DO THOUGHTS CREATE KARMA?
While Ka al and Shamala reveal how a bad thought in itself is not bad
Karma, if we still out it, we can ask ourselves the simple question — If we
have the most wonderful thoughts of helping others, being kind and
compassionate, but do nothing about it, will these thoughts result in
our destiny? A beggar used to trouble an old woman every day requesting for a
chapati. The old lady had a son who had gone to war and had disappeared and
she was very anxious and irritated. The beggar kept on asking for a chapati event
day. One day, being frustrated she thought ofputting poison in the chapati and
ending this. Somehow her conscience inside stopped her from putting the poison.
She did not want to kill the beggar. After a few days, her son came back, He told her
that he was on his way home when he was hit and badly injured. A poor beggar had
taken care of him and had given him a chapati every day. The woman found out later
that it was the same beggar whom she was planning to kill.
The Law of Karma is very clear. It is deeds, not thoughts! Just like people
who talk, but who don't walk, achieve nothing, so also thoughts are of
little use. Surely, thoughts influence action, but by themsel ves,
thoughts do not create any Karma. We must pay a lot of attention to our
actions. Thoughts are thoughts. They will appear. But just as they
appear, we can use our intellect to make them disappear. Every thought
does not become an action. Those who realize this, take charge of their
thoughts, control their actions, and take charge of their destiny. They do
not let their mind become their master. And so, they do good Karma and to
their destiny, they reach faster.
CAN WE CHOOSE OUR ACTIONS?
suffer them in a new life that the ME appears in a new body.
In the Law of Karma, living creatures are of two types - the doer and the
receiver. All living creatures are receiving their past Karma. Nothing in this
world is happening by chance. But what is causing whatever is happening is
neither luck nor chance, neither serendipity nor destiny. It is not an
authoritarian God sitting somewhere far in heaven, controlling
everything by a Divine Bluetooth or wireless. Whatever is unfolding in
thelife of 8 billion people and in fact, trillions of other creatures is a result of
their own actions. The Law seems to be designed in such a manner that it is
only conscious actions that become Karma. Any action that is not done
purposely or consciously, doesn't come under the Law of Karma. Therefore,
man is the only doer of an action, not other living species. Further, a
man who is mentally challenged and who does not have the ability to
discriminate thoughts becomes only the receiver of Karma. He doesn't do any
Karma, because he is not choosing his actions.
Therefore, we must be careful in choosing our actions. Because, once
we do, we have to pay for our deeds. Just like an arrow that leaves the bow
cannot be withdrawn, it will hit its target, so a deed once done, becomes
like a seed that is planted. It will bear fruit. Such is the Law of Karma!
We cannot escape from it. We must thus be aware that our actions are the most
important aspect of our life. Not only do they control our present
circumstances, but they are also responsible for our death and for what
lies beyond.
WHAT IS THE CONNECTION BETWEEN KARMA AND LIFE?
Life is Karma. Unfortunately, if the human race understood this truth, they would
live with grace. Today, we live with greed, and we don't just work to fulfil our need
but we have desires and passions that make us crave till we reach our grave. The
Ego thinks - '1 am responsible for my life. I can make the impossible possible.' What
we don't realize is that every action of ours controls our life. We might have
performed some actions in the distant past, even in a previous l i f e , b u t t h e y w i l l
n o t l e a v e u s . T h e y w i l l u n f o l d a s circumstances in our life and create
challenges, even problems that will stop us from our dreams.
So often, we see people cry. They look up at the sky and question 'Why?' Why do
bad things happen to good people? Somebody lost their job. 'Why me?' they question.
Another is diagnosed with cancer. 'Why is God unfair?' is the question. Still, another
loses a dear one. 'Why did death have to choose my life partner?' that person asks.
We human beings have questions after questions, as we watch the drama of life
unfold. We don't have answers. We don't realize that everything that is
happening in this world, is unfolding as per the Divine Law of Karma. Life does not
unfold as per the wish of a God who is sitting in a distant heaven and passing orders as
to what should happen in our life. It would be impossible to govern the world like this.
Our, life is the result of Karma.
If everything depends on Karma, then are we mere puppets? If everything is pre-
destined as per our previous actions, then what is the point of this life? Those who
understand the Law of Karma, realize that just as there is a past Karma that
IS IT KARMA OR
LUCK?
When will man realize
that life is not all about
luck? We must use
Karma to pluck our
destiny. Raj believed in
an these fairy tales. He
surrendered his lift to
fortune-tellers. Thus he
lost control of his life.
Instead of realizing that
our life depends on our
own actions, our own
Karma, he wasted his
life believing in these
mysteries. He would
spend hours gazing at a
crystal hall, trying to see
his future in it, rather
than waking up and
walking ahead to make
his dreams come true.
How can we look at a
crystal ball and discover
our future? How can a
parrot- pick up a card
from a pack of printed
destinies to reveal our
future? Raj continued
to lament about his bad
luck as years passed,
surrendering to fortune-
tellers. He lived his life
believing in horoscopes,
rather than in Karma.
One day he died.
Should we live like
Raj and let our life be
controlled by myths
and superstitions?
Should we not realize
the science behind
the Law of Karma? Is
it difficult to
understand that it is
action that controls
reaction, nothing
else? This entire
universe is unfolding
moment by moment,
not by chance, but by
choice of our actions.
Everything that
happens in this life is
like a boomerang.
Don't we see that
what goes around
conies around? Still,
we want to believe in
astrology, in
palmistry, in fortune-
tellers and crystal
balls and we lose
control of our life
believing in all these
mysteries. When will
we realize that life is
not all about luck? It is
all about Karma.
When will we take
charge of our life,
rather than handing
it over to
fortunetellers?
I CAN APPLES
GROW
ON MANGO
TREES?
Have you ever seen
apples growing on a
mango tree? You
will read the
question again and
wonder if you have
made a mistake in
understanding it.
How can apples
grow on mango
trees? It is just not
possible! Whether it is
in India or Africa, in
Europe or America,
only apples will
grow on apple
trees! Why?
Because there is a
Universal Law that
states, 'As you sow,
so shall you reap.' if
you plant potatoes,
you can't get
tomatoes. While
it seems common
sense and we all
understand the law
of the seed and the
fruit on the tree, it
seems we don't
understand the law
of the deed and
our destiny.
How often do you
hear people lament -
'Why do bad things
happen to good
people?' It is so
23
common to hear
people cry when
they see a sudden
death, a disease or a
disaster befall
somebody near and
dear. Sam was a very
kind and gentle man.
One night, he slept and
never woke up. Fie was
just 40 and he /eft his
wife and 3
childrenwithout any
coivus or support
system. His sister
Pamela cried to the
Lord, and she
questioned, liNhy?'
This family was made of
such good people. They
would go to church every
week. Not only would
they pray, but they
would take care qf the
blind, the orphaned, and
the destitute from their
modest earnings. Then,
why did God choose
them to face the tragedy
of sudden death? Now,
they would suffer
poverty, insecurity and
face the world with
problems.
What we don't
understand is that
'bad things don't
happen to good
people.' The Law
does not permit it. If
something bad is
happening in
somebody's life, it is
because of a past
deed. It may be a
deed of the distant
past, a deed done
long ago beyond the
recollection of our
memory. It may also
be a deed
