Karma is the concept of action or deed which causes the cycle of cause and effect. We reap what we sow. It is a natural law of causation. When we sow wheat seeds, we reap wheat grains. When we sow pain, we reap pain. When our actions aim at insulting others, we cause suffering to ourselves. When we selflessly give love or help to others, we receive joy and help in life. When we love God without seeking anything in return, God gives Himself to us in all of His Fullness. The individual is the sole doer of karma and is the sole enjoyer of the fruits or results of his own karma.
Karma is not a punishment. It is the consequence of our own actions. Karma is not fate. We are free to create our own destiny by our actions. Many times, due to our anger and hatred we knowingly perform actions for which the results are terrible. We are prepared to face the consequences of our terrible action in order to appease our ego. We do not mind our nose being cut and both eyes blinded as long as we can blind one eye of our opponent. This incident between Buddha and his father –in-law King Suppabuddha tells us this truth:
King Suppabuddha was the father of Yashodhara, wife of Prince Siddhartha. He had a deep hatred for Buddha as Buddha had abandoned his daughter and her newly born child and left the palace in search of truth. He could not forgive Buddha for becoming a monk, having found the truth of life and becoming a famous Master. One day, he came to know that Buddha and his disciples would be entering his city for seeking alms and giving discourses. He got drunk in order to gather courage for insulting Buddha and venting his anger against him. When Buddha and his monks were walking on the street, he came in a procession and blocked Buddha’s way. He demanded that Buddha and his group turn back and go away as the King could not make way for someone younger than him.
Buddha and his group turned back and went away without a word of protest. King Suppabuddha sent a spy to check on Buddha and his monks and report to him. The spy followed Buddha and his group back to their monastery. On the way back, Buddha said to Ananda: The King has created bad karma by blocking the way of Buddha and soon he will have to pay for it. This comment was reported immediately to the King and the King increased his security to ensure that he would be protected from all possible harm. He commanded his security forces to be more vigilant and increase the security around him. He also took extra precautions to ensure his personal safety. He wanted to prove Buddha wrong.
The news of the King’s increased security measures and precautions reached Buddha. Buddha said it did not matter how the King protected himself. Even if the King hid himself in a tower or in the sky or in the ocean, he would not be able to escape his karma. No one can escape the consequences of his own actions. After some days of the road incident, the King was resting in his palace when he heard his favourite horse neighing and kicking about wildly. He was worried and rushed out to check. As he hurriedly ran, he tripped and fell down the staircase and died.
Karma always bears fruit. When we do evil to a realized master, the results are terrible and hit us back a thousand times more. In reverse, when we do good to a realized master, the blessings pour on us a thousand times more. Let us earn grace by the good karma of SitaRam mantra, meditation and following the teachings of the Guru so that we get strength to bear the current results of our past karma and also wipe out our negative karma. When we follow these practices sincerely, we can rewrite our own destiny and reach the goal of enlightenment.
