Mitigating the impact of Karmic forces

by Nagalingam Kumarakuruparan

So long as the evil action does not mature karmically, the fool thinks his action to be as sweet as honey. But when it matures, the fool experiences untold misery. - Gautama Buddha

In Sanskrit the word ‘Karma’ means action; but it is also the consequence of action.

According to Helena Roerich in Foundation of Buddhism, “Each man, by the action of unerring Karma, receives in exact measure all that is due, all that he deserves, neither more nor less.

Prosperity

Not one benevolent or evil action, trifling as it may be, as secretly as it may be done, escapes the precisely balanced scale of Karma.”

To understand this, first we must keep in mind is that the troubles that attack us and the prosperity that we are used to are a result of our own bad and good Karma. We have been subjected to a lot of troubles and happiness in our life, why?

It is because of our own past, previous actions. Out of ignorance, we may have committed many blunders in our life. Why?

The reason is that most of us have not understood the spiritual code of conduct as Prescribed by the scriptures.

Scriptures

The scriptures relevant to each may be different. Most of us may not consider all the scriptures seriously. These are the basic truths of our lives.

This gives us the basic manual of how to live as humans. We have neither understood it nor followed it correctly. This is the reason that we suffer a host of troubles in our lives. We have indulged in a lot of bad actions through ignorance.

Their reactions have bounced back upon us - what we call the fruits of Karma. This is the reason why you have enjoyed yourself at certain points in your lives but have also suffered at other points.

Removal

How can we remove these Karmic burdens and troubles? We do not know what is going to hit us tomorrow or the day after. To avoid this catastrophe, we have to adopt a Sadhana technique based on our scriptures and the enlightening techniques followed by the gurus and other enlightened beings.

Fascinated by idealism of complete renunciation, Arjuna in Mahabharata wanted to give up his Karma as a warrior, believing that it would be a sin to kill his opponents, many of whom were his revered relatives. Should he give up his assigned Karma? Krishna says ‘No’ and explains to him and to all of us the concept of why and how Karma should be done.

Your chosen duty is described as ‘Swadharma’ in the Bhagwat Gita. Everyone has to carry out their Swadharma without carelessness and ego. Also while performing one's choosen duty, our attention should be on the quality of action, rather than being attached only to the fruits of action. Bhagwat Gita says, “Do your best always, do not be utterly selfish and have no ego.”

Effects

You bear the effects of your action according to several factors including the level of people involved in the action. For example, the Karma of harming an ordinary person is milder compared to the effects of causing harm to a good person. And a similar bad action of a wise person and an ignorant man produce different effects. The effects on the former can be severe.

Sometimes actions that may appear bad can be positive actions. In the great epic Mahabharata, Lord Krishna narrated this story to the Pandavas. A hunter shot an arrow at a bear that was drinking water from a lake. Later he came to know that the animal was blind and regretted his act.

Leprosy

However, the Rishis of the forest who were meditating thanked him as the beast was a demon who wanted to destroy the world. Thus, “Lord Krishna said, Action that we think bad can be good,” at times, unkind actions may serve a good cause.

There's a beautiful story of Rohini from the days of the Gautama Buddha. On one occasion, the Buddha's disciple Anuruddha visited Kapilavastu. While he was staying at the monastery there, all his relatives, with the exception of his sister Rohini, came to see him. On learning from them that Rohini did not come because she was suffering from leprosy, he sent for her.

Rohini came to see her brother, but covered her hand in shame. Feeling very sorry for her sister, Anuruddha advised her to do some meritorious deed. He suggested that she should sell some of her jewells, and with the money, to built a refectory for Bhikkus. Rohini agreed to do as she was told. Further, he told Rohini to sweep the floor and fill the water pots every day. Anuruddha also asked his other relatives to help Rohini in the construction. Rohini did as she was instructed and she began to get better. This inspired her to put her whole energy into this noble work. A miracle happened when 90 percent of her leprosy disappeared. During this period she was totally involved in this work. When the construction of the hall was completed. The Buddha and his Bhikkhus were invited for alms. After the meal, the Buddha asked for the donor of the building and alms. But Rohini was not there. The Buddha sent for her. When she came he asked her whether she knew why she was inflicted with the dreaded disease. She said she did not know. Buddha told her that she had done an evil deed in one of her past lives.

Jealous

Rohini was at one time, the chief queen of the king of Kasi. It so happened that the king had a favourite dancer and the chief queen was very jealous of her. The queen wanted to punish the dancer. Thus one day, she had her attendants put some poisonous itching powder on the dancer's bed and her blanket. The poor girl suffered for a long time the poisonous effects of the powder on her body.

As a result of that evil deed Rohini had become a leper in this life. The Buddha then exhorted the congregation not to act foolishly in anger and not to bear any ill-will towards others. Then the Buddha delivered the following Sutra to his Bhikkhus.

‘Give up anger, abandon conceit, overcome all fetters. Ills of life (Dukkha) do not befall one who does not cling to mind and body and is free from moral defilements.”

At that moment Rohini also attained total freedom. Her skin disease disappeared and her complexion became fair, smooth and very attractive ‘Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap'. - St. Paul