Prarabdh Part 02

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Prarabdh

 

A man cannot live without engaging himself in some

action/karma. Scriptures mention that there are four

differnt paths in spirituality namely Karma, Jnana,

Yoga and Bhakti that separately lead a man to his

final goal of deliverance. In Kaliyug, Karma in

conjunction with Bhakti is the main path of

deliverance. One has to work out the actions of his

past karma whilst holding on to the feet of Lord to

rise spiritually. God has bestowed man with the

faculty of intelligence through which he is capable of

discriminating between good and bad actions. A

spiritually oriented man, filled with love for God,

using the sense of discrimination, always engages in

satkarma or good deeds or actions. Karma is like an

investment which determines future life or destiny

ie., if he is going to be happy or lead a life of

misery. If one were to engage in bad karma/actions

then the future is bleak for him for he has to suffer

the consequences of his deeds either in this birth or

next. As Baba mentions in Satcharita, we have to reap

now the fruit of what we sow (do) in our past life,

and there is no use in crying about it. When we talk

about the future course of life, we talk about destiny

or Prarabdh for which we are the architects of our

destiny.

 

As Jean Nidetch right fully says It is choice--not

chance-- that determines your destiny.

 

If a man were to suffer the consequences of his evil

actions, and he holds on to the feet of Guru, by

surrendering to Guru completely and considers Guru to

be master, God and helmsman who would help him tread

the path of the worldly ocean and guide him in his

spiritual quest, then such man will be rescued from

the bondage of his karma and will have a good life in

future. Only a Sadguru can deliver a man from the

clutches of his destiny or prarabdh. Satcharita

illustrates this point wherein Baba talks about

actions/karma and cause and effect of karma. For

example when Bhimaji Patil in desperation pleaded that

Baba relieve him of his ailment Baba pointed out that

the disease was due to the previous evil karma, and

was not at first disposed to interfere. But on hearing

Bhimaji Patil's plea for mercy, the merciful Sadguru

cured him of the disease.

 

Similarly, Dr Pillay suffered from a severe case of

guinea worms and was in pain. On hearing Dr Pillay’s

plea for mercy Baba said " In ten days he can work out

the sufferings and consequences of his past Karma " .

The leper devotee Bhagoji Shinde was also cured by

grace of Baba.

 

The essence of Baba's teachings in Satcharita is to do

good to others and restrain from indulging in acts

that would harm others either through actions,

thoughts or words. A man who cannot control his bad

actions is bound by prarabdh karma/destiny and has to

suffer the consequences of his actions. Only when the

good and bad actions are balanced then a Guru comes

along to relieve the person from the clutches of his

prarabdh karma. Baba rescued the frog from the jaws of

snake. Baba said both were wicked in their past life

and were now reaping the fruit of their actions in

these bodies.

 

Being caught in the race for survival and greed for

materialism man's actions have stooped him down to the

level of beasts. Human values are lost. Basic

instincts of love, compassion, empathy, kindness are

replaced with greed, anger, hatred, lust, jealousy,

cheating and killing. Relationships have no value, no

respect for elders. Knowledge is considered a waste of

time. It is money that makes the world go round and

money talks, attracts friends. A man who is attached

to money finds no peace and is never satisfied in any

relationship. He is bound to engage in actions that

would destine him to suffer the result of his prarabdh

karma. Increase in anarchy, sadness, disputes,

illnesses, sudden loss of vision, limbs paralysed, and

bedridden by being dependent on someone etc are the

result of past actions. This is like a vicious circle

from which there is no respite for a man engaged in

evil deeds. For such a man God is only a source for

fulfillment of his carnal needs rather than quenching

his spiritual thirst and elevating him to higher

planes of spirituality.

 

It is never too late to resort to the feet of Sadguru

and seek shelter under His grace. Such a man is

liberated from his sins, no doubt he has to suffer for

the consequences of his past actions but the impact of

his past prarabdh will be greatly reduced by the grace

of Sadguru. We can make this world a better place by

not retaliating when someone hurts us, by serving

those who have become physically disabled in our

family due to their past prarabdh, by giving food to

the hungry. Be magnanimous in doing charity. Be humble

in actions. Know that we are nothing but particles of

dust on this earth easily blown away by the wrath of

nature. What is today will be gone tomorrow as is

proved by the tsunamis, earthquakes, tornadoes, bush

fires, floods, famines and wars; all acts of nature.

Knowing this, man should take refuge in God, be

humble, and practice what Baba has advocated through

Satcharita. Baba has himself promised: “It is My

special characteristic to free any person, who

surrenders completely to Me, and who does worship Me

faithfully, and who remembers Me, and meditates on Me

constantly. .... I shall draw out My devotees from the

jaws of Death. If My stories are listened to, all the

diseases will be got rid of.”

 

For a man who has surrendered himself to Baba, will

find Baba waiting to hold him to His bosom and relieve

man of the burdens of his prarabdh.