The Laws of Karma, especially Karma Phala has been a subject matter of confusion and misdirection. People started accuse God for each and every misfortune or blessing one gets in life. However, when i analysed the above subject, based on the available vedic literature, i have found that, in most of the cases, the giver of misfortune or blessing is not the Paramatma, but are just natural outcomes of our actions. The results of my research and thoughts are given below:
1.What is Karma
1.Karma is the choice of action/inaction by the human (read as a atma. hereinafter human means an atma taken birth as a human being)
Karma can be done in any of the three different ways. Or the atma has freedom of Karma, which is mainly under three distinct classification.
1a. Karma as thought (Sankalp / Bhavana / thoughts)
The human has freedom to create thoughts, encourage thoughts, sustain thoughts and to stop thinking. Human can think, create noble/cruel ideas, ponder over noble/cruel things, create new inventions etc. Or being born in human species, one has freedom of action in thoughts, and has a choice for action/inaction. That is the Karma as thoughts.
1b. Karma as speech (talks, discussions, dialogues, or communication)
The human has freedom to communicate. Speech is the primary method of communication. The human can use speach to share or communicate the thoughts one have. One has freedom and choice to hide his ideas and speak something else. One has the total freedom to speak or not to speak. This is the Karma as speech.
1c. Karma as action.
Human being has the freedom for physical action. The freedom for action include freedom to do or not to do any actions. This is physical action using any/all the organs of action of body, or using other machieries/systems one has developed. One has the freedom to eat, walk, run, help, distroy etc. One can switch on or off, the electric light or computer or the machineries or arteleries. The human has total freedom to action/inaction in all these areas of action. This is the Karma as action.
1d. Karma in general is the action including the intension or purpose. For example while driving one may get into an unexpected accident. In another case a person may drive recklessly and get into and accident which killed someone, the Karma is reckless driving without obeying social laws and rules. His intension may not be killing. There may be someone who drove a vehicle to kill someone also. Even though in all the cases the person who met with accident was driving, the Karma of the human can be concluded as dirving, reckless/negligent driving, killing etc. The paramatma being omnipresent omniscient and omnipotent, know each and everything including the subtlemost intensions one have. It is not possible to hide anything from Parmamatma. The mother may cook the food for children, or do cooking in a food processing industry. Even though the physical action is for preparation of food, the purposes are different. The teacher may teach missile technology for students, the same can be taught to terrorists also. One can study computer software for developing productive tools, or to develop computer viruses. The word Karma is not just the physical action, but it also includes the intension and purpose for which the action is carried out. One can fool or misguide others on the purpose and intension, however the Paramatma knows everything.
2. What are the effects of Karma.
There are three effects of Karma. Or there are three things which follows any Karma. No one can escape from these three effects. They are (a)Karma Parinam, (b) Karma Prabhav and (c)Karma Phala.
2a. Karma Parinam: It is the natural outcome of a Karma. For example the karma parinam of a theft of money is that (a) the original owner lost the money, and (b) the thief has got the money. The karma parinam of switching on the switch is that there is light in the room. The Karma parinam of killing an animal using a sword is that (a) the animal lost the life, (b) there is blood in the sword and surroundings etc. The Karma parinam of a careless driving is that (a)the vehicle met with an accident, (b) the vehicle got damaged, (c) the passengers got injured, (d) the third party got injured, (e) the other objects got damaged etc. It is quite simple it is the natural outcome of any karma.
2b. Karma Prabhav: It is the after effect in the mind/thoughts of (a) the person who has done the Karma, (b) the person who is affected by the karma and (c) others, or the onlookers or one who saw or heard about the same. For example the Karma Prabhav of a theft is that (a) the original owner of money is worried or sad or angry or upset and (b) the thief will be happy with the money and/or worried on how to keep it secretly, and (c) the onlookers will be worried on the safety of money and occurance of theft in community. The Karma Prabhav has a subjective/personal nature, and it has a direct bearing on the wisdom/mentality of the person considered.
Or in other words Karma Parinam and Karma Prabhav are the natural or automatic after effects of Karma on the opeople. There is no involvement of a third human in the Karma Parinam & Karma Prabhave. Therefore in general, we can even consider Karma Parinam and Karma Prabhav, as a natural outcome or effect of any Karma.
2c. Karma Phala: The Karma Phala is the award of reward given to the human being (atma) by the Paramatma. Jathi(species), Aayu (life span / age) and Bhog (faculties/abilities) are karma Phala given by God. For example the following are the karma phala by Paramatma:
2c1. Birth (Jati): Birth in human species is the Krama Phala in Jathi. Being born in human species is the Karma Pala given by Paramatma. It can be in any other species, in any universe also.
