Karma

May 13 2005

Dear......,

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So, this time I will tell you something about Karma. I think it is the most popular Indian word in English. But people dont know what exactly it is. Many of them simply believe that 'if you do this this will be the effect' -cause and effect- as karma. Though it is not wrong, one can always learn more about karma.

As everyone believes, karma is the effect of our act. When you come to this world as a human, you are not sent empty handed. You are provided with a wallet with some money to spend. And then whether you like it or not, want or do not want, you earn more and more money, karma.

Spending this money is like planting seeds, generally speaking. It will give you some fruits one day or another. And dont ask me from where that first dose of karma came. It is like asking which came first , the hen or the egg (at least for me)

Karma can be further divided into four (some say it is three and some may say it is more than four, I am telling you what I understood so far) They are

1.Sanchita Karma
2.Prarabdha Karma
3.Agami Karma
4.Kriyamana Karma

1.Sanchita karma : It is the sum total of all the karmas you hold. It is the result of all the actions from all your past life times. One can change one's sanchita karma through satsang, meditation , prayaschitta and similar good acts (I am talking about the bad karma)

2.Prarabdha karma: Actully, this is part of sanchita karma. But it is this karma that caused you to take this birth. This is the cause for your rebirth. That is, these are the fruits of the seeds you planted in your past lifes but could not eat the fruits. These are ripe fruits. So you can not change it. Good or Bad, you cant eascape from Prarabdha karma. One does not hold any control over it.

3.Agami karma: This is the karma you are earning or saving for your future. I read somewhere that this karma can also be called kriyamana karma. But I have confusion. So, I am passing that confusion to you also. You clear it.

4.Kriyamana karma: This is Instant karma (not that music band ..ha ha). You get the result immediately, no need to wait. While shaving you got cut your face and there comes the blood. Your head bumbed on a wall and there comes the buldge, you pinch your son and there he cries.....

Many says there is an example in our vedantic knowledge. I dont know from which scripture it came. But usually people use that as the best exmple to explain karma.

Consider this : An archer stands with a filled quiver. He took one arrow and sent it towards the target. Then he took another arrow in his bow and is ready to shoot.The arrow he already sent is the prarabdha karma. Now he dont have any control over it. (unless and until he is not
that an expert to use the second arrow to divert the first one)The arrow he has with his bow, now, is the Agami karma.The still not used arrows left in the quiver is the sanchita karma.

This the basic thing about karma.....oh! it became a looong mail..
convey my regards to all at home and love to your son.

bye for now and take care

with prayers,

Jayaram