace and happy only if we are  able to return back to the source. (Like going back home). It also follows that 'more-karma', produces centrifugal effects in that it throws as away from that source. Materials/matter itself is the result of Karma, which causes or adds to the centrifugal momentum. Our realization of this immutable and eternal law of life, make us the Centripetal East. In contrast to  Cenrifugal West. (Courtsey Gandhiji) Daivee vs Asuree. Godly vs Satanic. These are all the dual-terms used by Gandhiji. Gandhiji had explicitly said that Western Civilization is Satanic.

The small inner voice , (conscience) gets stifled  in the pursuit of wealth & profits.(mammon).Wealth in the  mundane sense is materialistic, and materialistic pursuits, ie karma aimed for that purpose, makes feebler that 'small' inner voice. Modern knowledge in all fields is aimed at profit-making ,and so we see the receding of that inner-voice, making all karma gross. Gross karma is the result of believing that materialistic pursuits(wealth) and the sensory pleasures and power that bring forth in its wake, are the real aims of life. Gratification of the senses by all measures is considered the truth of life and without limits. To err it is said is human , so Humanizing our activities, whatever be our profession will be limiting. Instead if we reverse out orientation from centrifugal to centripetal, we would raise ourselves from being human to divine, which holds great potential.

"Of all the animal creation of God, man is the only animal who has been created in order that he may know his Maker. Man’s aim in life is not therefore  to add from day to day to his material prospects and to his material possessions, but his predominant calling is from day to day to come nearer to his own Maker, and from this definition it was that the rishis of the old discovered this law of our being. You will realise that if all of us follow this law of varna we would limit our material ambition, and our energy would be set free for exploring those vast fields whereby and wherethrough we can know God. You will at once then see that  nine-tenths of the activities that are today going on throughout the world and which are engrossing our attention would fall into disuse." EXCERPT FROM A SPEECH AT TRIVANDRUM, 17 September 1927 Taken from  The Penguin GANDHI  Reader ,Edited by : RUDRANGSHU MUKHERJEEPage: 210

Gandhiji had the vision and temerity to say that nine-tenths of our karma(activities) are useless. Just that single fact of  Climate Change due to human activities , is sufficient  to drive home this point.