2c2. Life Span(Aayu): Being born as a human being, a person has a natural life span for 100 years. Each species of life has different life spans. Also by doing specific karma, the life span may increase or decrease. Doing or not doing asana, pranayama, yoga, satsang etc. may increase or decrease the life span. It is the Karma Phala given by Paramatma to the atma.
2c3. Faculties/abilities (Bhoga): The faulties/abilities of the body is the Karma Phala in Bhoga. These are the faculties or abilities using which the atma can experience the pleasure and pains of life. Got all strong and powerful indriyas. The physical and subtle body may become strong. The mind and intellect may become powerful. These are the karma phala given by Paramatma.
Now looking at the above we get into a doubt, whether all the joys/pains are the Karma Phala given by Paramatma, or the Karma Parinam of actions of fellow beings. Let us investigate into the same
3. Some examples of Karma Phala
Let us analyse the following and access whether they are Karma or Karma Phala.
3a. Getting birth in a good/bad society of family. Being given birth to specific parents or specific society is the Karma Phala given by the Paramatma. The Paramatma's Karma Phala is complete, when an atma is given life as a fertilized egg in the mothers womb. Paramatma being all knowledgeable and justice, he will certainly know the possible circumstances with which he will be born. What ever may happen to the fertilized egg, Paramatma will be aware of all these possible alternatives. The Paramatma will not act through parents or society or peers to get good/bad circumstances to the atma. The Paramatma being the creator of the whole universe, he will certainly give birth to the atma in the optimam Jati in a society including parents/peers/society. There are innumerable worlds (like this earth), and therefore Paramatma will always give justice by giving life in the appropriate body/parents.
3b. However the growth of the fertilized egg into the baby is not the Karma Phala given by Paramatma. It is just a natural outcome or Parinam of being got life inside a mother's womb. Ihe birth with all organs and powers/capabilities is totally the Karma and Karma Parinam of the parents, society and circumstances. The Paramatma will not act through the parents or peers or society to get a specific Karma Phala to the atma. The problems happens to the child and his body with the right/wrong medications, good/bad environment & circumstances, etc. are part of the 'Karma by parents, peers and society (or it is the Karma Parinams).
3c. When the child is born, he may get all the pleasures or pains. Paramatma is not doing any karma through parents or peers or society, such that the child will get pleasure or pain. He may However, the brought up (or training) given by parents, peers and society is the Karma of the parents, peers and members of society. Paramatma is not at all doing any actions through them, for giving pleasure or pain to the child. However Paramatma will be aware of all these possible pains or pleasures the child may get as being born in the womb of a specific parents. The pleasure and pain experienced by the child is the Karma Prabhav and Karma Parinam of the action by the child(self) or by others only.
3d. When the child is doing good/bad karma of regular food, excercize, studies, medication, meditations, upasana etc., he will be rewarded by Paramatma by good/bad subtle/physical body. The subtle and physical body are the Karma Phala given by the Paramatma. These Karma Phala comes into the classification of Karma Phala as Bhoga. Having good/bad indriyas will give one with the corresponding abilities to enjoy and experience the life. These are certainly Karma Phala given by Paramatma.
3e. There can be pleasures and pains to the human beings as Karma Parinam of other's actions (accidents/attacks/environmental consequences etc.). Someone may kill or damage the body. A doctor may save/distroy the organ of a human. Environmental effects may increase/decrease/distroy the organs or even the life of the human being. These are the totally the Karma Parinam of the actions of self/others. Paramatma will not do any action through self or others to get these pleasures or pains of life. The only role of Paramatma is that, Paramatma is aware of all the possible pleasure or pain the atma can experience by getting birth in the specific body. And Paramatma is always justice and he will never give any atama, any undeserving pleasure or pain.
3f. The human getting the strong indriyas and body is the Karma Phala given by the Paramatma. The Karma like regular asana, pranayama, dyana, upasana, satsang etc. is rewarded by paramatma by better subtle/physical bodies. One may get good/bad indriyas, organs, mind, intelluct, physical body etc. These are the Karma Phala given by Paramatma.
3g. One human may be given good/bad indriyas/body by the Paramatma. However how to use it is totally the Karma of the human beings. He may choose to use it to increase the pleasures and joys of self and others (Vaishya Varna). He may choose to use it for providing justice and protection for self and others (Kshatriya Varna). He may choose to use it for knowing/teaching fundamental truths/laws of life (Brahmana Varna). He may choose to use it for realising atma and attaining moksha. These are primarily the Karma of the human being.
3h. Becoming a businessmen or leader or teacher or sanyasi is primarily one's present karma only, and not Karma Phala given to the atma. The man has total choice and freedom to contine (or not to) as the businessmen, leader, teacher, sanyasi etc. However the his physical and subtle bodies (including his intelligence, capabilities power of indriyas etc.), are the Karma Phala given by Paramatma. We can always see that, our capabilities and abilities are the gifts or Karma Phala given by Paramatma. But How we are using these gifts given by Paramatma, is our present Karma. Therefore it is not a Karma Phala given by Paramatma.
