Hari Aum.
The law of karma is the law of action and reaction. A good deed produces happiness, a bad deed produces sorrow. The law of karma ensures dharma, justice, fairness and righteousness. Those who walk the path of dharma create good karma and get favourable, positive results. Those who break the rules of dharma, who act unethically, get unfavourable, negative results.
The law of karma therefore ensures justice in the world. We sometimes look around and feel the world is unjust. We see cruel deeds being performed all around us. In despair some of us declare that the world is unfair and cruel.
We would be reassured if we could have confidence in the law of karma, that supports dharma. It is true that the results of karma can take time to be seen. Those doing unjust actions may seem to enjoy and prosper for a while, while good people seem to suffer. But, in the long run, those who do evil actions reap an appropriate negative reward while those who adhere to ethics and dharma benefit.
We see this in the ancient Puranas. In the 'Mahabharata', Duryodhana and Dusshasana enjoy themselves by insulting and manhandling Draupadi, by pulling her hair and trying to disrobe her. In the end, their karma catches up with them, and they have a miserable death in the war.
Repentence may reduce the burden of one's negative karma, as may tapas (penance). We all make mistakes. The problem is when we refuse to acknowledge we have made them and even worse, when we try to blame others for them.
The saints say one should be forgiving. But to forgive, there needs to be repentance in the one who commits the crime. A murderer, thief or similar criminal who shows no remorse for the evil acts done, deserves no forgiveness. The law of karma ensures that such persons receive appropriate suffering for their wicked deeds. However, those who realise their mistake and repent, those who are sorry for their past mistakes and resolve to change and not repeat these mistakes, such persons may be forgiven by God. We see this in the case of the sage Valmiki (who told the story of Rama in the form of the great epic, the 'Ramayana'). He was a nasty criminal who robbed and killed people. One day he realised his mistake after meeting the sage Narada, and repented his foolish acts. He gave up his wicked ways and took to intense japa of the name of Rama (in reverse order 'Mara' as he could not pronounce 'Rama' being so impure!). After years of penance, his sins were all washed away, and he shone as the sage Valmiki.
We live on the Earth with several billion people. We may sometimes feel that we are victims of other people's unethical behaviour. We may feel wronged. As a result, we may brood over what has occurred- it is the nature of the mind to brood over negative events. At times like this, it is useful to remind ourselves that whatever has happened to us is the result of our own karma. And that others will also face their own karma as decreed by God. Knowing this, we can rest assured that justice will be done.
Many people strut about the surface of the Earth acting in any way they like as if they own the planet. They harm others in thought, word and deed, without any fear of the consequences. They feel that they can get away with anything, that they will never be brought to justice.
Human justice may indeed fail on many occasions, but divine justice never does. In this lifetime or another, those who commit crimes against others, those who lie, steal from and cheat others, will certainly reap the unpleasant painful rewards of their own unrighteous, adharmic actions.
We should also think about the solution and not the problem, beyond a point. There is no point in repeatedly brooding over the negative words and deeds of others as this is ultimately a waste of our mental space, and will get us nowhere. We are effectively meditating on these negative people. What a waste of our mental energy and resources!
Instead of this, it would be far more useful and beneficial for us to turn our minds towards God, towards the mantra which is none other than God. The mantra is the solution to all problems, both material and spiritual. Repeating the mantra will bring relief to these problems- so say the sages since time immemorial.
So when troubled by the unpleasant acts of others, let us seek refuge in the mantra which alone has the capacity to protect and uplift us. The trishul of Shiva undoubtedly protects His devotee who chants Om Namah Shivaya. The chakra of Narayana undoubtedly protects His devotee who takes His names, and the sword of the Divine Mother, Jagadamba, protects those who take refuge in Her.
As one Swami of Sivananda Ashram in Rishikesh is fond of saying, "Remember Hari (God), don't worry and be merry". He is quite right. This is not always easy to practice but is a very sensible approach. Let us try our best then to remember Hari, not worry and be merry!
Om Namo Narayanaya
May Hari bless us all.
