KARMA

Reincarnation

Before we start to explain about karma, in the sense of reactions for our activities, it is unavoidable to mention about its result - reincarnation. Krishna The Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is the knower of everything - past present and future - explained reincarnation to Arjuna in the following way:

"As the embodied soul continuously passes, in this body, from boyhood to youth to old age, the soul similarly passes into another body at death. A sober person is not bewildered by such a change".

"As a person puts on new garments, giving up old ones, the soul similarly accepts new material bodies, giving up the old and useless ones". (Bhagavad-Gita 2.13, 22)

In Latin language the re means again, in means in and caro / carnis means flesh. Thus, reincarnation literarily means again in the flesh. Even the material science speaks about turnover times; the time that one specific set of atoms is replaced in a cell or organ by a new set of atoms. For example for a blood cell this is 150 days; for the average cell of the liver is a few months; for the protein cells in the nerves and brain cells it takes a few weeks; and for some enzymes in these cells less then an hour. Sometimes people think that brain don't change however, the quantity of the brain cells increase up till approximately the 19^th year, and then reduces gradually.

The genetic structure remains the same but the substance changes. It was discovered that the proteins of the bowel canal are changing every 5-6 days; and the skin cells have a turn over in a few weeks. Even the structure of the boons are 99% changed after each 7 years. There are few atoms which remain in the body during the whole life. However it is the soul who is conscious of these atoms which are external to the soul and don't belong to the element of life - the consciousness in the body. The skeleton is mostly living tissue in which building and destruction takes place. For example, if the bone breaks it will be recovered in a couple of months. However, not even the hard bones are the essence of life. Another molecule which doesn't have a turn over is the DNA which eventually controls all the processes of life. But if a part of the DNA molecule is damaged then there will be enzymes which will produce these parts again. So, this is also temporary. The conclusion is that reincarnation, the disappearing or dying of the body and getting another body takes place even during this life. The 'atma' or the self is the observer of all this.

Now, what is the cause of getting new body in the next life? The main cause for this is one's activities that can be either pious or impious. Every action, either physical, emotional or mental, every movement occurring either on the plane of gross matter -sthulam- or on the astral planes -sukshma- produces a seed of karma.

Being a seed, karma fructifies or does not fructify immediately after it is sown. The innumerable seeds we produce by our actions -desire, aversion, lust, greed, hatred, good or bad words, etc. will undoubtedly produce, sooner or later, a positive or negative result according to the nature of the seed, if not in this life, then in some future one. As a man sows, so shall he reap.

The working of karma is obvious in our daily life. In some cases people develop some kind of illnesses when they arrive at certain age or we can see others born blind, deaf, in an extreme poverty, or with terrible illnesses, due to their previous wrong actions. The good or bad actions can fructify immediately or get accumulated, sprouting in the future, bringing up pain or a reward.

Let's see now the different types of karma in the sense of action and reaction, how they develop and how to become purified from them.

Ugrakarma and Vikarma

Ugrakarma refers to extremely bad activities that deteriorate the finer sentiments of the human being and society and make one lose the interest to spiritual inquiry and self-realization. In other words, development of factories and mills that are pungent activities is called ugra-karma. At the present moment everyone is engaged in technological advancement, which is described in Bhagavad-Gita as extremely severe endeavor. This ugra-karma is the cause of agitation for the human mind. Vikarma is similar to ugrakarma but it more specifically refers to illegal or immoral activities that are unlawful and prohibited according to the civilized system of varnasrama and the Vedic textbooks.

When the finer human sentiments and practice of spirituality are absent one can engage only in the activities of vikarma. Vikarma is an unwanted activity that cause fall-down from that path of spiritual practice and thus moves one away from Krishna. In the category of Vikaram (activities) are all illegal and immoral activities that are unlawful and prohibited according to the civilized system of varnasrama and the Vedic textbooks. When one is engaged in vikarma activities one gradually loses all good qualities and thus cannot anymore be considered an Aryan. This is explained by Krishna to Arjuna in the first chapter of the Bhagavad-Gita. Briefly, Aryan can be called only that person who is tracing the progressive path of spiritual life. In opposite case one will certainly be involved in vikarma activities that will be the cause of ones repeated birth and death. The Garuda Purana gives the following reactions for heavy sinful activities:

