Why do bad things happen to good people – The Law of Karma

Why do bad things happen to good

people –

The Law of Karma

Krishna is Sat - Cit - Ananda

Jiva – The spirit soul is alsoSat – cit – Ananda

Then why are we suffering ??

Why Do Bad Things Happen To Good People?

Full of knowledge

Eternal Blissful

5. Karma (Activity)

Five Major Topics in Bhagavad-Gita


1. ISVARA(GOD)

2.Jiva (Living Entity)

3. Prakriti

(Material

Nature)

4.Kala (Time)

Material nature - Prakrti


Prakriti – The Material Nature

•Consists of millions of universes

•1/4th of the total creation

• Provides the soul with a body in the 8400000 species of life


• 400,000 - Human beings

• 900,000 – In Water (aquatics)

• 2,000,000 – Plants

• 1,100,000 – Insects

• 1,000,000 – Birds

• 3,000,000 - Animals

• Different bodies provide different levels of consciousness just like different cells in the prison

A- Class Cell, B-Class Cell & C-Class cell

• Binds the body with the three modes of nature

Ga – get out … durg – very difficult to get out

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Three Modes of Material Nature

Sattva GunaMode of Goodness

Rajo GunaMode of Passion

Tamo GunaMode of Ignorance

• Knowledge

• Free from sins

• Conditioned by sense of happiness

• Unlimited desires

• Fruitive activity

• Attraction between man and woman

• Madness

• Laziness

• Sleep

• Intoxication

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Prakriti – The Material Nature• Consists of millions of universes

• 1/4th of the total creation

• Material nature is “dukhalaya ashashvatam” B.G….

• Spiritual world is “Vai kuntha” (No misery)

• Compared to a prison house. A facility provided for the rebellious souls, giving them an opportunity to reform themselves

Why did the Lord create the material world ??


Food in Mode of GoodnessB.G.17.8 “ayuh sattva balarogya….”

• Food that increases life span & Heart becomes purified

• Gives strength, health, happiness and satisfaction

• Such foods are juicy, fatty, wholesome, and pleasing to the heart

Food in

Mode of Passion

B.G.17.9 “katv-amla-lavanaty….”

• Food that cause distress, misery and disease

• Such foods are too bitter, too sour, salty, very hot, pungent, dry and burning

Food in Mode of Ignoranc

eB.G.17.9 “yata yaman gata rasam……”

Food that are

• Prepared more than 3 hrs before being eaten

• Tasteless, decomposed & putrid

• Consisting of remnants and untouchable


• All living beings in the material world are conditioned by the three modes

• The soul comes in contact with a particular mode of material nature and acts accordingly, being conditioned

The Conditioned Soul

• We seek happiness on the material platform according to the modes we are conditioned by

• We are forced to act helplessly according to the impulses born of the modes of nature


• In this way the soul is forced to take birth in this material world again and again

• Thus our pure spiritual nature is perverted by the impure desires, born of the three modes


KALA (TIME FACTOR)

• Time is Krishna’s Energy • Most Powerful force in the material

world. Amongst all killers time is the ultimate.

• Time causes transformation in the prakriti- Cycle of Universe- Six Transformations

• In B.G. Krishna says, “Kalosmi” – “I am Time”

• Where are the Napolean’s and Hitler’s ?


KARMA (ACTIVITY)

Definition: Activities performed by the living entities conditioned by the three modes, under the control and purview of time

THE LAW OF KARMA“For every action there is an equal and

opposite reaction”

• We are accountable for everything we think, speak or do

Therefore we must be aware of the consequences of all the activities that we perform.


Preliminary knowledge of the LAW OF KARMA

• Good Karma – Pious Activity

• Concession given does not mean free license to engage in sinful activity

• Bad Karma – Sinful Activity

• Laws of Karma are relative

The four pillars of sinful life:

1. Illicit Sex

2. Intoxication

3. Gambling

4. Meat Eating

Krishna Says, “Gahana Karmano gati” – “ It is very difficult to

understand the law of karma”


Contd… Preliminary knowledge of the LAW OF KARMA

• Applicable only to human species

• Instant and delayed Karmaeg. Sow a mustard seed & get a fruit in a month

sow a coconut seed and get a fruit in 20 years

Cellows (drum for storing grains)

• Individual and collective karma

• Ignorance of the law is no excuse to escape reaction

• If everything is predestined then why work ?

“Mills of God grind slowly but exceedingly fine”


• TO ESCAPE REACTION, “AKARMA MUST BE PERFORMED”

• Good and bad karma are both binding

• Good and bad karma do not cancel each other

Contd… Preliminary knowledge of the LAW OF KARMA

LIFE IS A PREPARATION

DEATH IS THE EXAMINATION


DIFFERENT TYPES OF KARMA

TYPE ACTIVITY

Karma As per scriptural (PIOUS) directions

VIkarma Against scriptural (SINFUL) directions

Akarma For which one does not suffer any reaction

Eg. Soldier fighting on behalf of the country

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Why do bad things happen to good people – The Law of Karma