Karma is like an unfathomable tip of an iceberg. Even the doer does not know much about its consequences.We all appear on the life,s stage for a short time to play our roles.According to our different inherent tendencies, we act differently towards situations and others.Mostly we work to meet our bodily needs and to fulfill our worldly desires and so on.
Leaving the innocent period of childhood, our active life starts, as we grow up, earn money for a living, to look after our families, and to perform responsibilities towards others in societies etc.Gradually with declining of age, working ability slows down.We look back, and think about our gain and loss in life.Those thoughts may bring a smile of satisfaction on our lips, or a sad repentance, and a few extra wrinkles on our forehead.It all depends on the quality of our thoughts, actions and speech performed in life.There is a beautiful saying," life is to give not to take," I wish this wisdom should strike our head and heart early in life, so that we can remain ever cheerful.
All eastern philosophy, like Hinduism,Buddhism or Jainism, they all believe in deep rooted consequences of karma.They may be called as a cause and effect theory, as law of karma or more scientifically it may be referred as law of attraction.But they all mean the same, and that is, what we sow we reap.Our karmic ripples never get closed down in one life.Karmic trends and imprints get carried over from past to present, and from present to future life also. We may forget about them, but they never forget us. And whenever we are reborn, our past karma,past thoughts and habits create our present physical form and personality traits, and make our destiny in present and in future also.
We grew up, hearing beautiful proverbs like, speech is like an arrow, once it comes out, it can never be brought back. Or think before you act, not after.They all point out at the unfailing consequences of every action, and warn us to be aware before we act.
Eastern philosophy devides life,s achievements into four sections. First comes Dharma (moral and ethical values) ,second is Artha(economic prosperity and achievements), third is Kama ( as a householder fulfilling responsibilities, worldly desires, and relationships with others.) .And last comes Moksha, which means to be liberated from karmic bondages, and be a liberated soul.
Dharma , the right conduct is referred first, because it is believed that , life's actions have deeper significance,than just eat, drink and merry. Though it does not negate the concept of comfortable good living, but it only says , achieve everything through righteous ways. All actions must be done in the limit of morality and decency. Otherwise, when wealth , prosperity , relationships are gained in an unethical ways , they bring lots of sufferings in this life, and also block our good fortune in future life, because we can't escape from the results of our wrong deeds, and have to pay back to the karmic account with heavy interest.But when life's achievements are gained through right actions,with good intentions and for well being of all, then those actions can be the stepping stones for our liberation.
This message is very relevant today.Modern life is becoming too unsatisfactory. Too many desires ,more nice cars, new dresses, entertainments and more worries. When we get to much attached to worldly desires, we create more sufferings for us and for others.
So all realized souls tell us to be free from those so called necessities. Life is impermanent. Any moment we maybe forced to leave this body by disease or misfortune. We are born alone, die alone, and carry the consequences of our good and bad karma alone, to experience heaven or hell in next life.
Life gives us a free will and an opportunity to purify our mind and to elevate life with good karma. Buddha showed us the path to make mind peacefull, and how to be aware in present moment through meditation. Peaceful mind acts rightly, but never reacts. When a seed of anger or hatred comes up in mind , acknowledging its presence, a peaceful soul can let it go, and watering the seeds of compassion and forgiveness he can do good karma.
Following Buddha,s teachings with conviction , we all can purify our minds and can be free from karmic bondages.
Paramhansa Yogananda summarized the karmic th eory in these few lines."Do not depend on death to liberate you from your imperfections. You are exactly the same after death as you were before. Nothing changes.If you are a thief, or a liar, or a cheater before death, you don't become an angel merely by dying. If such were possible, then let us all go and jump in the ocean now, and become angels at once! What ever you have made yourself thus far, so will you be here after. And when you reincarnate, you will bring that same nature with you.To change you have to make an effort. This world is the place to do it . "
Leaving the innocent period of childhood, our active life starts, as we grow up, earn money for a living, to look after our families, and to perform responsibilities towards others in societies etc.Gradually with declining of age, working ability slows down.We look back, and think about our gain and loss in life.Those thoughts may bring a smile of satisfaction on our lips, or a sad repentance, and a few extra wrinkles on our forehead.It all depends on the quality of our thoughts, actions and speech performed in life.There is a beautiful saying," life is to give not to take," I wish this wisdom should strike our head and heart early in life, so that we can remain ever cheerful.
All eastern philosophy, like Hinduism,Buddhism or Jainism, they all believe in deep rooted consequences of karma.They may be called as a cause and effect theory, as law of karma or more scientifically it may be referred as law of attraction.But they all mean the same, and that is, what we sow we reap.Our karmic ripples never get closed down in one life.Karmic trends and imprints get carried over from past to present, and from present to future life also. We may forget about them, but they never forget us. And whenever we are reborn, our past karma,past thoughts and habits create our present physical form and personality traits, and make our destiny in present and in future also.
We grew up, hearing beautiful proverbs like, speech is like an arrow, once it comes out, it can never be brought back. Or think before you act, not after.They all point out at the unfailing consequences of every action, and warn us to be aware before we act.
Eastern philosophy devides life,s achievements into four sections. First comes Dharma (moral and ethical values) ,second is Artha(economic prosperity and achievements), third is Kama ( as a householder fulfilling responsibilities, worldly desires, and relationships with others.) .And last comes Moksha, which means to be liberated from karmic bondages, and be a liberated soul.
Dharma , the right conduct is referred first, because it is believed that , life's actions have deeper significance,than just eat, drink and merry. Though it does not negate the concept of comfortable good living, but it only says , achieve everything through righteous ways. All actions must be done in the limit of morality and decency. Otherwise, when wealth , prosperity , relationships are gained in an unethical ways , they bring lots of sufferings in this life, and also block our good fortune in future life, because we can't escape from the results of our wrong deeds, and have to pay back to the karmic account with heavy interest.But when life's achievements are gained through right actions,with good intentions and for well being of all, then those actions can be the stepping stones for our liberation.
This message is very relevant today.Modern life is becoming too unsatisfactory. Too many desires ,more nice cars, new dresses, entertainments and more worries. When we get to much attached to worldly desires, we create more sufferings for us and for others.
So all realized souls tell us to be free from those so called necessities. Life is impermanent. Any moment we maybe forced to leave this body by disease or misfortune. We are born alone, die alone, and carry the consequences of our good and bad karma alone, to experience heaven or hell in next life.
Life gives us a free will and an opportunity to purify our mind and to elevate life with good karma. Buddha showed us the path to make mind peacefull, and how to be aware in present moment through meditation. Peaceful mind acts rightly, but never reacts. When a seed of anger or hatred comes up in mind , acknowledging its presence, a peaceful soul can let it go, and watering the seeds of compassion and forgiveness he can do good karma.
Following Buddha,s teachings with conviction , we all can purify our minds and can be free from karmic bondages.
Paramhansa Yogananda summarized the karmic th eory in these few lines."Do not depend on death to liberate you from your imperfections. You are exactly the same after death as you were before. Nothing changes.If you are a thief, or a liar, or a cheater before death, you don't become an angel merely by dying. If such were possible, then let us all go and jump in the ocean now, and become angels at once! What ever you have made yourself thus far, so will you be here after. And when you reincarnate, you will bring that same nature with you.To change you have to make an effort. This world is the place to do it . "
