What Is KARMA? How To Clear Past Karmas? Why Is Life Unfair? | Ask Gurudev Anything

Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar・2 minutes read

Karma includes individual and collective actions, with different types like Prarabdh, Sanchita, and Agami karma having distinct characteristics that cannot be nullified. Grace can help transcend karma, offering freedom from its consequences, while desires and actions ultimately hold no true existence from a broader perspective.

Insights

  • Negative thoughts that are not acted upon do not create karma, while attachment to thoughts forms karma.
  • Grace helps rise above karma, offering freedom from its consequences, and is both dependent on karma and independent of it.

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Recent questions

  • What is karma?

    Karma refers to actions and their consequences, both individual and collective. It encompasses the idea that every action, whether physical or mental, has an impact and creates a chain of cause and effect. Lord Krishna emphasized the complexity and depth of karma, highlighting that even thoughts and intentions can generate karmic energy. Karma is not just about the actions we take but also the attachments and impressions we hold onto, shaping our present and future experiences.

  • How does karma affect our lives?

    Karma influences our lives by shaping our experiences based on past actions and intentions. Different types of karma, such as Prarabdh, Sanchita, and Agami karma, play distinct roles in determining our circumstances. Prarabdh karma, derived from past actions, manifests in our current life and cannot be erased. It is the result of strong impressions from previous lives that influence our present reality. Understanding karma helps us recognize the interconnectedness of our actions and thoughts, leading to a deeper awareness of how we create our own destinies through our choices.

  • Can karma be avoided?

    While karma is an inherent part of life, it is possible to act without creating new karma by performing actions without attachment to their outcomes. Negative thoughts that are not acted upon do not generate karma, emphasizing the importance of cultivating a mindset free from attachment. By practicing detachment and mindfulness in our actions and thoughts, we can minimize the accumulation of karmic energy and its consequences in our lives.

  • How does grace impact karma?

    Grace offers a way to transcend the effects of karma, providing liberation from its consequences. While karma is a significant aspect of life, grace acts as a divine intervention that can unexpectedly alleviate the burden of karmic patterns. It is both influenced by karma and independent of it, offering a path towards freedom and spiritual growth. By surrendering to grace and cultivating a sense of gratitude, individuals can experience a sense of release from the constraints of karma and its implications.

  • What role does Ishwara play in karma?

    Ishwara, associated with qualities like creation, maintenance, hiding, and grace, plays a significant role in the realm of karma. The concept of Ishwara highlights the divine presence that oversees the unfolding of karmic patterns and offers blessings and guidance along the spiritual journey. By acknowledging the presence of Ishwara and surrendering to its wisdom, individuals can navigate the complexities of karma with a sense of trust and acceptance. Ishwara serves as a source of divine grace that can help individuals transcend the limitations of karma and experience spiritual growth and transformation.

Related videos

Summary

00:00

Understanding Karma: Lord Krishna's Teachings Explained

  • Karma means action in desperation, with individual and collective karma existing.
  • Lord Krishna emphasized the unfathomable nature of karma.
  • Negative thoughts that are held onto form karma, while action without attachment to impressions avoids karma.
  • Different types of karma include Prarabdh, Sanchita, and Agami karma, each with distinct characteristics.
  • Prarabdh karma, acquired from past actions, manifests and cannot be nullified.
  • Strong impressions from past lives determine Prarabdh karma in the current life.
  • Not acting or thinking also constitutes karma, as all actions and thoughts are forms of energy.
  • Negative thoughts that are not acted upon do not create karma, while attachment to thoughts forms karma.
  • Terrorists, despite detachment from actions, still accumulate karma due to the energy and vibrations of their actions.
  • Grace helps rise above karma, offering freedom from its consequences, and is both dependent on karma and independent of it.

17:13

"Karma, Grace, and Enlightenment: Understanding Life's Essence"

  • Karma is a significant aspect of life, but there is also Grace and Blessing that can come unexpectedly.
  • Ishwara is associated with five qualities: creation (Srishti), maintenance (Stithi), hiding (Laya, Tirobhaav), and Grace (Anugrah).
  • Krishna tells Arjuna that he will take away his sins, emphasizing the importance of surrendering and not trying to clear sins independently.
  • When a guru frees someone of their karma, the karma doesn't disappear but remains in a subtle form, like a mark of butter on the hand.
  • Sankalpa can cut through karma, and efforts, as well as external influences (Vikalp), can impact the results of one's actions.
  • Enlightenment involves eliminating Sanchita and Agami Karma, but a bit of Prarabdh Karma may remain as long as the body exists.
  • Nadis provide predictions for the future, but remedies can alter these outcomes, showing that actions have a limited impact.
  • Desires arise from various factors and form part of karma, but ultimately, from a true perspective, nothing truly exists, including karma.
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