Karma

This word became quite widespread nowadays, but usually it is used in negative context, though things are a bit more complicated.

Karma is translated as “action” and it describes all our actions and consequences of these actions. There are many forms and types of karma. It can be good, neutral or bad. Good karma is represented by talents, good health, wealth and etc., neutral karma is just a set of situations we experience in out life, like winning 5 euro in instant lottery or getting parking fine of 50 euro. Bad karma manifests through chronic dangerous illnesses, inadequate perception of reality and so on.

The way good karma manifests is also getting chance to hear/read and understand spiritual texts. Practicing the principles learned enlightens our way through this life. I like comparing it to turning on the light when we are stuck in a dark room. Instead of hitting all the corners we simply light the flashlight and move normally in required direction without getting hurt.

Karma is experienced in set of situations:

• Driddha (Fixed)
• Driddha-adriddha (fixed-variable)
• Adriddha (variable or mild)

Driddha situations are quite rare and usually are a sign of deeply rooted actions. People don’t usually pay attention if it is good, but when bad it is referred to as “doom” or something like that. Most of our karma comes in driddha-adriddha variation, we are to experience something, but there is variability of the expression - for example, one can fall down and break the neck or fall down and break a cell phone. Adriddha karma is the most indefinite, it depends only on a person if such situation happens. For example, one has possibility of becoming popular, but it depends on a person, if this happens.

Karma can be categorized by time:

• Sanchita karma – all the accumulated karma through all the lifespans
• Prapabdha karma – current lifetime karma we are born with, so-called “fate”
• Kryamana karma – karma which is created during this lifetime
• Agama karma – karma created by thoughts

Sanchita karma is formed of all the actions we performed in all our lifetimes. In current lifetime it gives results in form of Prarabdha karma. Good way to understand Prarabdha karma is birth chart analysis, as it can be used as a map of possible situations in life and give information on what to expect from yourself (health, temper, strengths and weaknesses).

Kryamana karma is what we create by our actions. It may be determined by Prarabdha karma or it can be taken under control, if person awakens from the routine and starts living mindfully. Nothing is determined if we truly base our actions on free will, not on behavioral patterns we are used to. Kryamana karma will later become Sanchita karma.

Agama karma is karma of thoughts and Jyotish views it as future Sanchita karma, as thoughts do posses power, like actions do. If thoughts are deeply rooted and overwhelming enough, we might get them materialized in this life or next. So thoughts matter too, as they too create reality.

To sum up, karma makes us what we are, but we can change karma to get the life we want.

Illustration taken from “Bhagavad Gita as It Is”