Lessons from the East X: Karma Chakra - Inescapable!
05 Oct 2022 10:44:02
Why does one bump into people who then turn into the greatest ally, patron, or friend? Is it luck or something else?
Lots have been written about Karma (the law of good, which yields good and bad yields badly, or every action has repercussions, even if it is not visible instantly) and its impact on one's present life and the circumstances one faces.
1. Why one is born to rich parents and why are a few who take birth to not-so-rich parents?
2. Why do some pleasant, very pleasant events emerge in life that changes the trajectory, not for a generation but for forthcoming ones?
3. Why do few get prickly neighbors, teachers, peers, and superiors?
When one gets into drugs or marijuana or any illegal activity, the person suffers a little, but deeper pain is experienced by immediate family and close friends. Why?
Why do people get into abusive relationships and then suffer? A long time later, if one manages to exit it, one continues to suffer either from the memories of it or by not trusting or building any further future relationships in life, or by still longing to be with the abusive person.
The answer to all inquiries appearing in one’s mind can be answered with the Word “KARMA” or Deeds.
Jivatma (Soul) is part of Paramatma (the supreme almighty residing in every soul, present in every life form beyond humans) and thus does not have a beginning or an end.
Jivatma takes various forms in the birth, life, and death cycle and thus assumes form and shape.
When it takes the form of a human, the Jiva (human) performs good and bad actions. The unknown effect or repercussion of good actions are called Punya (Holy) and the ones that accrue to bad actions are called Paap (evil, bad).
Some confuse Karma with fate or destiny.
What if one is born in the house of thieves? What if circumstances force one to pursue wrong deeds?
Illustrating with a short story: Ratnakar, one day went to the forest at a very young age and got lost. He was saved by a hunter and the hunter took good care of him. As Ratnakar grew up and got married, he had limited means to survive and look after his family. He pursued dacoity to make his ends meet.
He met Sage Narada(devout devotee of Lord Vishnu), one day in the forest. Sage Narada asked him a few questions that made him realize that in all his bad deeds no one from his family is willing to take the share, whilst everyone enjoyed the fruits of plunder. This changed his mind and knowledge prevailed. Ratnakar turned into Sage Valmiki and wrote the Adi Kavya (the first of the greatest epics) Ramayana.
Thus Karma is not destiny but the total of one’s actions and its complementary reactions in one’s current and previous lives, all of which determine one’s future.
Choices, Options, Discretion is what Paramatma provides but the choices one pursues are the sole discretion of humans.
The law of Karma states that every action is a cause and it will produce an effect now or in due course of time.
The law of Karma does not apply to infants or any other life form including animals or plants, as life forms other than humans don’t have intellect and they operate with Survival instincts.
Thus human life is a gift from Paramatma which should be cherished, used appropriately & valued.
Does Karma include actions only?
Karma is produced through four means
· through thoughts
· through the words
· through actions that one performs
· through actions, others perform under one’s instructions
Everything spoken, done, or caused is part of Karma. The Intent or the thought whether executed or not holds utmost importance in Karma.
Every action whether good or bad is determined by its motive.
(i) A robber puts a knife in someone’s stomach to kill and steal. A doctor puts the knife inside the stomach to heal or to remove the ailment.
(ii) A terrorist shoots a bullet to terrorize and massacre people, a soldier shoots a bullet to save his motherland.
(iii) A man gives charity to feed the hungry, and another gives money to get fame and glory by feeding the poor.
Story: Raja Harishchandra, the legendary king known for his kindness, generosity, and dutifulness (Dharm Paraayan), used to lower his sight when he would give charity so that he can’t see who is taking alms from him. He believed that if he knows whom he is giving alms, will make the one who is taking feel lesser or underprivileged and he might develop a false sense of ego. (Ahankar).
Intent, Deeds & Actions — In that Order
Stay here, profound pertinent facts are mentioned below.
Karma is not only the acts one performs with motives and repercussions of the same but the Law of Karma that governs the whole Universe is deeper. Let’s delve into it.
Karma is of 3 kinds.
a. Agami (Forthcoming) Karma — The Jiva (human) performs actions during his existence as a human is called Agami Karma. In other words, the result of good or bad performed through the human body in the current lifespan is known as Agami Karma.
