What is Karma

[blazeofglory]

The word Karma comes from Sanskrit. Now this word has been globalized or westernized and it has so many interpretations and in this course it has lost its original significance.

In the Mahabharata, in fact the Bhagbat Gita is in the Mahabharata, the meaning and use of karma has been so impeccably mentioned.

Karma is action in its etymological meaning, and yet if you go deeply and profoundly Karma has a broader use.

We can not live without action. Karma is not exactly action or inaction. It is a bridge between these two extremes.

Life can not go without Karma.

When one is totally immersed in it no desires crop up.
Karma is creation or God incarnate.

Please express your own understanding or interpretation of Karma.

[sofia82]

In Longman Dictionary it is defined as this:

the belief that all the good and bad things that you do in this life affect how good or bad your future lives will be, according to the Hindu and Buddhist religions

Is this different from the original meaning?

[blazeofglory]

In fact Vedic literature is timeless and all Hindu or Buddhist literature borrow from or draw upon Vedic literature.In fact it is action, like breathing. The way one can not survive without breathing and in the same way one can not keep on living without Karma.

Indeed the total meaning of Karma is really more than petty religious sects take it to be.

[Madhuri]

When one is totally immersed in it no desires crop up.

Hard to believe in it; and it is difficult to achieve it.


Karma is creation or God incarnate.

How?



Indeed the total meaning of Karma is really more than petty religious sects take it to be.

What is the 'more' factor?

[blazeofglory]

Karma, often called in Sanskrit Niskam Karma, with no desire of results leads to a state of Nirvana.

Our job is to work not to think about the result of it. If man acts irrespective of what becomes of his work he never becomes tangled by the result of his acts.
This is Karma.

Here we do, prior to immersing in Karma, totally swayed by the fruition of our works or actions, things that giver better results. Results are not what we must think about. If we act properly and rationally things will come up spontaneously.

Karma must not be mired by mere results, for Karma is itself the result, a state of godliness. It is through Karma that we remain connected to our origin or to the originator whose karma resulted in creation.