Karma Siddhantha

“Karma Siddhanta” literally means “Doctrine of Karma.” We are here on earth and it is important to know why are we like this? Why are we born in particular conditions and situation, whether in a poor family, a rich family, a healthy or unhealthy family, a wicked or virtuous family?

The doctrine of karma gives us some understanding about having pain and pleasure. If we perform actions, when does it end up as good or bad, and why? Which are good or bad actions? All this vision comes through the study of Karma Siddhanta and by understanding them. A situation might not be what it seems. For example, a person might seem to be doing good and you would be benefiting by his actions, but his intentions could be different and could be in fact harming you. So one can be doing a good thing with a bad intention or what seems to be bad may turn out to be with good intention. All those complications of life are an enigma which starts to become clear once we read, know and understand Karma Siddhanta.

The key word here is “why”. Why are we experiencing pleasure, why have we got to endure pain? If we get the answers to the question “why” then most of our problems are solved. Once we know the cause of the suffering, then we can take the proper course of action, just as we take proper precautions when we know about the cause of the illness. Likewise if we know the cause of pleasure we need to know if it is our Yoga (fortune) and is there an appropriate Yogyatha (deserevance) in us. Karma Siddhanta basically tells us that the pain and pleasure which are experienced in life are on account of Mano Kleshas - afflictions of mind.

Karma Siddantha basically talks of three types of Karmas. Sanchita, Prarabdha and Agami/Kriyatmana Karmas.

Sanchita Karma is the sum of all the total fruits (Good & Bad) obtained during the past births, it is important to know that the past birth deeds are responsible for the present conditions. We have seen selfish and corrupt living a luxurious , this present situation they enjoy could be the result of some good deeds done in their past life. Karma Siddantha says “As you sow so you reap” so an individual troubling his fellow beings in this life will surely pay for it in his future birth. This is how Karma Works.

But Karma Siddantha does not encourage condemnation. Let us suppose a person who is living a miserable life due to his past life deeds. The person who is witness to this should not go deep into the persons past deeds, but get the important message that he (the witness) has to live a virtual life in this present scenario to avoid suffering in the next life.

Prarabdha Karmas are Karma Phalas (Rewards) that are allotted to us for the present life which may be good or bad (enjoyable or sufferings). And most important is that no one can rewrite them even the Creator has no powers to change it once that has been allotted.

Agami & Kriyatmana Karmas are deeds that are to be performed during the course of this life time by an individual, be it good deeds or bad deeds or a mix of both. Remember that the fruit (rewards) of Agami is added to the Sanchita Karma while results for Kriyatmana is got in this life itself.

Hence it is important to note that every deed (good or bad) of ours will increase the volume of Sanchita Karma. So to think of liberation without reducing the Sanchita it is impossible, we have to take cycles of births to experience the results of Sanchita Karma.