Some also call it Kriyaman Karma.
b. Sanchita (Accumulated) Karma — The result of actions performed in all the previous births (past human lives) and which will act like seeds and yield to countless births in the future and their results (good or evil) is called Sanchita Karma.
When one leaves the physical body the Agami Karma (deeds undertaken in the present body) turns into Sanchita Karma.
c. Prarabdha (the word means commenced or begun) Karma — Once the soul (Atma) has taken the forms of a body — Jiva(human), the results which emerge in the form of Joy or misery, and which will only end, with happiness or suffering is called Prarabdha Karma.
The Prarabdha Karma determines the form of the body, type of environment one is born into, parents, social circle, people one meets, friends one makes, relationships one enters, life goal & direction one pursues, etc.
Thus until the entire Sanchita Karma gets exhausted, one cannot achieve Moksha (escape the cycle of birth, life, and death).
To solve, this Lord Shri Krishna says to pursue Nishkam Karma. Performing one’s duty or Dharma without having the greed, expectation, or thought of enjoying its fruits or results.
Chapter 2, Verse: 47 of Shreemad Bhagwad Gita
Thus Siddhartha Rastogi says,
Human life has been given by Universe two main objectives:
To learn, to gain knowledge, to attain wisdom, and to selfless service to everyone and everything which is part of Prakriti (Nature). If one pursues both, Ananda (Bliss in perpetuity) will be felt not in the next life but in the present one itself.
Learnings from Tattva Bodha written by Adi Shankaracharya and Shreemad Bhagwad Geeta — the wisdom of words & conversations between Lord Shree Krishna and Arjuna.
Why even after getting resources to enjoy & gratify the pleasure senses, one remains anxious?
Why do a few face constantly unfavorable situations, one after the other?
Today’s note will delve a little deeper into the questions, a few of which may bother one and all.
Questions that emerge in one’s mind if not frequently, seldom but surely.
2. Why do some pleasant, very pleasant events emerge in life that changes the trajectory, not for a generation but for forthcoming ones?
3. Why do few get prickly neighbors, teachers, peers, and superiors?
The obvious answer comes in the form of deeds.
One’s deeds result in what one gets. But is there something beyond it as well?
Why do people get into abusive relationships and then suffer? A long time later, if one manages to exit it, one continues to suffer either from the memories of it or by not trusting or building any further future relationships in life, or by still longing to be with the abusive person.
The answer to all inquiries appearing in one’s mind can be answered with the Word “KARMA” or Deeds.
Is it so simple, read further and the story will unfold.
Origin of Word Karma:
The word Karma finds its source in the Sanskrit word Karman which means to act, to perform one’s duties. It has the Sanskrit root ‘KRI’ which means ‘to do’ or ‘to act and react.’
What is Karma then?
Lord Shree Krishna speaks of it in Chapter 8, Verse 3 of Shreemad Bhagwad Geeta.
श्रीभगवानुवाच | अक्षरं ब्रह्म परमं स्वभावोऽध्यात्ममुच्यते |
भूतभावोद्भवकरो विसर्ग: कर्मसञ्ज्ञित: ||
Shrī bhagavān uvācha
Akṣharaṁ brahma paramaṁ svabhāvo ’dhyātmam uchyate
Bhūta-bhāvodbhava-karo visargaḥ karma-sanjñitaḥ
Meaning: The Lord said: The Supreme Indestructible Entity is called Brahman; one’s self is called adhyatma.
Actions about the material personality of living beings and their development are called KARMA, or fruititive activities.
Karma simply put is the force that converts an unmanifested object into a manifested object.
What is the law of Karma?
Let’s start from the beginning.
Jivatma takes various forms in the birth, life, and death cycle and thus assumes form and shape.
When it takes the form of a human, the Jiva (human) performs good and bad actions. The unknown effect or repercussion of good actions are called Punya (Holy) and the ones that accrue to bad actions are called Paap (evil, bad).
Some confuse Karma with fate or destiny.
What if one is born in the house of thieves? What if circumstances force one to pursue wrong deeds?
Illustrating with a short story: Ratnakar, one day went to the forest at a very young age and got lost. He was saved by a hunter and the hunter took good care of him. As Ratnakar grew up and got married, he had limited means to survive and look after his family. He pursued dacoity to make his ends meet.
