The Mystery of Karma

Overview What is Karma? The Logic of Karma The Doubts about Karma The Science of Karma Benefits of "The Science of Karma" Devotional Service – The ultimate freedom from Karmic Entanglement

What is Karma? there is an equal and opposite reaction! For every action, Newton's law is just a small subset of the universal Law of Karma

The Logic of Karma - I Impartial Inexorable All of nature obeys laws; why should humans be an exception ? Inexorable We can never break God's laws; we can only break ourselves against His laws

The Logic of Karma - II Cause Effect When you see an effect, you enquire about the cause

The Logic of Karma - III We train our subordinates by Will God not do the same?

The Doubts about Karma - I Why do bad people flourish?

The Doubts about Karma - II Karma gets stored like grains are stored in Silos What goes around, comes around!

The Doubts about Karma - III Why to suffer now for the actions of previous life? Just as different seeds fructify after different time durations, so do different karmic actions – some in the present life and some in future lives

The Doubts about Karma - IV Why doesn’t God give all karmic reactions come in this life itself?

The Doubts about Karma - V Why are the ignorant punished? Ignorance is not an excuse for sin; it is the consequence of the sin good behavior bad behavior Vedic Oasis for Inspiration Culture and Education, Pune

The Doubts about Karma - VI Why do natural calamities kill thousands of innocent people? Natural calamities kill in mass; but they don’t kill blindly

Actions which free one from the cycle of birth and death The Science of Karma - I Actions performed in terms of one’s prescribed duties as mentioned in the revealed scriptures Actions performed by the misuse of one’s freedom which direct one to the lower life forms VIKARMA Actions which free one from the cycle of birth and death

The Science of Karma - II We make our destiny by our karma Destiny determines the consequences of our actions, not our actions themselves

The Science of Karma - III Karmavada Everything is in my hand Nothing is in my hand Daivavada

Benefits of Science of Karma - I Social: It is the foundation of morality. If somebody announces, “No police in this city. Pl follow the laws”. What would happen? Fear of God is the beginning of wisdom

Benefits of Science of Karma - II Adhidaivik Individual: Helps us make sense of our present condition and gives us strength to face suffering Adibhautik Adhyatmic Helps us prepare for the future with confidence

Benefits of Science of Karma - III “Has it occurred to you that transmigration is at once an explanation and a justification of the evil of the world?" "If the evils we suffer are the result of sins committed in our past lives, we can bear them with resignation and hope that if in this one we strive towards virtue our future lives will be less afflicted."

Devotional Service Grants knowledge to make right choices in life Bestows higher taste to give up lower desires Minimizes reactions of past bad karma and gives inner strength to endure residual reactions