KARMA AND DESTINY

OR

• ““Destiny is the universal law of cause and effect. You reap what you sow. You get what you earn. You are what you eat. If you give love, you

get love. Revenge returns itself upon the avenger. What goes around comes around.” M Browne, The

Power of Karma

“Karma differs from fate or destiny because it encourages us to take an active role in life. The Law of Karma requires the spiritual seeker to follow the highest code of ethics.” T Eckankar: Ancient Wisdom for Today

Mahabharata Destiny determines the consequences of

our past actions and not our present actions themselvesKarma Vada

– Modern notion. There is no such thing as destiny. Everything is in our own hands.

Daiva Vada - Everything is determined by destiny;

Nothing is in our hands

DESTINY

“Destiny allows only a certain amount of material happiness in this material world…” A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

Caused by mind and body. Birth, disease, old age & death

3 Types of MiseriesCaused by other living entities

Caused by Natural disasters e.g. severe climates, earthquakes, tornados, etc..

LAW OF DESTINY

• Our relatives

• Our wealth

• Our beauty

• Our intelligence

We choose

• A job

• A wife or a husband

• The type of car

• An apartment, etc

What is not destined?What happens to us is Destiny. How we

respond to it is Free will

We don’t choose

KARMA

3 Types of Actions

I. Karma- Doing the right thingsII. Vikarma-Performing detrimental

actsIII. Akarma-Activities which help us

break the repeated cycle of birth & death

Cultivation of Knowledge

Karma,Vikarma & Akarma(Effects & Cycle of Actions+Thoughts)

Manifested reaction(Instant Karma)

Un-manifested reaction(Delayed Karma)

Delayed physical orEmotional suffering or Enjoyment

Increase of similar desires“Kutam”

ManifestedAuspiciousness(Punya)

Un-manifested Auspiciousness

Delayed Auspicious credits/rewards

Increase of desire for higher / Spiritualised actions

Material Spiritual

The highly instructive story of Ajamila

Benefits of Spiritualised Actions

Eradicates material reactionsNullifies mundane

desires/tendencies by fostering spiritual ones

Uproots ignorance

Does Destiny hamper my Freewill?

Board a plane from Perth to London. This decision forces me to wait for landing after take-off: Destiny (due to prior decision)

Yet...

Whilst on the plane I can choose to behave or misbehave … (this is my current decision which will bear future fruits)

The Mahabharata:

Vasishtha asked: Which of the two ; Destiny or Karma is more powerful in shaping one’s existence?

Brahma replied: As the soil unsown with seeds, though fertile, yields no fruit. Likewise, without individual efforts, Destiny is of no avail.

Brahma continued: As with the diminution of oil in the lamp its light is extinguished, so does the influence of Destiny is lost if one's acts stop.

Yet…..Destiny thwarts not the person that has attained to virtue, righteousness, spiritual knowledge.

Why? Successful?Consequences?

Chankya, an ancient Vedic sage

3 Karma Questions