Releasing Your Karma
Karma cannot be avoided. For most people, Karmic energy is returned with the same intensity with which it was generated. Depending on your previous actions, this could create happiness or suffering. Whatever happens, is the result of Karma being released, which, no matter how you view the situation, is a good thing and an opportunity for future growth. Vedanta say, “Nothing happens to you, it happens for you!”
Are you then doomed to a life of paying for past mistakes, interspersed by a few moments of pleasure? Not necessarily. By the quality of your current actions, Karma can be transformed, transmuted into a different form, or transcended completely. Here are eight practices that can help you increase the quality of your actions.
1. Make Conscious Choices: The choices you make influence your Karma in two ways. Making quality choices can soften the intensity or magnitude of situations resulting from returning Karma. The energy of the Karma has to be returned, but it can be transmuted. For example, instead of falling down and breaking your leg, maybe you just stub a toe. The Karma was returned but the quality of your life choices lessened its effect.
2. Forgive: This an important aspect of your spiritual growth. First, accept that what has happened has happened. Then, see if you can, without judgment or evaluation, understand why it happened. Finally, try to forgive whoever you feel may have harmed you; it’s always possible to forgive the person even if you cannot forgive the act.
3. Cultivate Gratitude: Forgiveness is hard for most people, and gratitude can also be challenging. However, if you believe that everything that happens to you is past Karma being released, then each time you release Karma, it is gone. Isn’t that cause for celebration? Try to be grateful for everything in your life.
4. Look for Growth Opportunities: Any challenging situation gives you two choices. You can see the situation as a problem and waste your life complaining about it, or you can recognize that it happened and ask, “How can I learn and grow from this?”
5. Learn from Astrology: An astrological chart gives a picture of your Karmic probabilities. A competent astrologer can interpret your chart and give you advice concerning the possible effects Karma will play in different areas and at different times of your life.
6. Find an Enlightened Teacher: If you are fortunate (or your Karma dictates you) to meet an enlightened teacher, he or she may be able to “see” your Karmic patterns and advise you accordingly.
7. Discover Your Dharma: Vedanta says that if you understand Dharma and Karma, you will know everything. Dharma is usually defined as purpose or truth. When you find your true purpose in life and live in total alignment with that, your actions will become spontaneously correct and you will never create Karma.
8. Meditate: The most powerful tool you have on your spiritual path is meditation, especially a practice that includes mantras. Meditation is a journey from activity into silence.