THREE ASPECTS OF KARMA:

[Guest guest]

prof laxmi narain (prof_narain)

 

Source and courtesy: Sri Ramana Kendram, Hyderabad

This article was published in Sri Ramana Jyothi,

monthly magazine of the Kendram.

 

THREE ASPECTS OF KARMA: The process of karma starts as soon

as a thought to perform an action enters one's mind. It then

translates into action in the form of speech or physical activity or

both.Karma is thus performed by the mind in thought, by tongue in

speech or by the body in action…The Gita classifies karma under three

categories – karma, vi-karma, and a-karma. Karma is right action. It

contributes to happiness here and hereafter. Vi-karma or wrong action

is performed with the intention of doing harm to others and results

in suffering in this life or in future lives. A-karma is non-action,

action that does not produce any reaction and, therefore, ceases to

bind one to samsara and leads to moksha. [sri Ramana is the example

of a person performing a-karma.] …

Karma, vi-karma and a-karma are not to be distinguished by the action

itself, but by the intention or motive behind that action. For

example,if one may give in charity, perform austerities and yaganas

with the motive of acquiring fame or favours, then these seemingly

right actions would be categorized as vi-karma. On the other hand,

one may even kill, but with good intentions, then the karma would be

considered right action; and if it is done in support of dharma it

could even fall into the category of a-karma…To achieve the highest

perfection of human life – total freedom – moksha from misery – we

must perform only a-karma. A-karma can be achieved in two ways:

First, by performing action without desire for the fruits of that

action, the fruits being dedicated to the Lord, and second, by total

renunciation of all action as in the state of samadhi.However, one

must be careful and not confuse non-action with laziness or escapism,

as that would amount to being in tamas (mode of ignorance.) –

Parmarthi Raina