Law of Karma

[Guest guest]

Law of ‘Karma’ in Hinduism

 

 

Central to Hinduism is ‘Law of Karma’ – the idea that deeds in this life

time are determined by the quality of other lifetimes, lived.

 

The Sanskrit Word ‘Karma’, represents the accumulated actions, positive and

negative of former lifetimes that helps to create a person’s present DHARM, or

assigned duties in this lifetime.

 

The ‘Karma’ of the individual is the factor which determines the progress of

the soul through various incarnations.

 

‘Sanchitha’ – the sum or result of acts committed in the previous

incarnation; ‘Prarabda’ – acts of the present incarnation which are

subject both to the influence of the previous life and to the exercise of free

will in the present one; and ‘Agasmi’ future, unrealized acts. These are the

three categories listed. The progress of the soul from one incarnation to the

other is conditioned by a mixture of ‘free will’, ‘karma’ and fate.

 

Ever since Eastern Religions and spirituality were introduced into mainstream

Western Culture, much of the Sanskrit terminology was misunderstood. Many

Westerners use the word ‘Karma’ loosely to describe anything happens which

seems fated.

 

Dr. B. V. Raman, describes the Law of Karma in p.49 of ‘Planetary Influences

In Human Affairs’, as follows:

 

According to ancient texts when one dies, his soul which is enveloped in subtle

body and invested with the sum-total of good and bad Karma passes after sometime

into another body leaving off his gross body, as a man casts off worn-out

clothes and puts on new ones.  His reincarnation takes place in a physical body

corresponding with the deeds done to him in his previous life.  The process of

death and birth go on till the person concerned attains emancipation. The

cardinal doctrine of Karma therefore is the law of cause and effect in

accordance with the maximum ‘as a man soweth so shall he reap’.

 

The Vedas describe a society consisting of priests, warriors, merchants,

artisans, and slaves whose classification forms the descending class order which

eventually became the rigid Hindu caste system. These five contemporary caste

system are Brahmins(priests and the well-educated), Kshatrias(rulers and

warriors),Vaishya (Merchants), Sudra (farm laborers), and the lowest castes,

Harijans or untouchables (outcastes), who own nothing while beg to live.

Unfortunately, although the caste system is not an aspect of Hinduism per se,

and considered universally to be politically unjust, it is still an accepted

socio-economic division of the Hindu population.

 

The Hindu accepts that a person’s caste, the family he or she is born into,

and the chosen profession (often father’s or father in law’s) are derived

from the soul’s journey through previous life times.

 

If you committed sins, crimes, or were dishonorable in last life, then you will

pay for your indiscretions being born into lowly caste in this incarnation.

 

If you were honorable, then you will reap rewards this time around. Moreover,

the obligations performed within a caste determine who and what a person will be

in the next life.

 

                                       

             …….Ronnie Gale Dreyer in ‘Vedic Astrology’

 brought to you by

A.V.Pathi,  

Chennai 600 017, India.

 Phone: 044 2815 5633; Cell :: 0 9840047842