Theory of Karma - Book by Hirabhai Thakkar Review

Today I had a very good read “ Theory of Karma” http://www.hirabhaithakkar.net/karma1.htm .Marathi version for this book is called “Karmacha Siddhanta”.  I had assignment from Kanchan to study chapter 11~21 of Marathi book & explain her my learnings.  Here are my thoughts! I will start with Summary of the book & then detail thoughts on my assignment

Summary:

Guruji ( author Haribhai Thakkar) talks about “Law of Karma” (chapter 1~5) first & then dwells on types of Karma ( chapter 6~9). From chapter 10 to 20 are his thoughts on “Prarabdha” & “Purushartha” & remaining portion of the text focuses on “Mokshaprapti” (liberation). Karmayoga, Bhaktiyoga & Dnyanyoga are the three ways towards eliminating Karmabandhana & get Moksha.

Law of Karma:

• जैसी करणी वैसी भरणी. (you will reap what you will sow)
• कराल ते भराल.
• Every action has reaction.
• भगवान के घर दर है अंधेर नही ( Though delayed you will have justice )
• You have to bear the fruits of your deeds
• You have right on Action not on Result! (कर्मण्येवाधिकारस्ते मा फलेषु कदाचन।)

All these sentences state Law of Karma.  This law is eternal, all pervading law. You cannot run away from the law, even if you do not understand it.

Explaining Law of Karma in details:

But Sometimes we feel doubt on this law, as

• Many time we see evil winning
• Good getting defeated, lashed, not succeeding
• Sometimes, quick responses like getting burn if playing with fire.

So how to solve these inconsistencies?

Here Guruji explains 3 terms, which will help solving these riddle.

• Kriyaman Karma (क्रियमाण कर्म ) – Which we are doing now.
• Sanchit Karma (संचित कर्म) – Deed of past of which fruits are yet to be experienced.
• Prarabdha (प्रारब्ध) – fruits of Sanchit karma now fructifying. Prarabdha Karma are the part of sanchita karma, a collection of past karmas, which are ready to be experienced through the present body (incarnation).

Our today's situation is summation of part of kriyaman Karma+ Prarabdha. Part of Kriyaman, which is not fructified instantly, gets added to Sanchit karma as shown in the chart below

This shows if Prarabdha of today’s sinner is good, he will still enjoy good state. Otherwise a gentleman doing all good things in life, if his earlier sins are fructifying now will be in difficult situation. Riddle solved.

For better tomorrow, you need better Sanchit, so better Kriyaman is required. There are three guna’s (गुण) which we exhibit while doing Kriyamana Karma: Satwik, Rajasik & Tamasik (सात्विक राजसिक आणि तामसिक). Good tomorrow is ensured with Satwik Guna. As we had many birth cycles, many times the force of Sanchit is high, which we sometimes call as destiny.

Now let’s understand What Purushartha Means

The purpose of Kriyaman Karma is called Purushartha. 'Artha' means aim or goal of human life. The concept of Purushartha basically indicates different values to be realized in human life through human efforts. There are four Purusharthas or aims of life as propounded by Manu, viz., Dharma (धर्म -virtue), Artha (अर्थ- wealth), Kama (काम- pleasure), and Moksha (मोक्ष- liberation).

Sage Vyas says - उर्ध्वबहुविरोम्यैष: धर्मादार्थाश्च कामश्च – I am raising my hands and telling, please listen Kama and Artha is only because of Dharma, follow Dharma.

Please note that our current situation is dependent on Both – purrushartha & prarabdha. So effort is required in life. Truth is you cannot even breathe without effort or karma.  One more point guruji makes is experience your Prarabhdha and walk towards your liberation in this birth. Then the question comes: if all the sanchit is not going to be finished by experiencing the fruits of it, will we get moksha in this birth?  Answer is yes explained in reminder of the book.

उत्तिष्ठत जाग्रत प्राप्य वरान्निबोधत, क्षुरासन्न धारा निशिता दुरत्यद्दुर्गम पथ: तत् कवयो वदन्ति 

(Arise! Awake! Approach the great and learn.Like the sharp edge of a razor is that path, so the wise say−hard to tread and difficult to cross.)
Sanjay's thoughts in Marathi on this audio file for listening around 8 minutes in Marathi.