The law of karma is the law of action and reaction. A good deed produces happiness, a bad deed produces sorrow. The law of karma ensures dharma, justice, fairness and righteousness. Those who walk the path of dharma create good karma and get favourable, positive results. Those who break the rules of dharma, who act unethically, get unfavourable, negative results.
The law of karma therefore ensures justice in the world. We sometimes look around and feel the world is unjust. We see cruel deeds being performed all around us. In despair some of us declare that the world is unfair and cruel.
We would be reassured if we could have confidence in the law of karma, that supports dharma. It is true that the results of karma can take time to be seen. Those doing unjust actions may seem to enjoy and prosper for a while, while good people seem to suffer. But, in the long run, those who do evil actions reap an appropriate negative reward while those who adhere to ethics and dharma benefit.
We see this in the ancient Puranas. In the 'Mahabharata', Duryodhana and Dusshasana enjoy themselves by insulting and manhandling Draupadi, by pulling her hair and trying to disrobe her. In the end, their karma catches up with them, and they have a miserable death in the war.
Repentence may reduce the burden of one's negative karma, as may tapas (penance). We all make mistakes. The problem is when we refuse to acknowledge we have made them and even worse, when we try to blame others for them.
The saints say one should be forgiving. But to forgive, there needs to be repentance in the one who commits the crime. A murderer, thief or similar criminal who shows no remorse for the evil acts done, deserves no forgiveness. The law of karma ensures that such persons receive appropriate suffering for their wicked deeds. However, those who realise their mistake and repent, those who are sorry for their past mistakes and resolve to change and not repeat these mistakes, such persons may be forgiven by God. We see this in the case of the sage Valmiki (who told the story of Rama in the form of the great epic, the 'Ramayana'). He was a nasty criminal who robbed and killed people. One day he realised his mistake after meeting the sage Narada, and repented his foolish acts. He gave up his wicked ways and took to intense japa of the name of Rama (in reverse order 'Mara' as he could not pronounce 'Rama' being so impure!). After years of penance, his sins were all washed away, and he shone as the sage Valmiki.
We live on the Earth with several billion people. We may sometimes feel that we are victims of other people's unethical behaviour. We may feel wronged. As a result, we may brood over what has occurred- it is the nature of the mind to brood over negative events. At times like this, it is useful to remind ourselves that whatever has happened to us is the result of our own karma. And that others will also face their own karma as decreed by God. Knowing this, we can rest assured that justice will be done.
Many people strut about the surface of the Earth acting in any way they like as if they own the planet. They harm others in thought, word and deed, without any fear of the consequences. They feel that they can get away with anything, that they will never be brought to justice.
Human justice may indeed fail on many occasions, but divine justice never does. In this lifetime or another, those who commit crimes against others, those who lie, steal from and cheat others, will certainly reap the unpleasant painful rewards of their own unrighteous, adharmic actions.
We should also think about the solution and not the problem, beyond a point. There is no point in repeatedly brooding over the negative words and deeds of others as this is ultimately a waste of our mental space, and will get us nowhere. We are effectively meditating on these negative people. What a waste of our mental energy and resources!
Instead of this, it would be far more useful and beneficial for us to turn our minds towards God, towards the mantra which is none other than God. The mantra is the solution to all problems, both material and spiritual. Repeating the mantra will bring relief to these problems- so say the sages since time immemorial.
So when troubled by the unpleasant acts of others, let us seek refuge in the mantra which alone has the capacity to protect and uplift us. The trishul of Shiva undoubtedly protects His devotee who chants Om Namah Shivaya. The chakra of Narayana undoubtedly protects His devotee who takes His names, and the sword of the Divine Mother, Jagadamba, protects those who take refuge in Her.
As one Swami of Sivananda Ashram in Rishikesh is fond of saying, "Remember Hari (God), don't worry and be merry". He is quite right. This is not always easy to practice but is a very sensible approach. Let us try our best then to remember Hari, not worry and be merry!
Om Namo Narayanaya
May Hari bless us all.
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