Beyond the effect of Karma
One of the ancient philosophies that makes life look like mathematics, is the philosophy of Karma which states that every action has an equal and opposite reaction or as you sow, so shall you reap or what goes around, comes around. While we are not questioning the philosophy itself, the purpose of this article is to question ourselves deeply about our understanding of the karmic theory.
Let’s consider the following examples of how this theory is understood and applied in our lives and if you feel intrigued then do not hesitate to question yourself. If I am attached to a certain outcome that I want in my life and am trying to act in a way that would ensure those results then I end up being fearful and fear becomes the guiding force for my actions. For Eg: ‘ I better do this so that I will get this’. Soon the compulsion to do the ‘right’ things leaves us feeling very anxious and stressed. The question is ‘ Am I being my genuine self? Or is it my fearful self?’ when I am not my genuine self,neither my actions can be genuine nor the outcome of those actions.
Worrying about what we have done in the past and the fear that it should not affect our future, children, family etc., becoming anxious about the future, living with feelings such as fear, guilt, anxiety, insecurity etc. and allowing them to drive our actions, our relationships and our life is just not worth it. Let’s ask ourselves ‘Can the result of an action performed with fear or anxiety ever bring happiness and peace?’
Maybe we need to re-look at this whole theory of Karma. Eckhart Tolle quotes ‘Karma is not what happens to us but how we respond to what happens to us’. When we are our authentic selves and deeply connected to the flow of life, whatever gets done through us is natural and ‘in the flow’ and hence always genuine. The action could be anything and the mind can probably label it as good or bad but infact it is beyond good and bad. The action was manifested because it was the need of the universe and happened in flow with Life’s natural tendency to restore harmony and balance in nature and in the world. When we let our minds interfere with this flow and start to analyze our actions, judge and label them as good or bad, start feeling guilty or fearful about them or start drawing pleasure/ pride by thinking about them, that’s when we are under the effect of karma and bound by karmic effect. By trying on the mind level to ‘correct’ our actions or ‘ do better karma’ we will never be able to free ourselves from this bondage. This is probably why the term ‘suffering’ has become ‘normal’.
The golden age, heaven, paradise, so called new world as referred to in all spiritual and religious texts is a world where everyone was beyond the effect of Karma and hence free in the true sense. It wasn’t an actionless world but infact a world with lot of creativity and meaningful action filled with joy. That world is not just an Utopia. It can become our reality when we start being our authentic self, embrace other people and life fully, and stay connected to the natural flow of life and enjoy everything that the flow brings, we no longer need to worry about ‘settling karmic accounts’ or ‘ creating new accounts’ and so on. Everything life brings will be a gift for us to enjoy and live fully.
So the next time you feel fearful or guilty about something you have done or feel proud about your achievements, just stop and ask yourself ‘ Is this my authentic true self ?’ Enjoy life, stay connected.
