We all have seen and practically experienced the popular adage, 'What goes around, comes around'. A very simple example of this would be if we smile at someone, under normal circumstances, we too would receive a smile. However, if we happen to abuse another, most likely the favour would be returned in the same coin. Material nature itself is constituted by three qualities: the mode of goodness, the mode of passion and the mode of ignorance. Above these modes there is eternal time, and by a combination of these modes of nature and under the control and purview of eternal time there are activities, which are called karma.
The Supreme Personality of Godhead, in His feature of eternal time, is present in the material world and is neutral towards everyone. No one is His ally, and no one is His enemy. Within the jurisdiction of the time element, everyone enjoys or suffers the result of his own karma, or fruitive activities. As, when the wind blows, small particles of dust fly in the air, so, according to one's particular karma, one suffers or enjoys material life.
Karma is the cosmic law of action and reaction.
Under its control we souls in the material world reap good or bad results according to each act we perform.
The Bhagavad-gita describes three types of karmas:
1. Karma: The Pious activities in accordance with the higher laws of nature or the Vedic scriptures. This type of action generally allows the living entity to reach higher planets after leaving the present body or at least get another human body on earth.
2. Vikarma: Illicit activities against the laws of nature. Each activity which ignores or opposes the Vedic injunctions or their basic activities can be considered to be in that category.
3. Akarma: The effect of the law of karma can only be avoided by transcendentalists who are engaged in akarma-activities i.e. activities which don't cause karmic reactions. Purely transcendental activities which are performed solely for the pleasure of the Supreme Personality of Godhead are akarma.
Karmic reactions include not only things that happen to us, but such things as our health, wealth, intelligence, physical appearance, and social status, as well as our personalities and inclinations. While we have some freedom to choose our current acts, our choices are influenced by our natures, or personalities, which have developed from our previous actions. For example, good choices tend to make us good persons who make further good choices.
The law of karma begins to act upon us when we desire to enjoy separately from Krishna, and it locks us into an endless cycle. Each action begets a reaction that begets another action, and so on. Whether the reactions are good or bad, we must repeatedly accept new bodies in order for the reactions to play out. And each lifetime in a material body means unavoidable miseries, such as birth, disease, old age, and death.
The living entity forgets what to do. First of all he makes a determination to act in a certain way, and then he is entangled in the actions and reactions of his own karma. After giving up one type of body, he enters another type of body, as we put on and take off clothes. As the soul thus migrates, he suffers the actions and reactions of his past activities. These activities can be changed when the living being is in the mode of pure goodness, in sanity, and understands what sort of activities he should adopt. If he does so, then all the actions and reactions of his past activities can be changed.
While the Vedas give directions for assuring good reactions, they tell us that the only truly beneficial course of action is to perform spiritual acts that can gain us freedom from the bonds of karma. Spiritual acts are acts for the service of Krishna and are the essence of Bhakti yoga. They awaken our innate love for Krishna, destroying our desire to enjoy separately from Him, which is the root of our karmic bondage. It is rightly said, 'As you sow, so shall you reap'. Therefore, let us endeavour to sow the seeds of devotion towards the Supreme Lord and eventually reap the benefits of piety, eternal bliss and purified consciousness that is the only pathway to becoming free from the endless Wheel of Karma and reaching the Divine spiritual Kingdom of God.
Comments