Law Of Karma – In Gita Verse 18.13 O mighty-armed Arjuna, according to the Vedānta there are five causes for the accomplishment of all action. Now learn of these from Me.
In Bhagavad Gita Verse 18.13, Krishna addresses Arjuna, stating, “O mighty-armed Arjuna, according to the Vedānta there are five causes for the accomplishment of all action. Now learn of these from Me.” From the subsequent verses, Krishna will elaborate on the accomplishment of all actions. Prior to delving into these teachings, it is essential to comprehend the Law of Karma.
The Law of Karma primarily applies to the unconscious individual. For the unconscious person, karma dictates their experiences, leading to suffering when actions are performed without awareness. Unconscious actions, referred to as ‘Karma,’ result in suffering. Conversely, actions performed with full consciousness and alertness do not create karma. Such actions are spontaneous and complete in themselves, leaving no residual traces. This distinction is why an enlightened person is considered unpredictable, while an unenlightened person, acting mechanically and routinely, is predictable.
In Bhagavad Gita Verse 15.16, it is noted that seeking is the initial step towards transcending the Law of Karma, as seeking signifies the beginning of awakening and an effort to break free from the repetitive patterns of past lives.
Karma operates as a scientific law of action, where every action inherently carries its own reward or punishment. Anger, for example, causes immediate suffering, not in a future life, but in the present moment. Anger acts as a poison, affecting the individual’s entire system. While it may or may not harm others, it certainly harms the person experiencing it. This immediate consequence is a fundamental aspect of the Law of Karma.
In Eastern philosophy, this is known as the law of action. Actions aligned with the ultimate law lead to increased bliss, while actions against it result in suffering. There is no external entity managing these outcomes; individuals create their own heaven or hell through their actions. The results of actions are not deferred to a future life but are experienced here and now, often simultaneously with the action itself. For instance, kindness brings immediate joy and contentment, while anger leads to sadness and a sense of unworthiness.
The process of sowing a seed and reaping a crop is analogous to the continuous nature of action and its consequences. The seed’s growth into a crop is a single, uninterrupted process. Similarly, actions and their results are part of one continuous process, experienced in the present.
Happiness and misery are self-determined. An individual’s actions and desires shape their experiences. The Law of Karma dictates that whatever one desires and acts upon will manifest. Therefore, unhappiness is a result of one’s own choices and actions.
Patanjali describes actions as dreams, suggesting that life is a drama played out on a grand stage. Unawareness leads to problems, while awareness can transform past actions and transcend dualities of good and bad, leading to liberation. In this state of profound silence, truth, consciousness, and bliss arise.
Right Karma is that which leads to silence and bliss. Actions that do not result in bliss remain untouched by Krishna’s Law of Karma. Understanding and aligning with this law is essential for achieving true contentment and liberation.
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