Karmaphalas—the results of our actions—are an undeniable force shaping our lives
We all should know about karmaphalas. These are the results of both good and bad karma (acts) done by us in the past with our minds, words and bodies. I have mentioned minds separately from bodies because karmas done by the mind are subtle. And they can be quite lethal. What is a mental disease? You have guessed right; it is caused by our minds.
Similarly, words are no less dangerous. Yes, words can be very deadly, as experienced by all of us, when we choose to speak foolishly. And these bad karmaphalas can manifest at any age but they hurt the most in old age when we are weak and not left with many options.
This is when a person laments about his bad luck and there are not many sympathisers. Aren’t we written off as we age? This article describes what we can do about it. We are not so helpless after all. The first step is to stop doing all bad acts right from this moment. And we know what these are. Goodness has to increase in us by doing all acts of goodness.
We must speak pleasantly; we should see goodness programmes; we should stick to foods in goodness; and so on. What this will do is protect us from the ill effects of our present acts, to begin with. Controller mental must be curbed; one must become realistic because there is only one controller and that is God. If it wasn’t so we will obtain whatever we desire, which hardly even happens. The ego must be curbed because there is only one superior entity, which is God. All our lives we try to prove our superiority and what happens? We become very unpopular with others, especially with our family members, whom we desperately need in our old age. Spiritual practices must be started in the right earnest.
They will make a lot of sense if we realise that we are souls, parts of God.
Shouldn’t parts be dependent on the whole? Should we not be respectful towards God, just like a son is supposed to be towards his father? Don’t we thank others when they do us some favour? God is forever doing us many favours. To begin with, He has provided all essentials free like the light of the sun, water, air containing oxygen, etc. God has to help ultimately because fate cannot be changed by anyone else. He also doesn’t, but helps to deal with bad karmaphalas; we won’t end up badly. (9.31) This is a very big ‘kripa’ but more important is His mercy in protecting us from our good karmaphalas, when we are most likely to hurt ourselves badly. Because it is hard to tolerate good times. And God and only God can help in improving our nature, which is also part of our fate.
Doesn’t our nature let us down time and again? We see people destroying themselves by angry acts, lusty behaviour, envious attitudes, etc. God protects us from foolish acts, if we remain in His shelter.I am very scared about the prospect of ill fate in my old age when I am already weak. God has to protect me.
I am not taking any chances; I have taken God’s shelter. Only God is the one who can help, being the owner and controller. God can intervene and God does for His devotees. (The Bhagavad-Geeta 18.58) Wouldn’t this make us peaceful? It has made me gradually as my connection with God is getting strengthened by my spiritual practices. Please don’t take chances.
(The writer is a spiritual teacher; views are personal)