What doctrine of karma means

Adversities often compel a person to blame God, little realising that the Divine agency shows neither partiality not favouritism to any of His own creations. The wealth one enjoys or the poverty in which he is steeped are but the consequences of his past deeds -noble or wicked as the case may he. One who comprehends this Karma doctrine will never be afflicted with despair when he faces Upsets. To accuse God for one's own misery will be like mistaking as "torture", a doctor performing a minor surgery on one patient, while administering only a tablet to another, not knowing that the cure depends on the root cause of the malady. That is why one should be pious and devoted and extend liberal charity to righteous causes, to make sure that he will be born distinguished, in his next life This moral is projected in the legend connected with Meenakshi, an incarnation of the Divine Mother.

In his discourse on Thiruvilayadal Puranam Sri Swaminatha Thambiran said, in return for her dedication in her previous life, a celestial woman was privileged to have the Divine Mother manifesting as her daughter in her next birth. This divine child grew into a dazzling personality, ruled the Pandya kingdom from Madurai and ultimately had Her re-union with Lord Siva.
                                                                          January 24, 1973

Jain view of Karma

Some people in the world are wealthy, some experience happiness and some are charming while on the other hand, many wallow in poverty or go through misery or are created so uncouth as to make them feel hesitant even to mingle with friends What are the contributory factors which place, some in an enviable position, healthy and rich and others grief-stricken, weak and poor. It cannot be a matter of chance,  accident. The Doctrine that controls the fate of man is one of the pivotal concepts of Jainism Prosperity or adversity, of man is the result of his deeds --good or wicked, committed in this life or in the past. No one should hence be blamed for his helpless plight and his own suffering The Jain scriptures say that man is the maker and breaker of his own fate and friend of foe of his self.

Acharya Vikrama Suriswarji in his discourse pointed out how cowardly and foolish it would be for a person to cringe for happiness from God after indulging in misdeeds and unleashing evil acts on fellow beings. Jainism states that no one inflicts punishments on man except his own Karmas. But the Jain sutras also mention that even at a time when one's past Karmas are ripe to react, the observance of religious injunctions and the Code of moral conduct can reduce their vicious effects The consequences of karmas will become infructuous if one practises tolerance and love by following the messages given by saints and sages and by developing Contentment and forbearance. Everyone should realise the Power of spiritual endeavour which can nullify the impact of Karmas and get freed from their bondage. One can intensify the good karmas to raise one's fortunes to the peak. It is also possible to entirely change the nature of one's Karmas.
                                                                          January 2, 1980

Faith in God can free one from rebirths

That one should develop intense faith in one's personal God, hope for deliverance from the cycle of rebirths and believe in the theory of Karma is among the basic teachings of Saint Manickavachagar.

Rebirth, according to him is an incontrovertible fact. By being born repeatedly the soul gains spiritual knowledge and attains God's kingdom. As a human being one is given the choice to tread the path shown by God and His deputies. As the adage goes "As one sows, so one reaps", a man's noble deeds or his misdeeds result in his birth in a pious family or amidst evil forces Saints therefore plead with us to uphold the principles of virtue. The Karma theory is accepted by all, excepting one group.

Love of humanity and righteous conduct are the fundamental requirements for this kind of life. The soul must get rid of the taints of ignorance, Karma and Matter, saints advocate.

In his discourse on Thiruvembavai Pandit V. Natesan explained the steps taken by the saints sent by God to arouse men from their slumber and kindle their inner consciousness. The purpose of religion, as Manickavachagar defines, is to unify mankind He urges men to be pure and humble. The welfare of other human beings should be a devotee's chief concern.

The essence of the teaching of Nayanmars was to make everyone regard the other as his own self. Even though the saints belonged to different religions, they prescribed a standard pattern based on piety Contentment was another vital virtue they asked man to cultivate. The rites they have prescribed for performance by him are chiefly intended to develop internal purity.