3i. Holding various Varana Positions such as professors, scientists, researchers, ministers, judges, police men, office bearers, doctors, engineers, driver other professionals etc. are the KARMA OF SELF AND MEMBERS OF SOCIETY only. It is not a Karma Phala given by Paramatma. We can clearly see that the person chooses the profession, and it is his Karma. The community either accepts, rejects, approves or elects the people who were desirous of the profession. It is the community which awards people with various varna positions of the society. Paramatma will never interfere or direct the community or persons to do a specific thing or not to do specific things. Every human has total freedom for action. Therefore awarding of varna positions to the people is the summation of the Karma by each and every member of the society. Therefore being in any varna position is the Karma of the members of the community/society.
3j. Natural calamities like earthquake, tsunami, drought, diseases, environmental changes etc. are just Karma Parinam of actions of human beings. Paramatma's law is eternal and he will not change or modify because the person who is residing in those locations havs done punya/papa karmas in the past. What we are seeing is either Karma Parinams of the actions of human beings. Also note that it need intelligent effort by human beings to understand and manage natural/environmental disturbances. The failure of human beings in doing so is not the Karma Phala given by Paramatma. Rather it will be the Karma Parinam formed out of the failure of human beings to understand and manage the natural/environmental laws and disturbances. The laws of nature/environment is permanent and eternal, irrespective of whether idiots/intellectuals lived in that location.
3k. Regarding natural calarmities mentioned above, the role of Paramatma, as the giver of fruits of Karma Phala can be explained as follows. The Paramatma is aware of all the possible goods/bads that can happen in any location, region, continent, world, and universe. Paramatma is justice & powerful, and he will certainly give a new birth in a suitable location & parents, which one deserves. In other words Paramatma is intelligent and powerful, and that he will give the new birth to any atma, into any body & location where there will be possible pleasures & pains, which the atma is entitled as the karma phala for his past karmas. If one is not entitled to certain possible karma phala, that atma will never get birth in that location or with that parents.
3l. Consider the miraculous events such as (a) new business made one into a billionnaire/poor, (b) land prices increased such that landlords become billionnaire/poor, (c) gold/patroleum reserves were found below the earth and owners become billioners/poor, (d) the magical medicine has given one good/bad health, (e) out of reasons unknown one becomes exceptionally good/bad in health, wealth, power etc. These are not Karma Phala miraculously created by Paramatma to give to the deserving human beings. Before giving a new body to the atma, Paramatma is aware of all the possible things that can happen to the people in that region or location or people in that location. Paramatma will not act through a person to (a) to/not sell/buy any material things, (b) to/not try/risk new things, (d) to/not change/modify whatever one possess, or (e) to/not change/modify things outside etc. Therefore a specific person getting a miraculous thing during the passage of life is just the Karma Parinam of the law of the country, or the Karma Parinam based on the natural laws. They are not actions done by Paramatma through humans to give a specific Karma Phala to any atma. Paramatma's role is only that (a) it has given life to atmas in that location during differnent times. What ever happens after that is (a) the Karma of various human in that region, and (b) the natural changes to materials based on laws of nature at that location.
3m. The laws of nature, or the laws of creation of material universe is unchanging and eternal. It will never change. That is what the Vedas says. Or Paramatma will not increase/decrease the cycle of solar system or any natural system. Paramatma will not change the laws of natural system, just to give a specific Karma Phala to a person or a group of people. Rather Parmatma will give suitable/entitled atmas to take birth in any specific location with suitable bodies. Paramatma is aware of all the possible goods/bads that can happen to him. Paramatma is not aware of exactly one will experience in any future date.
3n. Paramatma is justice, and therefore what ever one is possible to experience is within the Karma Phala one is entitled to get. The specific judgement and reward to an atma for the Karmas in previous birth is the new birth. What ever one experience after one got birth in mother's womb is totally depending on the Karma of people, and Paramatma is only a witnesser on the same. He certainly will sustain his creation through laws of nature, but will not influance any atma to give specific pleasure or pain to any atma. What ever actual experiences one gets after being born is totally depending on the Karma of self and others. Paramatma will not add or subtract anything from that Karma. This is what one can understand from the vedic literature.
4. What is eternal principle behind the laws of Karma and creation?
When we ponder over the laws of karma, and analyse it based on the vedic literature we can see that:
4a. Paramatma has created the universe for all the atmas, and he did not do it for a specific atma or for a group of atmas. And all atmas are of totally same abilities and attriutes.
