Karma is a law of nature and a profound philosophical concept in the Vedantic sciences of India as well as Buddhist spiritual philosophy. And suppose we're able to understand this at a conceptual level first. In that case, knowing how it works in our lives becomes much more manageable. Eventually, we can live in harmony with nature and other beings.
For most of us, the gross meaning of karma is "action", but what action? What is the real meaning of action? Let us understand this with a simple example. "Walking" is an action at a gross level. We generating a "Thought of Walking" is also an action but at a subtle level; we generating an "Intent to Walk" is also an action at the subtlest level. This is the real action. This is real karma. The three layers of the law allow us humans to choose our karma wisely before it becomes a reality, after which it cannot be undone.
Karma = Actions done under the influence of our tendencies.
Let's look at another example. Two doctors in the operating room both take the knife and cut the body; in both cases, the patient dies. The law of karma will play differently for both doctors; one had an intent to kill due to impurities in his mind. And another had the intention to save but, for some reason, couldn't keep the patient alive. The doctor with negativity or impurity in his mind has created bad karma for himself; the law of karma will set in motion the law of destiny or Niyati for this doctor. The doctor who committed the crime will certainly be rewarded for his karma with a punishment now recorded in his subconscious mind as an impurity. If he is lucky, he might be punished in this lifetime or could be carried to the next birth; the law of destiny will decide how and when to reward for the action(s).
Cause of Suffering
The majority of the living population on this planet is acting or doing karmas on autopilot. I mean, we don't actually think before acting; since our thoughts are on autopilot, our actions are on autopilot. We act out of compulsive tendencies, called "Vasanaas" in Sanskrit. These tendencies are specific habit patterns formed by doing certain activities. I mean, the action of thinking in a certain way is done repeatedly over time.
Our heart and intelligence help us decide between right and wrong desires that form our thoughts.
Actions/deeds done under the influence of unhealthy tendencies are the cause of our suffering.
Let's understand this with a simple example.
We read about this new beverage called bX; we have the desire to drink it. We also read somewhere it is good for our health only if taken in moderation. So we pick up a large glass of filter coffee or expresso while commuting to work, and we do this ritual every day for the next 30 days.
Now, on the 31st day, will we not want to have this bX? Our mind will want to have that large glass of bX, and our intellect will tell us it isn't good for us every day, but our newly formed tendency will urge us to have this large glass of coffee on the 31st day. At this point, if we don't allow our intelligence to shine, our tendency will make sure our intelligence sleeps. If we allow it to sleep, we are now on autopilot mode.
Let's understand the consequences of being on autopilot mode.
What has happened is we have willfully given control to our tendencies to govern our life. In this example, when we continue to strengthen the tendency of drinking bX every day, we eventually get addicted. In other words, we get "attached" to the chemical experience of the substance called bX. And our minds will get agitated when we don't get this substance. It will create negative emotions such as anger and frustration. Anyone who might try to help us, our mind filled with rage, will see them as enemies.
When someone gets attached to something, it can be any object or non-object — such as feelings, thoughts, and beliefs.
In our example, bX makes it difficult to "unattached" oneself. Only when we willfully or forcefully "Awaken" our intelligence, and with its help ignite our "Will Power", can we truly become free from this tendency or habitual pattern of the mind. And when we keep giving strength to our tendencies, we eventually "Suffer" we don't suffer in the process, but we suffer when we lose control, and we suffer for a certain period of time until we recover ourselves. The suffering is proportionate to the strength of the attachment and the effort we have to make to detach ourselves from our tendencies.
These unhealthy qualities of the mind are not bad in themselves, they become troublesome only when they start overpowering us. E.g. Mobile phones are not bad in themselves but when it overpowers us we get addicted and then it has a harmful effect on us.
This could be anything, it can be an attachment to wrong belief systems, ideas, objects, and even people. When we lose control or get overpowered we find ourselves suffering and then the cycle of inertia starts to keep us in this loop which creates more suffering.
The trick is to not get overpowered, the best way is to not REACT when these tendencies come up in your day-to-day interactions or situations or when things get triggered unexpectedly. Take your time to observe and then ACT consciously.
Let us look at our lives, and contemplate on all the mental habits that make us think in a certain way and act in specific ways.
Also, read the post titled "Adding positive karma points in life"; here, we talk about SIX main impurities of the mind; these are mental patterns or habits that we have formed in our many lifetimes. But, unfortunately, we are unconsciously strengthening them, which is making us suffer.
Sanchita Karma (stored tendencies) = karma that is stored and yet to be experienced. E.g. seed of a fruit
Agami Karma (forthcoming tendencies) = karmas that are becoming or getting ready to be experienced. E.g. flowers turning into young fruits.
Prarabdha karma (matured tendencies) = karmas that are now ready to be experienced. E.g. ripe fruit
Vartaman karma (tendencies on which we are acting) = karmas which one is doing in the present time. E.g. fruit has fallen from the tree.
Vipassana is a great meditation technique founded by Gautama the buddha, it helps in training the mind and burning the karmas. Gautama the Buddha showed the path to burn karma and be liberated from this cycle.
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