Karma: Understanding the Universal Law That Governs Every Life Path
Have you ever questioned yourself about your sufferings in life or about the challenges that hinder the smooth flow of life? Across civilisations, spiritual traditions, and philosophical schools, humanity has always searched for an explanation for why life unfolds the way it does. Before modern psychology and science found their answer, the traditional wisdom presented a powerful concept, i.e., karma. Although karma is often misunderstood as a system of reward and punishment, it is more than that, and it presents the relationship between cause and effect. Understanding karma is not merely about a spiritual exercise, but it also entails a profound practical theory. Once we grasp how karma works, it becomes quite easy to get the explanations about our current situations. In simple words, every thought we think or every word we speak and every action of us creates a rippling effect. These ripples return to us and immediately influence our circumstances and shape the path of our lives. Here in this blog of Shiva Science, we will unravel the secrets associated with the universal theory of karma and how it governs human life.
The Core Idea Of Karma
The word ‘Karma’ originates from the ancient Sanskrit word ‘kri’, which stands for ‘to’ or ‘to do’. To put it simply, karma is all about our actions and their consequences to return to us in the present and leave their influence on our future. Importantly, karma is not fatalistic. It does not declare that our lives are predetermined by past deeds alone. Instead, it emphasises choice. So, purification of past deeds is not enough to get rid of the karmic outcomes; rather, you must have to make the choices carefully. Another key idea of karma is that its effects are not always immediate. Just as a seed takes time to grow into a tree, karmic results may unfold slowly, sometimes across long periods. People often get confused between karma and destiny, but the reality is that our karma or actions influence our destiny. Ultimately, the core concept of karma is about conscious living.
Different Types of Karma
Although karma is described as a single force, in reality, the nature of karma is dynamic, and it is a layered system. Karma can be divided into three principal categories such as sanchita karma, prarabdha karma and kriyamana karma.
Sanchita Karma:
Sanchita karma stands for the accumulated store of the past actions performed in the previous as well as present lives. Not all the karmas begin to offer the outcomes instantly; rather, they are stored until the situations become favourable for their manifestation. However, it is believed that the spiritual practices such as meditation for mental health, devotion and ethical living, reduce the accumulated karma.
Prarabdha Karma:
Prarabdha karma refers to that portion of sanchita karma which has just started to bear its fruits in the present life. According to many philosophical schools, prarabdha karma cannot be avoided, but it can be faced with wisdom and detachment. Plus, how an individual responds to prarabdha karma gives birth to a new karma and leaves an influence on the future.
Kriyamana Karma:
Kriyamana karma is all about the actions that an individual performs in the present life, and these actions are guided by one’s intentions and moral awareness. Every thought, word, and deed performed now contributes to shaping one’s future experiences. Due to this reason, as per kriyamana karma, it is believed that human beings are not at all helpless victims of fate, but also they are the creators of their own destiny.
How Does The Law Of Karma Work?
Whether it’s Indian philosophy or any school of belief like Jainism or Buddhism, everywhere it is believed that every action produces a corresponding result. To put it simply, what a person thinks, says or does intentionally, it will return to them in some form or other. The law of karma, in reality, emphasises not only destiny, but also moral responsibility and spiritual growth. Plus, karma works on the level of intention, rather than on action alone. For instance, when an action is performed with good intentions such as honesty, kindness and compassion, it is seen that it results in generating happiness, peace and favourable actions. Conversely, the actions which are motivated by negative intentions, such as greed, wrath and selfishness, end up producing the negative karmas. Thus, the moral quality of the karma is entirely dependent upon the mindset behind the action.
Karma also operates across time, and in many spiritual traditions, it is believed that karma extends beyond a single lifetime. Actions performed in past lives may influence present circumstances, while present actions shape future lives. This idea allows us to understand why individuals are born into different conditions and encounter different challenges in life. Besides all these, the universal law of karma also encourages people to take personal responsibility instead of blaming others. This sense of profound self-awareness promotes moral growth and spiritual development.
Karma FAQs
Q1. How long will karma last?
Karmic cycles tend to last as long as it is necessary for humans, and they intend to teach certain lessons to us. As a result, we receive both the challenges and blessings based on our actions and intentions.
Q2. How does karma hit back?
Karma hits back usually with the results of your actions and brings both positive and negative outcomes. Hence, people must make careful choices to receive the best outcomes in life.
Q3. Which karma is hardest?
The delusional karma is the hardest one, and it acts as an instrumental cause of destruction.
Q4. How to identify your karma?
To understand your karma, there are multiple ways, such as awareness and self-introspection, spiritual practices and others. We also recommend joining an online meditation course to know more about your karma in life.
Bottom Line:
The law of karma is much more than a philosophical concept; it is a timeless guide for conscious living. By embracing this law, we come to understand that life is a reflection of our own actions and intentions. Whether we encounter challenges or blessings, it is all dependent on our karma. Once you understand the universal law of karma, the karmic purification becomes easier than ever. To know more about the karmic purification or to gather knowledge on your own karma, reach out to Shiva Science, the reputable organisation offering meditation classes in Goa.