December 27, 2012

Some insights into the Law of Karma

First, let’s see what law of karma is not: “Ye-hi mera naseeb hai” or “jo kismet me hai, wahi hoga”-(meaning, whatever is in my destiny will happen) -these statements do not express the working of the  law of karma.  Words like naseeb, kismet, muqadar, taqdeer, are Arabic/Persian words, have no Sanskrit equivalents, and don’t exist in the lexicon of Hindu dharma.  Such words imply fate or destiny and predestination by a higher power.

Law of karma is a logical belief that helps us make sense of otherwise unexplainable observations: why do unjustifiably bad things happen to good people and vice versa. According to the law of karma, every action produces an immediate result, and very significantly, a delayed (potential) result, which will take place sooner or later; either in this life or in a future life.  As an example, if one hits another with a stone, the immediate result will be the injury caused to the person hit by the stone, and the potential result will be an equivalent amount of injury the perpetrator will receive.  Potential results accumulate over many life times.  Good deeds accumulate as good karma (punya karma) and bad ones as bad karma (papa karma).  The karma we are born with (prarabdha karma) affect the results of all our actions in this life and also bring about any unexpected events that happen to us-good or bad.  Briefly, this is the law of karma.

These observations about the law of karma, made by ancient sages of India (rishis), have profound impact on our life. The law of karma declares that we alone are responsible for the results we get from our actions, and for the events that happen to us.  There is no higher power that makes decisions for us to punish or reward us.  It refutes the idea of pre-destination and words such as fate, kismet, etc.

The law of karma tells us that God is not sitting in judgment punishing some and rewarding others.  God created a natural universe governed by the intelligent laws of nature.  The law of karma is part of the natural order of the universe, and it too works as a law of nature.

Prarabdha karma that we are born with will certainly influence our life; the question arises: “Is there a way we can soften their impact or diminish our suffering.”  Our gurus tell us: “Yes; offer prayers, do selfless service, seek avenues for spiritual strength, and develop an attitude of acceptance.  God is not unfair; everyone is dear to Him”.

Next topic; Interplay between karma and free will.