Add to Spiritual Diary
Part 1 of 8
When you act without ego,attachment or
aversion, that is real akarma or nonaction, says MORARI BAPU
aversion, that is real akarma or nonaction, says MORARI BAPU
Part 2 of 8
O Arjuna! Understand what is karma,what is vikarma and what is akarma.Then whatever you do, will not lead to bondage.Even if you fight, it will not be a sin.
— Bhagwad Gita
— Bhagwad Gita
Part 3 of 8
What is karma?Any action permitted and
recom -mended by the shastras and scriptures and which yields good results, is karma.But there could be a simple definition also, because jnana, knowledge,must be taral and saral, flowing and simple. That karma is recommended by the vedas and shastras, which, people say, gives us good results in
lok and parlok — in this world and the other world. I don’t know if there is a ‘parlok’ or not, but when we do something good to others
while doing good to ourselves, it is tantamount to doing meritorious deeds for parlok.
recom -mended by the shastras and scriptures and which yields good results, is karma.But there could be a simple definition also, because jnana, knowledge,must be taral and saral, flowing and simple. That karma is recommended by the vedas and shastras, which, people say, gives us good results in
lok and parlok — in this world and the other world. I don’t know if there is a ‘parlok’ or not, but when we do something good to others
while doing good to ourselves, it is tantamount to doing meritorious deeds for parlok.
Part 4 of 8
What is vikarma? Ramana Maharshi has used the word ‘prohibited action’ for vikarma. Those
actions forbidden by the scriptures are vikarma.
Let us understand the following seven sutras:
1 Karma, action, which is free of ahamkar,ego,is karma which is not motivated by attachment or aversion, in which you are only a nimitta, a means or an instrument.When Arjuna stretched the string of his bow, it appeared as if the sky would be torn apart.
That was thanks to Krishna’s energy.The same Arjuna was looted by tribals on his way to
Hastinapur long after the Mahabharata war was over,although he carried the same bow and arrows. But by this time,Krishna’s work on earth was over and he was ascending to heaven.
Without Krishna, Arjuna could not do much with his bow and arrow. So, the first sutra is: Karma free of ahamkar.
actions forbidden by the scriptures are vikarma.
Let us understand the following seven sutras:
1 Karma, action, which is free of ahamkar,ego,is karma which is not motivated by attachment or aversion, in which you are only a nimitta, a means or an instrument.When Arjuna stretched the string of his bow, it appeared as if the sky would be torn apart.
That was thanks to Krishna’s energy.The same Arjuna was looted by tribals on his way to
Hastinapur long after the Mahabharata war was over,although he carried the same bow and arrows. But by this time,Krishna’s work on earth was over and he was ascending to heaven.
Without Krishna, Arjuna could not do much with his bow and arrow. So, the first sutra is: Karma free of ahamkar.
Part 5 of 8
2 The second sutra is karma done without raag or attachment, and dwesh,aversion.Sometimes,we act motivated
by either attachment to something or aversion for something.Either way, such an action will bear no fruit.It will only create bondage.
3 Karma is done not for yourself or your family, but for the love of Krishna. I do not chant his name or worship him for my own liberation. Why should I trouble my Krishna for my own sake? I do his bhajan for his pleasure. Everything should be done for the love of Krishna and for the pleasure of Krishna alone.This is the third sutra.Think about all your actions in this light.The sentiment that all is for the pleasure of my Govind,my Hari, leads to
ideal karma.
by either attachment to something or aversion for something.Either way, such an action will bear no fruit.It will only create bondage.
3 Karma is done not for yourself or your family, but for the love of Krishna. I do not chant his name or worship him for my own liberation. Why should I trouble my Krishna for my own sake? I do his bhajan for his pleasure. Everything should be done for the love of Krishna and for the pleasure of Krishna alone.This is the third sutra.Think about all your actions in this light.The sentiment that all is for the pleasure of my Govind,my Hari, leads to
ideal karma.
Part 6 of 8
4 Karma is for the good of the samashti,the whole universe, whole existence.Whatever you do, whether it is to organise a katha or a yajna, or any other meritorious deed, it should be for the good of all.
5 Karma should be done for common benefit with nishkama bhava — without seeking any fruits. ‘I am conducting this yajna for the good of all’. Such a kamana or desire must never
be there in you, because such sankalpa or resolve gives birth to maya,illusion. One desire will lead to another and you will go on working to that end again and again. On the other hand, it is also possible that first the resolve may
come and then the desire might arise. The phrase ‘nishkama karma’ is important
and appears to be the same as karma free of ahamkar. Even the sentiment that ‘I am doing this yajna for the good of all’ will be considered as kamana. Nishkama karma,action without desire for fruits or any motive behind it is karma.
5 Karma should be done for common benefit with nishkama bhava — without seeking any fruits. ‘I am conducting this yajna for the good of all’. Such a kamana or desire must never
be there in you, because such sankalpa or resolve gives birth to maya,illusion. One desire will lead to another and you will go on working to that end again and again. On the other hand, it is also possible that first the resolve may
come and then the desire might arise. The phrase ‘nishkama karma’ is important
and appears to be the same as karma free of ahamkar. Even the sentiment that ‘I am doing this yajna for the good of all’ will be considered as kamana. Nishkama karma,action without desire for fruits or any motive behind it is karma.
Part 7 of 8
6 The sixth sutra is even more important. Karma performed by one’s shuddha buddhi, pure intellect,with the sentiment of generosity,
considering it one’s swadharma, one’s duty and responsibility which has to be done compulsorily, is proper karma.Karma performed by such a purified intellect is the ideal karma.
7 The seventh and last sutra is:‘I am only a nimitta, a mere instrument,a means. It would have happened even without me’ — just as Krishna said to Arjuna that his enemies would have died even if he would not fight them,as they had already been killed by him (Krishna). So, just take the credit of victory. If a sadhak, spiritual seeker,takes joy in remembering Krishna,and performs karma keeping these seven clues in mind, it will be considered akarma or nonaction.
considering it one’s swadharma, one’s duty and responsibility which has to be done compulsorily, is proper karma.Karma performed by such a purified intellect is the ideal karma.
7 The seventh and last sutra is:‘I am only a nimitta, a mere instrument,a means. It would have happened even without me’ — just as Krishna said to Arjuna that his enemies would have died even if he would not fight them,as they had already been killed by him (Krishna). So, just take the credit of victory. If a sadhak, spiritual seeker,takes joy in remembering Krishna,and performs karma keeping these seven clues in mind, it will be considered akarma or nonaction.
Part 8 of 8
True Akarma
‘Akarma’ means that you are not doing any karma even while performing the work at hand efficiently and wholeheartedly. Not doing anything is not akarma. Such a person is called nikamma — good for nothing or kamchor — one who shirks work.Nonaction due to sloth is not akarma. An action performed without ego
and without attachment and aversion is real nonaction. If one acts according to these seven ideals, he gradually embraces vairagya, renunciation.Abridged from Manas Sringeri, N K B Charitable Trust.
‘Akarma’ means that you are not doing any karma even while performing the work at hand efficiently and wholeheartedly. Not doing anything is not akarma. Such a person is called nikamma — good for nothing or kamchor — one who shirks work.Nonaction due to sloth is not akarma. An action performed without ego
and without attachment and aversion is real nonaction. If one acts according to these seven ideals, he gradually embraces vairagya, renunciation.Abridged from Manas Sringeri, N K B Charitable Trust.
Latest Articles
COMMENTS