"The murderer of a Brahmin becomes consumptive, the killer of a cow becomes hump-backed and imbecile, the murderer of a virgin becomes leprous - all three born as outcastes. The slayer of a woman and the destroyer of embryos becomes a savage full of diseases; who commits illicit intercourse, a eunuch; who goes with his teacher's wife, disease-skinned. The eater of flesh becomes very red; the drinker of intoxicants, one with discolored teeth.... Who steals food becomes a rat; who steals grain becomes a locust... perfumes, a muskrat; honey, a gadfly; flesh, a vulture; and salt, an ant.... Who commits unnatural vice becomes a village pig; who consorts with a Sudra woman becomes a bull; who is passionate becomes a lustful horse....

These and other signs and births are seen to be the karma of the embodied, made by themselves in this world. Thus the makers of bad karma, having experienced the tortures of hell, are reborn with the residues of their sins, in these stated forms."

There are much more sinful activities then here listed and the reactions for all of them are given in the different Dharma sastras.

Reactions for karma

The most obvious reaction for ugrakarma and vikarma is klesa. Klesa refers to distress, and the causes of distress.

Now, distress has tree causes: (1) papam - sin, (2) bijam - material desires, and (3) avidya - ignorance, the root cause. Let's analyze them one by one.

Papam - Sinful Activity

Sinful actions (papam) produce two reactions: (1) prarabdha - manifest, and (2) aprarabdha -

For example, for some of our sinful activities we are awaiting distress in the future, and for others, which are mature, we are suffering at the present moment.

Manifest Sinful Reactions (Prarabdha-Papam)

A disease caught early is curable, but is far more difficult to counteract if allowed to become chronic. Similarly, sinful reactions are more difficult to counteract once they become manifest. The scriptures describe bhakti to be so potent that it can remove even manifest sinful reactions and the suffering they bring.

In the Bhagavata Purana, Devahuti explains that by practicing bhakti-yoga even someone born in the lowest family of dog-eaters becomes qualified to perform the highest brahminical sacrifices. The behavior of those born into degraded families disqualifies them from performing Vedic sacrifices. Devahuti points out that even slight engagement in bhakti for the pleasure of Narayana, can counteract the disqualifications incurred by a low birth.

One's birth is a tangible result of karma - a manifest reaction (prarabdha-papam). Thus Devahuti's statement is sastric evidence that bhakti can counteract prarabdha-papam.

Unmanifest Sinful Reactions (Aprarabdha-Papam)

Bhakti is compared to blazing fire, able to consume limitless amounts of unmanifest sinful reactions. This is because Lord Krishna or Vishnu, who is worshiped by the devotee, is the purifier of all sinful reactions. Just like the sun purifies many dirty places but doesn't become infected by dirt so the Supreme Lord Bhagavan also purifies many people from karma without being affected by that.

How Unmanifest Reactions Cause Suffering.

Previously, we said that sinful activity causes two types of reaction: manifest and unmanifest. We will further clarify this statement.

A sinful action generates two types of unmanifest reactions. One type creates direct physical or emotional suffering. The other type creates indirect suffering by increasing one's sinful proclivities.

For example, if one engages in illicit sex he receives two types of reactions. One type creates some direct physical or emotional suffering. The other type creates indirect suffering by intensifying his proclivity for sex; thereby increasing sexual desires, impelling future illicit sex, and entangling him in a karmic cycle of suffering.

When sinful desires increase, sinful activities increase. When sinful activities increase, sinful desires increase - it is a self-perpetuating cycle. The more one tries to satisfy his desires, the stronger they become.

To break this cycle of bondage one must tolerate sinful desires and not endeavor to fulfill them. Not being reinforced by unmanifest reactions, they will gradually dissipate and leave the heart forever.

Evolution of Unmanifest Sin

The cycle of unmanifest reaction goes through four stages, as explained in Padma Purana:

1. Aprarabdha (unmanifest reaction) - In this stage the reaction is completely unmanifest and has no perceptible effect.

2. Kutam (sinful proclivity) - In this stage the reaction evolves into a psychological disposition towards sin.

3. Bijam (sinful desire) - In this stage the sinful proclivity evolves into a specific desire to commit a particular sinful action.

