Keep Faith and the quality of life will be good, pain will not overwhelm you

What is ‘karmaphala?’ It is the fruit of all acts done by us through our bodies, minds and words. Every act of ours, done by either of these three, is recorded for future rewards and punishments. As a matter of fact, the creation is based on the ‘Karmaphala Principle’. Even God, who is all-powerful, does not interfere in its onset, though He can. This will amount to giving liberation (moksha), which is awarded only upon leaving the present body.

Why does He not? There are many logical reasons. The creation cannot exist unless there are set rules for its functioning. The karmaphala principle is the bedrock upon which it is founded. Dharma requires that there must be justice regarding the results one gets. That is the reason why good people run into bad times, because of their earlier bad acts. What they are doing now will bring good results in future. Similarly, bad people have good times also, because their earlier good acts have come to fruition. They will be punished in future for their present acts. There had to be a deterrent, otherwise how many of us, would toe the line?

Even devotees of God are not spared. Citing a famous example, King Dasharatha – the father of Lord Rama suffered separation from his favourite son, which caused his death. He had been cursed to die in this fashion. Lord Rama did not prevent it, which He could have. Before I continue with this topic, let me clarify about the matter of ‘shapa’ (curse). All those who suffer on account of shape given are destined due to their earlier bad acts; the person giving shape just acts as a medium. This is similar to ‘siddha purush’ (the perfected ones) blessing someone, and the recipient gaining something desirable. The law is clear: “We reap what we sow”. Curses, which are not destined, do not affect. Aren’t many curses thrown around indiscriminately by bitter people? Then, how does God help His devotees, who have qualified for special treatment due to their devotion? Some famous examples will help. Meerabai was given poison to drink as her punishment for worshipping Lord Krishna. Her Lord made the poison harmless, and Meerabai continued to be healthy.

The examples cited above should inspire us to get started; this journey is long and hard; and it involves doing many spiritual practices. That is how you develop God's consciousness.

 It is wise to get started, because without God’s protection anything can happen, as destined, due to previous bad karma. We are in fact sitting ducks. This is the reason we must take shelter from God, earlier the better. Then, what will happen? Troubles will certainly come because this is the material world, which is an impermanent place of miseries. (8.15) And one will get out of them, as God will intervene and help. The reality is this for devotees of God: “Troubles will certainly come, and we will certainly get out also.”

However, it is difficult to have this faith even for devotees, who are just getting started on the spiritual journey. They begin to feel that no troubles should come to them, because they have taken God’s shelter. But this is not how the system works. It is unlike our relationships with our parents, who do their level best to try to prevent troubles coming to us. Unfortunately, they are in the ultimate sense helpless, and troubles come, and we suffer. In the case of God, troubles do come, as destined, but God bails us out. How does it matter if troubles come, if we are assured that we will safely negotiate them? Faith should not be allowed to be shaken. If one has become a devotee, life will go on in this birth and the next and so on till one is liberated after many births. (6.45)

Therefore, take shelter from God actively. Do whatever is appropriate. Troubles will come and God will take care of them. Pain will be there, but it will be tolerable. Faith must be kept, and quality of life will be good, as different from the lives of non-devotees, who are likely to be derailed at any time. That way it is a nasty place, this material world.

(The writer is a spiritual teacher, views are personal)