Three types of Karma

[Guest guest]

Jaya Guru Datta,

 

Here is today's saying:

 

"Question: Very well, ‘performing karmas is one stage. Suffering their effects

is another stage’ is what you are saying. How many types of karmas are there?

How many types of performers are there? Who is this Karta?

 

Answer: Let us see.

 

In scriptures like the Vedas, Shastras and Puranas, it is said that the fruits

of sins and merits have to be experienced by the person and unless they are

experienced, the Karma component is not destroyed. We also come across

statements which say 'with the help of Jnana, one can get rid of Karma without

actually experiencing them'. Which statement is true? We were discussing this

point in the previous lesson. We had discussed the strength of these statements

with respect to the given context. It was shown that the first statement holds

good with respect to observing one's duties in the ordinary sense and that the

second statement would hold good when explaining the importance of Jnana in

destroying ignorance and Karma. Thus, the context of observing one's karmas as

well as the context of overriding all karmas - were discussed.

 

How many types of karmas are there? How many types of performers are there? This

is our present discussion. Let us continue from where we had left.

 

Three types of Karma:

Karmas are of three types. Paapa (sinful), Punya (meritorious) and Mishra

(mixed). The forms of beings such as Devatas (angels) come as a result of pure

Punya karmas. The forms of animals come from Paapa Karmas. The human form comes

as a result of Mishra (mixed) karmas."

 

Sri Swamiji

Lessons in Vedanta - 33 part XIV

Bhakti Mala, August 1998

 

&

 

Lessons in Vedanta - 34 part I

Bhakti Mala, September 1998

 

Sri Guru Datta,

Swamiji Says

 

 

________

Outgrown your current e-mail service? Get 25MB Storage, POP3 Access,

Advanced Spam protection with LYCOS MAIL PLUS.

http://login.mail.lycos.com/brandPage.shtml?pageId=plus&ref=lmtplus