The present moment is like a tapestry. It looks perfect from the top but if you turn it around you see lots of entangled threads. Those threads are like the secrets of karma which bring forth us to the present moment.
Our friends and loved ones suddenly become distant and strangers come to help when we are in need.
It is all happening through some law of karma and our karmic account.
World is full of Karma. Karma can lead to both positive and negative impressions which can last for many life times.
In the sense of results of actions performed, karma is divided into 3 categories
- Sanchita Karma ~ Accumulated impressions, memories and results of actions performed in past births
- Prarabdha Karma ~ Accumulated impressions, memories and results of actions from past (sanchita) which have given rise to the present body.
- Agami Karma ~ It is the results of the actions performed in the present birth that lead to future births.
With the dawn of self knowledge, self control and self awareness in ones life, one can destroy the Sanchita (past) and Agami (future) karma.
Prarabdha Karma is the reason we are here in this present birth, life and situations. Prarabdha can not be destroyed and has to be exhausted only by living it.
How to exhaust the Prarabdha Karma without giving rise to Agami Karma -
The wisdom is not to get attached to both the positive and negative events, rather just being a witness to them all and practicing surrender.
Events are happening in our lives to teach us lessons and settle old karmic accounts. If we learn to let go and take the learning away and move on with zeal without the burden of regrets and grudges, we can get over the karmic account and be free of the vicious circle of karma.
The karma starts forming the moment a thought or impression is created in the mind. The waves of thoughts rises in our mind like the waves in the ocean. Not all thoughts are turning into karma. Thoughts, do not become impressions or karma if we just stay witness to them...the moment we get attached to our thoughts, cling onto them and start churning on them they start turning into impressions and henceforth Karma.
Take an example of sand~
If you throw dry sand on the wall, the sand falls off and the wall does not get dirty.
Now, if you add water in the sand and throw the sand on the wall, both your hand and the wall gets dirty.
Sand is referred to thoughts, wall to our consciousness and water to clinging.
Thoughts come and go, if we do not cling to them they can not form any impressions on our consciousness.
The intention behind any action is also the key to karma. Always check what is your motivation and intention behind everything you are saying and doing. Asking yourself this why.. becomes an important self checkpoint and helps us to see our thoughts, intentions and motivations clearly without any distortions.
Karma is being created by our own free will. We have a choice to keep bearing the fruits or start to nullify them with right knowledge.
You become a Karma Yogi when you perform your duties responsibly giving your 100 percent to the job without attaching yourself with the outcome of action.
Though positive Karma can wash off the negative karma, the memory or attachment to positive karma can also become a hindrance in the path of Yoga as it creates ego.
Nirvana is to get rid of both the positive and negative karma. Like when we wash dirty clothes we get rid of both the stains and the detergent. Wash off ignorance and karma with the self knowledge and stay humble so the knowledge does not become the reason for the ego!
Contemplation~
I am the creator of my destiny. I am choosing my response in every situation. I am creating my karma every moment.
- Decision is mine
- Action is mine
- Response/ Reaction is mine
- Responsibility is mine
- Karma is mine
- I am the sole creator of my destiny!