Powering Your Career & Life

What I am going to say has potential to impact your life big way.

These are very simple but powerful ideas: Why I am saying this? Most Important thing in life is not always visible to us. We have lost sight of it. Let me ask you big thing which is related to Birth? With every birth one thing related is Death. How many of us remember it? If one remembers death, how much difference it will bring to your Life! With this preamble let me start to share thoughts about Powering Your Career & Life!

 Be Proactive - own your life, be responsible and not have victim attitude.

What is the purpose of Life? Let's talk about it; any volunteers?? Unless you understand purpose of your life, how do you know you are on right Path? It is very simple isn't it? Do you really think you know the purpose?  I have my answers & every answer will be very personal. I think Indian Mythology gave standard answer for it, you can read scriptures if you need to know it. Stephen Covey says this “Begin with end in mind" 2nd Habit of effective people.

Where are you investing your resources? Your resources are you, your time, your mind, your energy.   Are those in right place? Again what they say is that resources to be put where strategy is. We need to be focused. Are we really focused?

What I just said to you will find vivid description of it in a HBR article “How to measure your life". There is HBR series available for managing yourself. Let's learn to manage ourselves better.

Values dictate behavior like goals also dictate. One is Path & other is end. Both are important. Having Right values & goals aligned with purpose of your life is key. You should focus your resources here.  This is surely going to power your career as well will power your life.

Now I will talk about "Sharpening the Saw": You folks are all stars today! You are the chosen few! How will it be remaining for long time. You will have to sharpen the saw every day. You need to be nimble, agile, fast, fierce, on dot.... etc.. Unless you sharpen the saw it will not happen. All dimensions of life that matters you need to sharpen.  That is why it is very important to understand your purpose, then priorities & then sharpen your saw accordingly.

This is all what I have today to share! Be proactive, know purpose of your life, direct your resources towards it & finally try to be current & worthy towards Powering your career & life!

Is Might right OR Right is Might

This is what I wrote with Aarti, my daughter today !

चंद्रमे जे अलांछन   । मार्तण्ड जे तापहीन ।ते सर्वाही सदा सज्जन । सोयरे होतु॥ 

Since ancient time, there is debate: is might Right?  Or really Right is might? Might – which denotes power, strength, authority is seen many a times right and so people argue for might. Also we have seen many taking side of “Right” which denotes: wisdom, ethical, accurate, proper, just, truthfulness. I obviously am on the side of Right, which is really right thing to do! Or Thing to be!

Might is also right as it helps you to save yourself against injustice.  India as a country needs strength to protect it’s citizens for bad forces. Only wisdom will not save the people & the country. There is a story in Mahabharata about a rabbit going to Lord Bramha and asking him why he did not give rabbit any organ to defend ? Lord Bramha replied to him “Run away before I eat you”. What does this mean? Weak people have nowhere to go. So some say that might is Right!

Currently in Iraq ISIS is doing lot many bad things, burning people alive, chopping their heads...  This is not getting stopped due to lack of strength of the people. They have to endure the injustice. For administration of justice might is required, power is required. For converting Right into reality we need might.

Though the above arguments are really good; there is saying  “Power corrupts!” ISIS has got lot of power! There are many examples in history which shows a good person getting converted to devilish person because of uncontrolled power or might. Do you remember any character you have faced who has become corrupt with Power? .

Might is temporary, Right is permanent!  Truth always wins! Powerful people lose their power with time and right remains unchanged.  Wisdom prevails! Ethics will win in long term! Truthfulness and justness is virtue! Be virtuous and be on the side of “Right” & God will help you!

Our Founding fathers, the writers of Indian constitution understood this. They had very good solution. Indian democracy is run by three independent legs: The Legislature; the Executive and the Judiciary. These three legs have powers which restrain each other’s power to have “Right” prevail.

This shows clearly that though Might may be right in selective situations, Right is the obvious winner. Power will corrupt in long term so choose Right to endure and prosper in long term. Choose permanent over temporary. Long Live the Right & may it be helped by Mighty always!