He met Sage Narada(devout devotee of Lord Vishnu), one day in the forest. Sage Narada asked him a few questions that made him realize that in all his bad deeds no one from his family is willing to take the share, whilst everyone enjoyed the fruits of plunder. This changed his mind and knowledge prevailed. Ratnakar turned into Sage Valmiki and wrote the Adi Kavya (the first of the greatest epics) Ramayana.
Thus Karma is not destiny but the total of one’s actions and its complementary reactions in one’s current and previous lives, all of which determine one’s future.
Choices, Options, Discretion is what Paramatma provides but the choices one pursues are the sole discretion of humans.
The law of Karma states that every action is a cause and it will produce an effect now or in due course of time.
The law of Karma does not apply to infants or any other life form including animals or plants, as life forms other than humans don’t have intellect and they operate with Survival instincts.
Thus human life is a gift from Paramatma which should be cherished, used appropriately & valued.
Does Karma include actions only?
Karma is produced through four means
· through thoughts
· through the words
· through actions that one performs
· through actions, others perform under one’s instructions
Everything spoken, done, or caused is part of Karma. The Intent or the thought whether executed or not holds utmost importance in Karma.
Every action whether good or bad is determined by its motive.
(i) A robber puts a knife in someone’s stomach to kill and steal. A doctor puts the knife inside the stomach to heal or to remove the ailment.
(ii) A terrorist shoots a bullet to terrorize and massacre people, a soldier shoots a bullet to save his motherland.
(iii) A man gives charity to feed the hungry, and another gives money to get fame and glory by feeding the poor.
Story: Raja Harishchandra, the legendary king known for his kindness, generosity, and dutifulness (Dharm Paraayan), used to lower his sight when he would give charity so that he can’t see who is taking alms from him. He believed that if he knows whom he is giving alms, will make the one who is taking feel lesser or underprivileged and he might develop a false sense of ego. (Ahankar).
Intent, Deeds & Actions — In that Order
Stay here, profound pertinent facts are mentioned below.
Karma is not only the acts one performs with motives and repercussions of the same but the Law of Karma that governs the whole Universe is deeper. Let’s delve into it.
Karma is of 3 kinds.
a. Agami (Forthcoming) Karma — The Jiva (human) performs actions during his existence as a human is called Agami Karma. In other words, the result of good or bad performed through the human body in the current lifespan is known as Agami Karma.
Some also call it Kriyaman Karma.
b. Sanchita (Accumulated) Karma — The result of actions performed in all the previous births (past human lives) and which will act like seeds and yield to countless births in the future and their results (good or evil) is called Sanchita Karma.
When one leaves the physical body the Agami Karma (deeds undertaken in the present body) turns into Sanchita Karma.
c. Prarabdha (the word means commenced or begun) Karma — Once the soul (Atma) has taken the forms of a body — Jiva(human), the results which emerge in the form of Joy or misery, and which will only end, with happiness or suffering is called Prarabdha Karma.
The Prarabdha Karma determines the form of the body, type of environment one is born into, parents, social circle, people one meets, friends one makes, relationships one enters, life goal & direction one pursues, etc.
Thus until the entire Sanchita Karma gets exhausted, one cannot achieve Moksha (escape the cycle of birth, life, and death).
To solve, this Lord Shri Krishna says to pursue Nishkam Karma. Performing one’s duty or Dharma without having the greed, expectation, or thought of enjoying its fruits or results.
Chapter 2, Verse: 47 of Shreemad Bhagwad Gita
कर्मण्येवाधिकारस्ते मा फलेषु कदाचन।
मा कर्मफलहेतुर्भूर्मा ते सङ्गोऽस्त्वकर्मणि॥
Karmanye vadhikaraste Ma Phaleshu Kadachana,
Ma Karmaphalaheturbhurma Te Sangostvakarmani
Meaning — You have a right to perform your prescribed duties, but you are not entitled to the fruits of your actions. Never consider yourself to be the cause of the results of your activities, nor be attached to inaction.Thus Siddhartha Rastogi says,
Human life has been given by Universe two main objectives:
To learn, to gain knowledge, to attain wisdom, and to selfless service to everyone and everything which is part of Prakriti (Nature). If one pursues both, Ananda (Bliss in perpetuity) will be felt not in the next life but in the present one itself.
Learnings from Tattva Bodha written by Adi Shankaracharya and Shreemad Bhagwad Geeta — the wisdom of words & conversations between Lord Shree Krishna and Arjuna.