4. Prarabdha (manifest sinful reaction) - In this stage the sinful desire causes one to commit a sinful action and suffer the concomitant reaction.

The following illustration may help clarify the subtle distinctions between these four stages:

As a result of some sinful act, a man is destined to become a thief and suffer punishment. However, this reaction is not immediately felt - it is stored for a future birth (this is the stage of aprarabdha). In his next life, the reaction begins to manifest as an almost unnoticed proclivity towards dishonesty and cheating (this is the stage of kutam). This proclivity gradually intensifies and eventually manifests an explicit desire to steal (this is the stage of bijam). Finally, this desire causes the man to commit theft and undergo the consequential suffering (this is the stage of prarabdha).

The power of bhakti, for the satisfaction of Bhagavan, eradicates all four stages of sinful reaction in chronological order - first aprarabdha, next kutam, then bijam, and finally prarabdha.

Bijam - Desire

The sinful activity is the cause of prarabdha and aprarabdha karma. Let's now see what the cause of sinful activity is how to stop it that bad karma is not produced. As the sinful activity is an action on the gross platform it is obviously preceded by a subtle action - a sinful desire.

In the Bhagavata Purana (SB 6.2.17) the Visnuduttas explain that many processes can neutralize the reactions of sinful activities, but only bhakti for the pleasure of Narayana can uproot sinful desire - which is the cause of sinful activity.

This is nicely exemplified in the same chapter of the above mentioned Bhagavata Purana through the life of Ajamila. In spite of his strict performance of brahminical duties, sinful desires remained in Ajamila's heart and caused him to succumb to sinful life. Later, the simple performance of bhakti by chanting the name of "Narayana" uprooted all his calamities, although he was in the midst of sinful activities.

Vedic rituals like charity and austerity can neutralize sinful reactions, but they cannot neutralize sinful desire. To illustrate this there are two nice examples: (1) a person may be cured of venereal disease by some painful medical treatment, but because sex desire remains in his heart he again implicates himself in suffering; (2) an elephant may carefully bathe in a lake, but upon returning to the land immediately covers himself again with dirt.

However, the performance of bhakti can uproot even sinful desires, and is therefore the best method for attaining relief from suffering.

Avidya - Ignorance

As previously mentioned sinful action is caused by sinful desire and the very root cause of sinful action and sinful desire is avidya or ignorance - as seen in the diagram. This avidya refers to - ignorance of one's true identity as an eternal resident of one of the spiritual Vaikuntha planets in the spiritual world. Not being aware of that and thus considering the material world the only place of residence, one acts as an enjoyer of this material world and thus have to suffer the concomitant reactions.

The remedy for this is described in the Padma Purana: "Pure bhakti dedicated to Narayana is the highest enlightenment, and when such enlightenment is there, it is just like a blazing forest fire, killing all the inauspicious snakes of desire."

Conclusively, as long as one does not perform bhakti and is ignorant about the supreme destination and ultimate abode of the soul one is sure to act wrongly and thereby become entangled in material bad karmas - activities, the main cause of suffering in this material existence. The evidence for this is the words of Sri Krishna in the Bhagavad-gita who says that only by bhakti one can attain His spiritual abode.

Summary

Devotional activities - bhakti - eradicate sinful reactions, nullifies sinful desires, counteract material proclivities, and - most importantly - uproot ignorance. Therefore, it is the only efficient and effective way to achieve permanent relief from all suffering.

Karma and Sukriti

Karma refers to pious activities in accordance with the higher laws of nature or the Vedic scriptures. This type of action generally allows the living entity to reach higher planets after leaving the present body or at least get another human body on earth.

Some of these activities are: giving donations to brahmanas, building of hospitals or wells, feeding hungry people, or any other helpful and generally beneficial activities.

One has to understand, however, that it is impossible to completely avoid sinful activities since one already kills countless tiny life forms simply by breathing, walking, lightening fire, drinking water, sweeping the floor.

