Karma and Rebirth
Life is said to be governed by the law of Karma referring to
action and reaction. One’s good and bad
actions and thoughts in the present necessarily affect one’s future circumstances.
This law therefore determines and explains why for instance some humans suffer
more than others and how life presents different conditions to different
individuals. Moreover Karma remains associated
with the Jiva-atma and has its effect not only in this life but also gets
carried forward to the next life (Punar Janma)
It is said that the total sum of good and bad deeds and
intentions (Punya and Paap) associated with the ‘jiva’ is stored as one’s
‘Sanchita Karma’. Out of this ‘Prarabdha
Karma’ is the portion of past Karma which is assigned to influence the current
life (Janma). Both good and bad parts of ‘Prarabdha Karma’ are deducted from
the ‘Sanchita Karma’ as they are used up to present equivalent good or bad
circumstances in this life. The Punya and Paap committed in this life (current
Janma) is called ‘Kriyamana Karma’ and the actions we plan to execute are accumulated
as ‘Agaami Karma’ which all gets added to the ‘Sanchita Karma’. Thus the ‘Sanchita
Karma’ is a running account. Based on
one’s ‘Prarabdha Karma’ the ‘jiva’ takes birth either in one of the ‘Deva
Lokas’ or on earth in human/animal/plant form or still inferior births are in
the lower Lokas beneath the earth. As humans are not detached from their
desires, upon death the ‘Jiva’ carries with it all its cravings and
inclinations (‘Vasanas’) as well as the ‘karma’ associated with it. When the
‘Jiva’ enters a new body, these ‘Vasanas’ come back into play and sometimes
also influence dreams at night.
Free will
If the ‘Jiva-atma’ takes human form, based on its past karma a human would definitely have to undergo some hardships or may experience very
favourable circumstances. However humans
do possess ‘free will’ to best deal with even negative circumstances that may
be presented to them owing to negative Prarabdha karma so as to improve the
outcomes of these events in their present life. Good actions and positive
thoughts if projected strongly enough have the power to nullify some of the
impact of bad Prarabdha karma even though the initial hardship will befall one.
Although it is not possible to measure or define the exact impact of good
actions, that good ‘Kriyamana Karma’ can positively impact this life is certain
as is the fact that good actions can add up to positive ‘Agaami Karma’ for the
future which all goes to one’s Karma account of ‘Sanchita Karma’. Some of this ‘fructifies’ as ‘Prarabdha Karma’
for the next life. Thus one must believe in the powers of free will and
intelligence and use it to make the best of challenges and opportunities that
life throws as this is the way to mould one’s destiny to an extent and to come
out a winner despite being dealt a bad hand.
As seen in the
movie matrix, everything in life is not absolutely pre written there are merely
‘possibilities’ and depending on the choices humans make, their destiny keeps
on taking shape as life progresses.
