Karma: The Cause and Effect

Karma is both action and consequence of that action. Everyone has heard the expression “What you sow is what you reap. “If we want to create happiness in our lives, we must learn to sow the seeds of happiness. The cause and effect dyad imply the action of conscious choice making. When we choose actions that bring happiness and success to others, the fruit of our karma is happiness and success. The cause and effect are two ends of the same stick, it is not possible to pickup one end without lifting the other. 

One of the funniest expectations that we have from our lives, that we wish to get the different results by doing the same thing. I have a certain routine which is making me obese I have a sedentary lifestyle, I work late at night, I don’t get up early, I have irregular eating habits, I party thrice a week, but then one day I decide that I wish to trim down my fat, start looking more presentable but I am not changing a single thing in my routine, but I expect that somehow I will get slim. In this example you’d obviously say are you mad, you don’t need to be a rocket scientist to understand this. But yes, there are many such actions which we continue to take but expect that we will be saved from consequence.  

In very moment, we have access to an infinity of choices. Some choices are made consciously, while others are made unconsciously. Unfortunately, a lot of our choices are made unconsciously, and therefore we don’t think they are choices – and yet, they are. Because of conditioning, our choices are often triggered by people and circumstances into predictable outcomes. The meta-choice state, the state where we think about choices before making those choices is being proactive. Proactive person would choose his action whereas a reactive person would respond and give the reason for his response, the action which he faced. So, he is behaving like a spring, which if compressed would have mechanical energy applied to it, which it will store in the form of potential energy which it will use to bounce back to its original position. Pretty predictable. Springs don’t have choices. 

If I were to insult you, you would most likely make the choice of being offended. If I were to pay you a compliment, you would most likely make the choice of being flattered. But think about it. You could make the choice of not being offended by an insult, you could make the choice of not letting a compliment flatter you either. 

The best way to use karmic law is to step back and witness the choices you are making in every moment. When you make any choice, ask yourself two things, “What are the consequences of this choice?” and “Will the choice I’m making bring happiness to me and to those around me?” There is always one choice that will create maximum happiness both for you and for those around you. This choice is the spontaneous right action because it’s the action that nourishes you and everyone else who is influenced by that action. 

The most famous shlok of Geeta -  

कर्मण्येवाधिकारस्ते मा फलेषु कदाचन । 

मा कर्मफलहेतुर्भुर्मा ते संगोऽस्त्वकर्मणि ॥ 

(Karmanye Vadhikaraste, Ma phaleshou kada chana, Ma Karma Phala Hetur Bhurmatey Sangostva Akarmani) You have a right to perform your prescribed duty (Karma), but you are not entitled to the fruits of action. Never consider yourself to be the cause of the results of your activities, and never be attached to not doing your duty. The Karma referred to here is Karma which is lawful, legitimate, in the best interest of self, society, nation and universe.  Our choice of Karma is not dependent on the consequences. We must dissociate ourselves from the consequences our decision is only limited to choosing our karma. 

How do you make spontaneous right choices? By paying attention to sensations of comfort or discomfort in your body. At the moment you make a choice, ask your body, “What are the consequences of this choice? “If your body sends a message of comfort, that’s the right choice. If you feel uneasiness in your body even as you ask the question, then it’s not the appropriate choice. 

Put your attention on your heart and ask your heart what to do. Then pay attention to how you feel. The response may be the faintest level of feeling, but it’s there. You will know the answer is right because it will feel right, without any lingering doubts. The heart is intuitive and holistic, it has a win-win orientation. And though the answer may not seem rational, the heart is far more accurate than anything within the realm of rational thought. 

Look for the seed of opportunity within every adversity, and tie that seed of opportunity to your dharma, or purpose of life. This will enable you to convert the adversity into a benefit. 

Every action is a karmic episode, because action generates memory, memory generates desire, and desire generates action again. As you become conscious of these seeds of manifestation, you become a conscious choice maker, and the actions you generate will be evolutionary. If karma is evolutionary – both for you and for those around you – then the fruit of karma will be happiness and success. It means that one must evolve with every set of action consequence dyad. But unfortunately, we are wishfully thinking that the cause and effect stick is broken in the middle and our action would not have the effect that it should and continue to live in our make-believe world, we are making a mess of everything around us with our choices. Be it choices of our pattern of energy consumption or our choices of exploiting our fast depleting water and other natural resources. The consequence is going to catch up with us, much sooner than any of us would like or expect it to. The Karma is going to visit us. Pretty Soon.