The Karma Doctrine : Effects of Karma

[Guest guest]

The Karma Doctrine : Effects of Karma

By Gyan Rajhans

During my 23 years of Bhajanawali Broadcasts several youth groups have asked me

to explain the Karma theory in simple terms. Here is an attempt to do

so.Answers many difficult questionsBefore I proceed to explain the Karma

theory, let me establish one fact once and for all. To INDIA goes the credit of

giving the world the most profound, rational and scientific answer to man's

questions as:

Why some are born poor or rich?

Why some are born handicapped?

Can we do wrong and get away with it?

Why should we be good to our parents, neighbors, friends, society, country etc.?

Why should not we be selfish? Only the Karma theory explains these matters in a

logical manner. The word Karma comes from the root' kr ‘, which means " action

", " doing ", or " acting ". In philosophic and spiritual thought the Doctrine

of Karma has come to mean cause and effect, action and reaction to which all

human conduct is subjected to. The" Gita "(see References) says."No creature

remains even for a moment without being engaged in Karma . Thus, all the

actions which a man performs (e.g. breathing, eating, drinking, sleeping,

desiring etc..) are included in the word Karma.Newton’s Third LawLike Newton’s

third law of motion every Karma (action) has its reaction which is equal and

opposite. In other words every cause results in effect and in turn that effect

becomes a further cause resulting in a further effect and so on. As no cause

remains without its due effect and as like produces like, the

doctrine of Karma is that unseen law adjusting itself wisely, intelligently, and

equitably, each effect to its cause, tracing the latter back to its

producer.Although mind- created Karma acts on the mental, and the physical

planes, its effect takes place in three ways:

It boomerangs on the doer:A harmful action done to another person eventually harms the perpetrator.

It reflects in retribution: A man eating more than his share may die of a weak stomach.

It acts in a symbolic way:A man killing an innocent creature may be infected

with a wasting disease like anemia.Our Karma may be done in the immediate past

or the remote past. We may remember it or not. It survives in the form of a

seed with us and manifests at the appropriate time.In the " Mahabharatha " (see

References) it is said, " Karma follows man like his shadow. It sits with him

while he sits, moves with him while he moves. It works on even while he is

working. Just as fruits and flowers come to the trees in their appointed time

unimpelled by any one, one's past Karma never transgresses its appointed time

". The reaction to good or bad Karma seldom begins immediately. It takes time

for the karmic seed to sprout and come to fruition. How and when are not known

but it is a fact that no one can escape from his Karma. The Lord Buddha (see

References) has said " Not In the sky, not in the midst of the sea,

not if we enter into the clefts of the mountain, is there known a spot in the

whole world, where a man be freed from his deeds ".Birth to Re-birthNow the

obvious question. " Does Karma pass on from birth to rebirth and if it does,

then are we free to change the effect of past life Karma In this life "? The

answer according to Hindu Scriptures is that what we did in the past life

remains latent and continues with us manifesting at the appropriate time. For

example: If you did an act of kindness Just before you died, will be returned

to you as an act of kindness in your next life. An act of cruelty will come

back to you as an act of cruelty. In fact Karma is the cause of the round of

births or you may say it is the rebirth latent.Freedom of action and

KarmaRegarding " Freedom of action and Karma ". Dr. Radhakrlshnan (see

References) has said, "They are two aspects of the same reality. We are all the

time

making our own Karma and thus determining the character of our next birth ". As

Pascal puts it " though we are slaves of the past we are master of the future

".In my opinion Karma accumulated in the present life can modify the Karma

inherited from past lives. It is a simple arithmetic of debit and credit. If

you have acquired sufficient credit by doing good Karma, it may wipe out the

effect of bad deeds, the debit you were born with. Thus, knowledge of the

Doctrine of Karma destroys the cause of hate, envy and jealousy and the ill -

will we may have for our neighbor, our friend or any other fellow being. It

makes us realize that we are punished by our bad deeds and not for them. It

removes impatience from our mind and places infinite time before us for our

evolution. It makes us realize that no effort of ours is ever wasted and at

every stage we are surpassing ourselves and not others.This is a very short

treatise in the doctrine of Karma because as the "Gita " says.

"Gahana Karmano Gatih” (Gita 4:17) " the effects of Karma are unfathomable".

References:GitaAlso known as Shri Mad Bhagvad-Gita. The songs of the Blessed

Lord. Sanskrit theosophical poems of 700 verses. Regarded by Hindus as their

Bible.

MahabharathaOne of the two great epics of Hindu religion consisting of 18

voluminous chapters. The Gita is a small part of this epic believed to be

composed about 1360 BCE.

Lord Buddha(624-544 BCE.) Also known as Slddhartha Gautam Buddha. Founder of

Buddhism. Buddha meaning " Enlightened One ".

Dr.S.Radhakrishanan(1888-1975) Indian writer/ philosopher. Also became President

of India"Gurur Brahma Gurur VishnuGurur Devoh Maheshwar;Gurur Shakshat

ParambramhaTashmai Shri Gurur Veh Namah"May the Merciful Sri Sai Baba always

shower His grace on us and our families and remove our problems and anxieties

by giving us all - strength , goodluck, success and happiness with peace of

mind.Sai bhakt,Deepa Hdebu7366

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