We all know what karma is. Don’t we? Actually most of us don’t know what real karma is.
The Karma
The Real karma is your thoughts and just thoughts. Because every thing else is just the manifestation of your thoughts. Your goals, desires, enmity, jealousy, emotions, and beliefs; all originate in your thoughts first and then your are able to manifest some of them. If you ever think of harming some one monetarily, sexually, physically, or emotionally, you have already done a bad karma. When you actually do it, that is your second bad karma.
Everything else that happens in a fraction of a second without thinking and planning, like an accidental killing of animal or insect by your car is not your karma. It’s an accident or destiny/fate.
Keep Your Thoughts Clean
Keeping your thoughts clean is therefore very important as it is the basic force that affects your actions. If you are able to keep your thoughts clean, you will be able to maintain good karma. Breath meditation and similar practices are very beneficial in keeping thoughts clean. Same can not be said about prayers in religious places as they are often done for attaining maya or longevity and not for atama-gyan, self improvement, or peace.
Become a Non Doer
When a person is under the influence of Maya, it becomes a Doer of actions taken in the physical world. It becomes proud of I and Mine. And actions he takes afterwards is bad karma because it hurts listeners and viewers. And make them focus on Aartha more than Dharma. Examples of such actions is:
- Boasting that I have built an Empire by Hardwork
- I worked here as a labor and now I own this factory.
- I have made quick money smartly (understand corruption)
- I threw best party on my son’s wedding.
- I or my child has cracked IIT, UPSC exam.
- My Child, Wife, Husband, etc. is the best in the world.
- The political party I support is best and I will argue with anyone to prove it.
All of this may make the person feel on seventh sky when he/she is boasting about their perceived achievements. But only the wise understand that its only foolish behavior. Its like spending more time sleeping, eating and taking selfies to post on social media rather than enjoying the peace at a hill station vacation. Most people find more sense in doing everything else other than enjoying the peace. And that is the problem.
Humans forget that they are different from this body, and feel that all the activities as being done by them. This feeling of being the doer itself becomes the reason for accumulation of karma. And then they receive the fate of its karmas.
Remember, all the activities are being carried out by our senses and powered by prana which energizes and activates the body. But senses and prana are not in control of humans. Only god controls it and blesses each one of us with it in different proportions. Those with a strong prana are hard workers with brilliant brain and are able to impress their personality on the world and often become prominent in life. Those with a weak prana do not have the energy to accomplish what is perceived as important in the society but they can still be very happy depending on their understanding of life.
Therefore, we should simply witness the actions performed by body and its senses. Move from Kartha to Sakshi state.
What is in Our Control?
The only thing that is somewhat in your control is the sanskaras stored in your chitta and your basic nature (Tamogun, Rajogun, or Sattvagun). It influences memory, thinking, intelligence, decision-making, desires, and planning.
These sansakara come from your past karmas, your thoughts, friends, family, books you read, movies/reels you watch etc.. They play an important role in type of actions you take. Hence controlling your thoughts is the best thing you can do in an effort to maintaining good karma.