Karma is unavoidable; it’s the natural law of cause & effect: every action has consequences. A few things to remember about actions:
- Actions are simply expended energy, which can neither be created nor destroyed.
- When we act selflessly, or expend energy on behalf of others without expectation of anything in return – we gain because we aren’t expecting to; our expended energy is naturally replenished, if only as an internal sense of fulfillment.
- When we act selfishly, or expend energy with the expectation of personal reward – we lose because of our expectations; at best we’re energetically treading water since energy spent = energy replaced.
Raja Yoga is an effort to control our minds, and to the limited extent we can, our karma through thought and action, according to time and circumstance:
- PAST ACTIONS – we can’t control past acts; we can’t somehow “undo” them; all we can do is control how we re-act to their consequences; practicing physical self-control/restraint (postures, breathing) is particularly helpful in this regard.
- PRESENT ACTIONS – we have some control over how we act in the present moment, though it’s difficult to think correctly and without emotion in the heat of battle; practicing mental self-control (concentration) is particularly helpful in this regard.
- FUTURE ACTIONS – we have the most control over our future actions, and thus our lives (the sum of our karmic-generating actions), when we take time to contemplate our actions (or inactions). In this regard, introspection or meditation can be tremendously helpful.
Guru Satchidananda used the analogy of an archer’s arrows:
- Our past actions are like arrows we’ve just let fly: they’ll land and have consequences that we’ll have to contend with [God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change…];
- Our present actions are like arrows we’ve notched, drawn back and about to let fly: we still have some control over their trajectory and target [courage to change the things I can….];
- Our future actions are like arrows still in our quiver: we decide if, when and how to let them lose […and wisdom to know the difference].
Aim carefully, and act wisely.
Patanjali said, “never give up; always let go”, but most importantly emphasized never forgetting that consciousness (the uber-subtle, never-changing, awareness OF our thoughts) is the only thing not affected by karma (or time and space). It’s the aspect of each of us that our ancestors said was impervious to fire and water! So in a practical sense, our consciousness IS eternal! Draw contentment and courage (oppositional aspects of energetic matter) from that knowledge.
And never forget: you are a miracle!! You are a consequence of L-I-T-E-R-A-L-L-Y everything that’s ever happened since the inception of time and space – as are all the people and things in your life, so please act accordingly, starting by lovingly caring for the body and mind you are gifted with.
Namaste, Skip
