Is Karma Real or Fake?
What is Karma? Do you think it Exists? Few would say, Yes, it does and others may not agree at all. Well, if you are amongst the ones who do not agree that Karma is for Real, you can just ignore this article. This post is for those who do believe that Karma is a Real thing in this Universe as I surely believe in Karma!!! This isn’t utter delusion or pollyanna foolishness.
Karma was originally found in the religious teachings of Hinduism and Buddhism, but the reality of karma has been long debated. According to the Oxford dictionary, in those regions, Karma is the sum of someone’s good and bad actions in one of their lives, believed to decide what will happen to them in the future and in the next life. The idea of Karma first appeared in the Rigveda (before c. 1500 BCE), which is the oldest Hindu text, and then was extended in the Upanishads (c. 800–300 BCE).
“Before you act, you have freedom, but after you act, the effect of that action will follow you whether you want it to or not. That is the law of karma.” — Paramahansa Yogananda
So, What is Karma!!!!
Karma in layman’s terms is the work, actions, or deeds you do day in and day out. Good intentions lead to a good, happy life whereas filthy and negative deeds contribute to bad life and bad rebirth.
Karma is definitely the actions you do but it has other perspectives as well. One would think I am doing good to others and good should come to me. Yes, it is true, but you also have to take into consideration the intentions, the feelings, and the expectations you are expecting. If you are doing a favor to someone, just do it wholeheartedly with good intentions with positivity, and 100 % of happiness from within. Do not ever expect anything in return. You did this deed because you felt like doing it, didn’t you? Or You did do it because you were expecting something in return? Well, you would know your answer!!!
Karma is not itself ‘reward and punishment’, but the law that produces consequence. Wilhelm Halbfass notes that good karma is considered as dharma and leads to Punya (‘merit’), while bad karma is considered adharma and leads to Pap (‘demerit, sin’).
Some ancient religions teach that karma is what you practice which I believe is true. Karma is also practiced to follow steps to end karma and karmic consequences to release one from the cycle of birth and death, which called is mokṣa or nirvāṇa.
“Practice good and you will attract good. Preach good and you will see and surround yourself with good.” — Bhagyashree Khakal
How Does It Work?
Not all karmas rebound immediately. Some accumulate and return unexpectedly in this or other lifetimes. Human beings are said to produce karma in four ways: (Source from and published in Wikipedia)
- through thoughts
- through right attitude words
- through actions that we perform ourselves
- through actions others perform under our instructions
Everything that we have ever thought, spoken, done or caused is karma, as is also that which we think, speak or do this very moment. Hindu scriptures divide karma into three kinds:
- Sanchita is the accumulated karma. It would be impossible to experience and endure all karmas in one lifetime. From this stock of sanchita karma, a handful is taken out to serve one lifetime and this handful of actions, which have begun to bear fruit and which will be exhausted only on their fruit being enjoyed and not otherwise, is known as prarabdha karma.
- Prarabdha Fruit-bearing karma is the portion of accumulated karma that has “ripened” and appears as a particular problem in the present life.
- Kriyamana is everything that we produce in the current life. All kriyamana karmas flow in to sanchita karma and consequently shape our future. Only in human life we can change our future destiny. After death we lose Kriya Shakti (ability to act) and do (kriyamana) karma until we are born again in another human body.
Does Karma Come back?
“Realize that everything connects to everything else.” — Leonardo Da Vinci
We all come from different backgrounds but we are connected by our karma. The people you meet accidentally or intentionally, the path you are on right now, the teachings you are thinking to get, the next step you are going to take, your past or present relationships, etc are connected to each other. This is not just a coincidence, this is how The Universe works!!! Every little atom is connected and has some connection to each other and is a reflex of our own actions, indeed.
In scientific terms, we know that every action has a reaction, usually equal and opposite. In karmic terms, it is similar — except that the manifestations of your actions can be advantageous or negative depending on intent and action. If intent and action are in line of positivity, the karmic results will be only positive. If the intent is good, and the action is hurtful, or the action is good but the intent was hurtful, the karmic effect will be equally misaligned. If both are negative, the effects will be harmful — in this life or the next.
Happiness comes due to good actions, suffering results from evil actions,
by actions, all things are obtained, by inaction, nothing whatsoever is enjoyed.
If one’s action bore no fruit, then everything would be of no avail,
if the world worked from fate alone, it would be neutralized.
— Mahabharata, xiii.6.10 & 19
Meaning of above shlok: You only have right in doing Karma and not in the outcome of it. Don’t take credit for your Karma and do not indulge in doing nothing.
Since we have this great karma to meet, we should be supporting each other and encouraging each other. This spiritual path that we are walking is full of bumps and potholes, we have to carefully hold hands with warmth, sincerity, and understanding. Nothing is impossible when we walk and support together and remember “What goes around comes around” and in the much older proverb “As you sow, so shall you reap.”, this is certainly Real.
Happy Reading and Keep doing Good Karma !!! Suggestions and Thoughts are welcome. :)
