Karmic Freedom

[Guest guest]

A man doing a wrong thing argues that he is doing it because of his

Karma; and he does not even try not to do it, because it gives him

immediate happiness. How to impress upon him not to do it?

 

ANSWER: Karma does not compel a man to do wrong actions. Samskara

does, to a certain extent. But God has bestowed free will on man,

with which to make or mar his career. Man has no Bhoga-Svatantrata or

the freedom to enjoy or suffer, which factor is governed by Karma.

But, he has got Karma-Svatantrata or freedom to do good or evil. He

can substitute good Samskaras in place of the old vicious Samskaras

by Vichara-sakti, will-power and continued practice of good actions.

That evil seems to give immediate happiness is the greatest

temptation and the greatest obstacle to the cultivation of virtues;

and it can be removed only by discrimination and experience.

 

Contemplation over the ultimate and permanent damage done to the very

soul of man by the evil actions, and the harm he is causing to the

entire society itself by his evil, ought to compel a man to desist

from evil action-- however pleasant it might appear superficially.

There is no short-cut to this really serious problem; the wicked

heart will not yield easily. And therefore our ancients have exalted

Satsang. Constant association with the wise and spiritually evolved

persons alone can remove these wrong notions from the mind of the

wicked one.