Karma

The Pali term Karma literally means action or doing. Any kind of intentional action whether mental, verbal, or physical, is regarded as Karma. It covers all that is included in the phrase “thought, word and deed”. Generally speaking, all good and bad action constitutes Karma. In its ultimate sense Karma means all moral and immoral volition. Involuntary, unintentional or unconscious actions, though technically deeds, do not constitute Karma, because volition, the most important factor in determining Karma, is absent.

Karma does not necessarily mean past actions. It embraces both past and present deeds. Hence in one sense, we are the result of what we were; we will be the result of what we are. In another sense, it should be added, we are not totally the result of what we were; we will not absolutely be the result of what we are. The present is no doubt the offspring of the past and is the present of the future, but the present is not always a true index of either the past or the future; so complex is the working of Karma.

When you find that you and life are more than just meets the eye, you will be agreeing with the fact that we are more than just our flesh. We are our minds, our hearts, our thoughts and our feelings. And if everything we move, responds back with the same power then we must try to create good karma, and use our spiritual bodies for good.

But even so, “gathering” good karma will result in a crowded spiritual body leading to a crowded mind. We must look beyond the concept of doing, and understand that, to be at peace with the universe, we must rid ourselves of a crowded soul. By this we understand that we must release ourselves from karma, even the good kind, for that ultimate salvation, the true NIRVANA.

But how could we possibly shut the sources of good or bad karma? How can we exist so simple, without wishing, deciding, doing and saying? This is where spiritual practices intervene. If you consider shutting of your sources, then you must consider meditation, for example. And if you want to work towards emptying yourself to total peace, you must understand that by meditation, you are achieving the state of simply being.

When you realize that you simply ARE, you do not expect, you do not wish, YOU do not exist, you coexist. And if you achieve this point, you have done the first and most important step of detoxifying your life, with a pure heart and soul.