The Global Head of Chinmaya Mission, Swami Swaroopananda, released a souvenir at Chinmaya Mission New Delhi titled ‘Doubts Dispelled’. It is a compilation of a series of questions – answers, from talks and satsangs, at various places with Swamiji. We are bringing this series of blogs based on that souvenir. Perplexing Results is the third blog of the series.
Q. Why is it that some people put in a lot of hard work, and do not get what they want, while others get everything, even though they hardly work?
A. We have put a lot of faith in action (karma) because whenever we decide to gain anything (education, wealth, name or fame), we secure it through action.
However, actions alone do not determine the results; there are several other factors, such as time, space, the ability of the doer, the equipment with which the action is done and so on. For instance, two people doing the same action at different periods of time get different results. So, we cannot be sure that an action, karma done in a particular manner alone will give the desired results. It is dependent on so many other dynamics.
The laws of the universe govern the results of an actions. The fact that the universe is functioning with clock work regularity and precision establishes not only the existence of an intelligent lawmaker, but also an intelligent law governor, whom the scriptures call ishwara.
He, the intelligent and compassionate giver of the fruits of our actions, does not give them according to His whims and fancies, but according to the laws created by Him.
Since we are unaware of all the various components, factors and our own past actions, we simply acknowledge that the result comes by the Lord’s wisdom, His will, or His grace.
Law of Karma by Swami Chinmayananda
Each moment of our life, we are not only living the fruits of the past actions, but also creating those of tomorrow. Each of our actions has got its own time-limit for its fruition. Every action has its own reaction; certain actions give their reaction immediately while others will provide their reactions only after interval.
The Law of Karma is based upon the final conclusion that this life is not an end in itself but is just one of the little incidents in the eternal existence of each of us. Let us suppose that we have just “fallen” from truth or Reality into this momentous and calamitous misunderstanding, then we should not have such a dissimilar scheme, of each Ego living its own life of special joys and woes.
When we inquire why there are such differences, we are driven to the conclusion that having risen from different “causes”, each of us should manifest as a different “effect”. Effects depend upon their causes. This life in which we are living is only one of our incarnations, the result of our past actions, but we do not appreciate it or understand it because we are viewing life from a very circumscribed point of view.
Self-effort and Destiny
That we have been given by the Divine Being a limited freedom is the truth. For example we cannot bend a piece of rail as it is, but supposing this rail-piece is beaten out and made into a chair, the rail matter becomes very easily pliable. Similarly, man, though he has taken his body to live a fixed Prarabdha (Destiny), can reach the Supreme Goal of life by living the freedom allowed to him from moment to moment.
And there is provision for us to discriminate and act rightly. For example, is there not a certain amount of freedom in choosing whether we should go to a cinema or a satsang? There are two ways to deal with each challenge. Two distinct paths are open to us. The path of the Good and the path of the Pleasant. Often we are at a loss to decide which path to pursue. There is a tussle between Satan and God within us at such a moment of trial.
Man and Mind
When one does some actions, repeatedly, one’s mind gets fixed with certain impressions. It is in a world of reactions related to the outer world of objects that we live. The quality of one’s experiences depends upon the quality of the mind which one brings up to undergo the experience.
The future is not a mystery…an unknown miracle, that man must wait for its stunning revelations. The past modified in the present alone is the future. The freedom to modify the past, and thereby create a future, for the better or for the worse, is Purushartha – Self-effort.
Thus, the Law of Karma when correctly understood is the greatest force of vitality in our philosophy. It makes us the architects of our own future. We are not helpless pawns in the hands of a mighty tyrant, God, who, it is believed, has created us so weak or fearful to live our lives of limitations and pains. If we are weak or sorrowful it is because of our own willful actions. In our ignorance, we in the past had pursued certain negative values of life, and like a Frankenstein, their fruits have come up now to give us the pattern of circumstances we are living today.
Never mind. Take heart. By careful self-policing, detect the wrong tendencies in us. Eliminate them through constant and willful effort. Develop positivity and thus come to be the God of your own future life. “Be a God I”
Reference: http://www.chinmayamission.com/law-of-karma/