Karma – The Universal Law of Boomerang

Karma means action – physical and mental. Karma is being performed in thoughts, deed, and action. Karma executed at any of these levels will have a consequence for that person at some point in their life. Hence, we need to perform every action consciously as we will have to bear the consequence eventually.

Every company has an accountant and an auditor to keep track of records. But how does one keep track of Karma? It certainly seems like a herculean task, almost impossible. How can we entrust anyone to read our minds, intentions, reactions and keep a record of every action; for every being in the world?

A beautiful operating system has been created by the Universe where all the dimensions of Karma, are recorded into our consciousness as a “tendency” or “memory” or “Vasana” within us.

Contrary to the popular misconception, there is no reward or punishment. Once the Karma arrow is shot out of the bow, the person will have to face the consequence of that action. This unconscious “Karma” acts like the software for our human system: resulting in unconscious pattern of behavior. Our personality is dictated by these unconscious “Vasanas”. If we take control of our body, mind and energies, then we can perform our actions more consciously.  Thus we take full responsibility of our actions, once we are fully “aware” of the consequences.

How Karma works is simple yet complex to understand in the big picture. We need to be mindful of the basic underlying principle of Karma. It is the Universal Law of cause and effect. Besides this, there are other factors, that come into play. We are born into certain environments with pre-existing conditioning or “Samkaras”. All these factors weave into a complex pattern and play into our lives.

So is Karma good or bad? That depends on the intent behind the action.  For example – the same knife can be used with 3 different intents-

1.To cut fruit to satisfy your hunger.

2. By a surgeon, to save a life.

3. To murder a life, for money, property etc.

Hence, depending on our intent, the consequences play out! This gave birth to a very popular phrase – guilty conscience pricks the mind. We and only we, know the intent of our actions, for all four dimensions of Karma.

Karma is explained in certain holy books as “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” If you sow evil, you will reap evil in the form of suffering. And if you sow goodness, you will reap goodness in the form of inner joy. Every action, every thought, brings about its own corresponding rewards. Human suffering is not a sign of God’s anger with mankind. It is a sign, rather, of man’s ignorance of the universal law.

Here is a story of Karma.  Sahil was at match point, in his tennis match. He hit a great backhand shot, down the line. To his horror, his opponent calls the ball out. Sahil chooses not get upset, and controls his reaction. Sahil chooses not to take revenge by cheating. How people treat you is their Karma. How you react is yours!

Sahil continues to play with an intent to play a fair game. Even if his opponent wins by cheating, Sahil knows in his heart, that  he will be the “Winner in the Match of Life” with a clear conscience that will keep him free from anxiety and stress – ON court as well as OFF court in the game of life.