Miscellaneous - Religion   

Concept of karma

CHENNAI: While explaining the subtle truths relating to the Absolute, the universe and the created beings in it to Arjuna, Lord Krishna redefines the concept of karma that is central to the teachings in the Bhagavad Gita, since there are various shades of meaning implied in the use of the word karma. Generally speaking, while all the actions of human beings in their day-to-day life are known by this term, in a technical sense, the action by which the Supreme Being has created the entire universe with the existence of a variety of beings, animate and inanimate, and the manner in which these are born, grow and die within a particular time frame is also explained as karma. In another sense, the rituals (yagnas) ordained in the scriptures to propitiate the celestials by offering ghee, seed grain, etc., to the sacred fire are also known as karma.

Sri N. Veezhinathan pointed out in a lecture that the Vedic mantras that sanctify the physical performance of yagnas reinforce the dissolution of the individual ego because one’s self and possessions are offered to God. In every yagna it is the Supreme Being who is ultimately propitiated and it is He who receives the offerings. Such rituals performed without any hope of reward and as a religious duty and service towards Vedic Gods for the upkeep of creation and the world order and for maintaining the cycle of life are also known as karma.

When an individual is engaged in any action, the emphasis is on the effort to gain spiritual wisdom through cultivating a frame of mind by which all actions one does become an offering to the Almighty. This awareness constitutes the Jnana component in the practice of karma yoga, where the individual has no doubts about the nature of the Supreme Being and of His presence as the indwelling self in every Jivatma. Learning to see this self as different from the body that is perishable is the path to wisdom.

The striking contrast between the Absolute Truth and all the other aspects of the created universe including celestials such as Brahma who is responsible for creation is the imperishable nature of the former while all else is subject to birth, growth, decay and death.

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