4b. Every Karma is followed by (a) Karma Parinam, (b) Karma Prabhav and (c) Karma Phala. The (a)Karma Phala given by God. The (b)Karma Parinam and (c)Karma Prabhav of any Karma is the natural after effect of Karma by self & others. These are the effects of Karma. Karma Parinam is the natural after effect (physical/material) as obsered in the world. Karma Prabhav is the after effect in the mind/thoughts in each and every person of the society. Karma phala is the final reward given by Paramatma.
4c. The Karma Parinam and Karma Prabhav is very simple and rational to understand. It totally depends on laws of nature (or laws of creation by Paramatma) and the Karma of people. In general these can be studied and analysed by the science of today. All human beings has freedom for Karma. Paramatma does not have any personal/subjective role in giving pain/pleasure to a human in the form of Karma Parinama or Karma Prabhava. In other words, paramatma WILL NOT modify his laws to give specific good/bad experiences to any person, or act through any other person. The laws of nature (or Paramatma's laws of creation) are permanent and eternal. Therefore Karma Prabhav and Karma Parinam are totally managed bthe responsibility of human beings(atma).
4d. The final reward for the Karma of a human being is given by Paramatma. The Karma Phala given by Paramatma is the next birth with suitable parents and circumstances. This is a personal & subjective action of paramatma to a specific atma, taken after impartial judgement of all the Karmas of the atma. Paramatma throgh his 'mannual of creation - vedas' declared that no one can escape from the fruits of Karma, and that paramatma is justice in rewarding the Karma Phala to atmas. Being justice, Paramatma will cetainly evaluate the Karma of the human, while experiencing the good/bad Karma Parinam & Karma Prabhav (of the Karma by other people). The Laws of Karma Phala, or these laws of justice by Paramatma is not provable using scientific investigations, as both atama and paramatma are not having attributes which can be analysed using sense organs.
4e. Therefore the Laws of Karma is very simple. As you sow, so shall you reap. The Karma Parinam & Karma Prabhav one experience from the society is only the effects of Karma of others in the society. Paramatma is justice, and we will certainly reap what we sow. And the ultimate justice of Karmaphala is given by Paramatma, by next birth in suitable societies. Paramatma will certainly consider the bhoga (pleasure & pains) in the form of Karma Prabhav and Karma Parinam experienced by one. Paramatma has created the universe for all the atmas, not for few specified virtuous/vicious/average human beings. If one sow noble Karma, he can live in a noble society or will get birth in a noble society. If one sow vicious Karma, he can live in a vicious society or will get birth in vicious society.
4f. By the virtue of being born, one can undergo any possible good/bad experience in any society. Paramatma des not personally control or give any specific good/bad experience through the people or society. We can see that these specific experiences are always the Karma Parinam or Karma Prabhav of self or others. Pramatma has no personal/subjective role in it. Paramatma is only responsible to the fact that, one is given birth considering all the possible good/bad experience he may get.
4g. After being born in any society (as Karma Phala), the self and the society is totally responsible for all the good/bad experiences anyone can have in life. All experiences we have are, the outcomes of what ever we get from our fellow human beings, or our gifts of pleasure/pains in life from the self/society. Being a memebr of soceity everyone has a role in modyfying the social laws. Therefore we all are responsible for our own Karma, and Karma Parinama and Karma Prabahva. Paramatma has no personal/subjective role in it. If one need justice, he & society shall create justice. If one need love, he & society shall create love. If one need peace, he & society shall create peace. If one need joy, he & society shall create joy. There are no shortcuts in it.
4h. If one does virtuous and noble Karmas, the results may/may not materialize in the current life. The results are depending not only on the person, but on the Karma of all the people, and other conditions in the society. However, through vedas, Paramatma gives us an assurance through that, we will reap all the fruits of our actions. Or in other words, either we may get the dream society in current life itself, or paramatma will certainly give birth into a noble and virtuous society one deserves.
5. What is Moksha with the above understanding of the laws of Karma?
5a. The uncertainty of pleasure and pains of life, and it's dependency on the Karma of people around us is a fundamental nature of creation. If one wants to attain joy, without the uncertainty due to the Karma of others, then the only choice is to look for moksha. In moksha, there is no body and therefore no material and social life. There is only the bliss of Paramatma,and without the uncertainty of the pains and pleasures due to Karma (Karma Parinama and Karma Prabhava) of others. In life, through the body (both physical & subtle), one will always get good/bad experience.
5b. Other than moksha, in all other life forms, one will be affected by the Karma Parinama and Karma Prabhava of others. If one is not interested in moksha, then one will reap the Karma Phala of all the worldly Karmas, and no one can escape from it. If one do Karmas suitable for a good/bad society, he will get into the society of corresponding type. If you were not able to achieve in the current life time, paramatma will certainly give birth into a society he deserves.
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