HARMONY BY ACTION - SWAMI TATWANANDA

[Guest guest]

Karma - Action and it's Nuances 5 (contd.)

 

Accumulated Results of Actions - Karmaphala

 

Karmaphala is the sum total of all the consequences of actions performed by

an individual in the past and the present lifetime. It is categorized into

three types.

1. Sanchita karma. The accumulated results of actions of all previous births

of an individual that await their manifestations in the form of physical

results in future situations of time and space.

2. Prarabdha karma. A part of the sanchita karma that is being materialised

as succeeding situations in the present life. These resulting events cannot

be prevented, just as one cannot call back an arrow that has left the bow.

3. Agami karma. The karmaphala arising out of actions performed in the

present birth as reactions to the results of earlier actions - the prarabdha

karma.

 

Prarabdha is a capital situation, which admits one's will to respond and

counteract with one's understanding, attitude and capabilities. Here lies the

freedom of the individual but of course within the fetters of karmaphala,

which the individual had authored in his past. Thus the individual freedom is

not negated but to nullify the product of results one has no freedom. This is

the strange fact in life - "our freedom is in fetters"! The significance of

agami karma lies in the fact that one can influence one's own future through

one's present desires and actions.

 

Cosmic Movement ("rta") and the Law of Karma

 

When we take karma in respect to the whole creation it is not called a simple

action. It is pointed out as "rta," the Cosmic Movement. The whole universe

is founded on "rta" and moves in that Divine Order. The animate and inanimate

are governed by the Cosmic Law/Movement ("divine order"), that flows and

works directly from the Divine. As the Universal Law of Causality (cause and

effect), "rta," establishes unity between the various cosmic forces and

individual powers.

 

In the human plane it expresses as the "law of karma," which is a chain of

cause and effect of an individual's actions. One has certain freedom over the

choice and performance of one's own actions but no freedom over the laws that

determine the fruits of actions. The individual, as the author of actions,

however, cannot disown the results. The results reach the doer in their own

time. There is no undeserved gain or loss according to the law of karma. As

you sow, so shall you reap!

 

Therefore, one must exercise freedom with discernment while acting and

exhibit an attitude of understanding and maturity while accepting the

results. Regretting the necessity for exhaustion of results of one's own

actions is not the way to find freedom from the inexhaustible law of action

and result. The Cosmic Order is not sympathetic towards an individual's

ignorance prompted misreading of life. "Order" is that which sustains itself

in spite of everything. That is the reason why dharma is said to be

self-sustaining. Dharma and karma are inseparable but the relation remains

invisible to those with no insight!

 

(Excerpted from Swamiji's talks on Karma Yoga-published as Harmony by Action

1989).

[Guest guest]

 

Sundayaso [sundayaso]

 

Cosmic Movement ("rta") and the Law of Karma

 

When we take karma in respect to the whole creation it is not called a

simple

action. It is pointed out as "rta," the Cosmic Movement. The whole universe

is founded on "rta" and moves in that Divine Order.

 

[Madhava Replies:]

 

Just wanted to discuss more on this "rta", please read my next mail. Thank

you.

 

I remain yours,

Madhava