10.1: The The Law of Karma
What is karma?
- Literally means "work" or "activity"
- The law of karma means for every action there is a reaction (the law of cause and effect)
- The pain or pleasure we cause others will sooner or later return back to us.
Therefore whatever pain or pleasure we are experiencing now is a result of our previous activities.
Stages of karma
There are various stages both in cause and effect. Each effect is also a cause for future effect.
- Bija (seed): Desire
(to enjoy and control separate from Krishna in various ways)
- Kutastha (bud): Decision
(thinking, feeling, and willing-in the mind, coming to the decision to perform a particular activity.)
- Phalonmukha (fruit): Activity
(performing it)
- Prarabdha (harvest): Reaction
(happiness and distress)
Karma is administered by the Supersoul
- He knows everything-past, present, and future
- He keeps record of our karmic accounts
- He arranges for the particular body and circumstances we get in life
- He makes sure that we get the karmic reactions we deserve by
- giving us the knowledge, forgetfulness, remembrance, and inspiration that will guide us in the required direction; and
- arranging other appropriate circumstances externally.
- He awards the living beings what they desire and deserve.
Three divisions of action and subsequent reaction (karma)
Karma
- Pious work that adheres to Vedic principles
- Elevates one to higher status, a good birth or life on the heavenly planets.
Vikarma
- Work that contravenes Vedic injuctions; sinful
- Produces negative reactions; lower birth
Akarma
- Not a negation of work, but of reactions; i.e. work with no reactions. Work done not for oneself but for Krishna
- Gives liberation and establishes one in loving devotional service