Being free of karma instantly

When i hear people talk about karma, bad karma, good karma, karma will manifest, this life, next life i wondered what does this all mean and the study started .. Sharing some insights here.

Karma role and body.

Karma is associated with the role i play. Role is associated with the body. I have many roles, father, husband, director, etc. Some roles i took over time (like a father. I was not a father until my kids were born) and some roles ended with time (like when i resigned from the post of secretary of my housing society, that role was over). Some are forced roles (like the citizen ship of the country you are born in) some are voluntary roles ( yoga student) in life, all along, we play these roles. Not being aware, that there are roles. Not the true self.

Desires and karma

Desires orginate from the role and action needs to be taken to fulfill them. Virtuous actions are generally termed as good karma and non virtuous ones are bad karma. The definition of virtuous is by itself not clear, leading to confusion.

Broad definition of karma

What is the definition of good and bad karma. General definition is that if it's for larger good, it's a good karma. If it harms someone, it is bad karma. This is the most simple explanation.

Sanatana Dharma and karma

Let's get this in the context of dharma in the context of dharma, artha, kama, moksha.

The roles are various dharmas that we have in life. Putra dharma. Role of a son. Shishya dharma. Role of a disciple. Etc.

For each role, there are certain best practises to fulfill the objectives of the role. These largely become the guideline of taking action.

Collapse of roles and identity

When the distinction between the roles and self is not clear, the dharma is not clear. So the actions are for gratification of the mind. Not what is the right action for that role.

So in the context of following the dharma, violence is needed, When it's needed. For example terminating a partnership or removing people from work is also violence. It affects everyone. But for the role of the CEO or shareholder, that is the right thing to do. There is no guilt in the violence when it is done for the dharma (following the right role correctly).

You may feel that this has a conflict with what Mr Gandhi said" Ahimso parmo dharma". Well, that is a subject of another blog!

Conflicting roles and dharma

An interesting dilemma of Arjuna is resolved when he is confused between which dharma to follow. The one of his role as a disciple, brother, grandson. Or the warrier. This lead to bhagwan shri krishnas gita. His confusion was cleared and he took up the bow again in his hand.

His role of khshatriya prevailed, as it was the right thing to do. And the war began. If he would have followed Gandhi, imagine what would have happened!

Making a business decision swiftly

Today, we have many situations where there are conflict of dharmas. I recently faced one, when one of my partners followed his Dharma of maximizing the profit for himself, comprised the role of putting both share holders interests equally first. So the role of business man overtook the role of shareholder.

I had two choices. Continue and be non violent and keep doing good karma to him. I was seeing my brother in him. I lost my brother when he was around 35. It's more than 15 years now. The other choice was to end the partnership. My role of a shareholder took over first, rather than being emotional. I listed down 25 points that are violations at dharma level and could not be reconciled. My mind was peaceful And swiftly, i ended the partnership, as in the larger good, in long term, in the interest of the team, this was the right thing to do.

No karma when you follow dharma

We can rightly say that there is no karma, when you follow the dharma.

This makes you free to take action based on.

1. What is the dharma role which is for the larger good in case there are two roles to choose from.

2. Which is the action that is for the larger good.

The action that originates does not decide whether it's good or bad karma. The context does. Violent action can be good karma and non violent action can be bad karma as well.

This also takes you to non attachment to the outcome. Nishkama karma. Karma without a desire. Keep taking actions and accepting the results, while keeping the goal firmly in sight. Without being attached to the outcome.

Karma from role and role from body

When the body goes away, so do the roles, so does the karma.

It is not needed to end the body to end the karma. Just the distinction is enough.

Once the understanding is clear that i am Consciousness and in eternal aum state, the body is not real, hence the role is not real. Hence the karma is also not real.

Dharma Artha Kama Moksha

I was free earlier. I am free now. There is nothing to chase. Not even moksha.

Earn artha money by following dharma. And enjoy the kama subjects well.

This is the context of dharma artha kama and moksha. Moksha is not a destination. It is a state that co exists when all 4 are balanced.

This is beautifully described in the fourth shloka of shiv manas Puja.

Coming back to roles. When i play a role, i am aware that I am the self, i am not the role. If the role requires punishing others, so be it. It is the dharma of the role that is doing it. Once in this space, there is no karma. Hence there was no papam attached to the karma of Arjuna, as he killed so many of his own relatives in Mahabharat war.

Today, as a father, as a partner, i have to do my dharma well. That's all. And chose the dharma first and take action when in doubt, clear it.

Shankaracharya says, in atmashatakam.

Na punyam na papam. Na saukhayma na dukkham.

As he declares the true nature of himself as chinandan rupa shivoham. Ever blissful form.

Thus is good to know. But does not remain in awareness in day to day life. The simplest method is to anchor to the eternal internal sound of aum.

I end this blog with dyneshwar maulis blesssings.

Duritache timir javo, vishwa swadharma surye paho. Jo je vanchil to te laho pranijaat.

Let the darkness of the mind go away. Let everyones dharma be as clear as the sun. Let everyone have what they desire.