Pious Activities

According to the scriptures one can perform one of the three types of pois activities:

Bhogonmukhi sukriti - pious activities that bestow material opulence. This type of activity is also known as karmonmukhi or piety derived from subhakarma (auspicious activities).

Mokshonmukhi sukriti - pious activities that enable the living entity to merge into the existence of the Supreme - Bhagavan. This is attained through piety derived from the cultivation of knowledge and therefore, it is also called jnanonmukhi sukriti.

Bhakty-unmukhi-sukriti - is an auspicious activity that gradually awakens one's dormant devotion, bhakti to Lord Vishnu. When somebody unknowingly does something to a devotee of Lord Vishnu or just out of fun gives some kind of donation to a Vishnu or Krishna temple; without knowing the result of his deed that is called agyata-sukriti or unknown pious activity. This agyata sukriti is the first step in bhakty-unmukhi sukriti or spiritual pious activity that awakens Krishna-bhakti. As one becomes purified by agyata sukriti, at one point one becomes inquisitive about God, the spiritual activities and their results. In this way one comes to the higher level of pious activity from agyata to gyata sukriti namely when ones spiritual activities are carried out with knowledge. This is also mentioned by Krishna to Arjuna in the Bhagavad-gita -'do your activities with full knowledge'. This gyata sukrity or bhakti unmukhi sukrity is the most important kind of sukriti, for it moves one to meet a pure, saintly devotee. By associating with a devotee of Lord Vishnu or Krishna, one gradually develops taste for bhakti, namely he dedicates more and more time for the service of the Supreme Lord Narayana through chanting the holy name, praying, doing puja etc. and thus one's faith becomes firm. Those who are firmly engaged in glorifying Krishna with determination become very dear to Krishna. This is explained by Sri Krishna in the Bhagavad-gita 7.17:

tesham jnani nitya-yukta eka-bhaktir visishyate

priyo hi jnanino 'tyartham aham sa ca mama priyah

One who is in full knowledge and who is always engaged in pure devotional service is the best. For I am very dear to him, and he is dear to Me.

The first two types of pious activities the karmonmukhi and mokshonmukhi sukritis are not really beneficial because performing them one cannot attain the highest goal - love of Krishna or bhakti. Krishna in the Bhagavad-gita say bhaktiya mam abhijanaty: 'I can be understood and attained only by the performance of bhakti or devotion'. Thus, naturally we can conclude that the real beneficial activity is the bhakti unmukhi sukriti that we can also call Krishna-karma or activity performed for the pleasure of Krishna. This Krishna karma is easily and joyfully performed in the association of pure saintly devotees of Vishnu, Rama or Krishna.

Karma-yoga

In the category of karma there are two types of activities to be mentioned of which both of them belong to karma mishra bhakti or bhakti mixed with material pious activities. One is called sakama karma yoga. The performer of this kind of activity performs activities that he likes to do and he gives very little from the fruits of his activities for the worship of Lord Narayana. Those things that he don't offer he likes to keep for his own enjoyment. The other type of karma misra bhakti is the nishkama karma yoga where one does activities that he likes. However, because he has greater devotion than the sakama-karma-yogi, he offers all the fruits of his work for the satisfaction of Lord Narayana. He considers his properties, family, relatives and everything else to be the possession of Lord Vishnu. All his activities within the married life like raising children, maintaining family, carrying out his duty in the job are all considered to be indirect devotional activities - bhakti. They are called gauna-dharma or subsidiary devotional activities. Still, they are conducive to the development of bhakti because all the results of the activities are offered to Lord Krishna.

Nishkama karma and Akarma

Actually, Nishkama-karma-yoga is very close to the Krishna karma activities where one performs all activities directly only for the pleasure of Krishna and considers everything to be the possession of Krishna as well. Such pure activities are called mukhya-dharma or the primary religion of the soul that are directly connecting him with the Supreme Lord Narayana. Because for these activities one doesn't get material reactions (karma) and because they are free from the influence of the gunas, they are also called akarma. For the Mayavadi advaitin akarma means to stop all the activities but for the devotee it means to perform spiritual activities that will free him from samsara.

brahma-bhutah

prasannatma na socati na kankshati

samah sarveshu bhuteshu mad-bhaktim labhate param