Common to Saivism and other beliefs is "Paavai Nonbu", widely practised in earlier days. The month of Margazhi is chosen to seek the blessings of the Divine Mother by observing strict austerities.
January 13, 1982

Why man takes several births

Every action of the individual inevitably leads to some results, good or bad, and his life becomes conditioned by the consequences of those acts. That is an inexorable Law. N o act fizzles out without producing results and the person has necessarily to take several births since the results of all the actions have to be experienced. Impelled by desire, man engages himself in a variety of activities and there is naturally an accumulation of their results.

Thus the deliverance of the soul from the bondage of the body becomes a far cry. Everyone, however, wants unalloyed bliss, free from even a trace of sorrow and that is possible of attainment only from deliverance (Moksha). Hence, the question arises as how to free oneself from the effects of the various acts he has to perform during his sojourn on earth.

There is no escape from one's duties according to the Lord's injunctions though it is common experience that man's nature is to have recourse to what gives him pleasure but to recoil from what gives him pain. Everyone should perform, the duty that has fallen to his lot. Abandoning one's own duty and doing that of another enticed by ease and pleasure are harmful.

Scriptures point out that man's actions attain consumation in the form of direct results only if he performs those actions with a feeling of attachment. If, however, he acts in a spirit of detachment from the fruits of his actions, he will be keeping the road open for the soul's progress towards ultimate release (Moksha).

Sri S. R. Raghothamachar, in a discourse said the path of unselfish, disinterested service and duty leads to purity of mind and from a purified mind arise true knowledge and devotion. Sri Krishna's message to mankind is "surrender all actions to Me." Then work itself becomes worship and every act a consecration.
                                                                          June 21, 1985

Keep the mind pure

Whosoever he may be -a highly respected scholar a multi-millionaire or a person wielding enormous power and authority -everyone has to face death. Birth is followed by death and no one is an exception. Is it not then possible to put an end to this transmigratory, endless cycle of births and deaths and enjoy unalloyed, pure, lasting Bliss? How to achieve the ultimate release and liberation from bondage?

Scriptures discuss this topic elaborately. The earlier portion of the Vedas deal with religion duties everyone should perform and the concluding portion deals with the Divine knowledge that leads to final emancipation. But, every action produces results; the Law of Karma is inexorable and immutable. Man cannot escape re-birth since he has to experience the fruits of his actions. Hence, the seeker is advised to consecrate all his actions as an offering to God. Actions done in that spirit of dedication and surrender do not bind. Performance of actions with detachment towards the fruits thereof cleanses the mind of all impurities and makes it a fit instrument to receive Divine knowledge which alone can lead to liberation. But, it is a common experience that people start a five-minute pooja with an elaborate Sankalpa, listing several wishes to be fulfilled, said Sri Bharathi Thirtha Swami of Sringeri Math.

Adi Sankara posed the question: What is the use of even the highest position and superior joys in heaven? In the ultimate analysis, it is only Self-realisation -true understanding of one's own self -that he is not the limited psycho-physical organism he had imagined himself to be out of ignorance but he is the immortal spirit that can bring deliverance, will help him. The realised person sees the Divine unity behind the endless multiplicity and differences in the world which is nothing but mere names and forms. Self-realisation is possible of attainment only through the grace of the Lord and one should practise devotion to get this right knowledge of one's own nature.
                                                                          December 25, 1986

Devotee's duty to preserve culture

Every Indian, even at birth, retains in him the spark of Divinity which gradually intensifies and keeps him soaked in devotion. Invariably all are deeply attached to God, knowing Him to be all-powerful and that only through Divine mercy, the worldly activities are sustained. However in the case of a few, who display animosity towards the Almighty and decry religious procedures, branding them as the fictitious imagination of some who have prescribed them as the panacea for ills of the humanity. But the greatest wonder is that despite this campaign of calumny and denigration of God, the number of temples, His abodes, is on the increase. Devotion runs in the veins but some, due to their avarice and there anxiety to achieve fame and with the idea that they should "somehow" become powerful, adopt anti-God stance.

The -Sringeri Sankaracharya, -Sri Bharathi Thirtha said, all activities in the world take place only according to God's will. If Divine dispensation is the basis for what takes place, why should then a person commit mistakes and suffer? Will it not be proper that God should make people carry out only good deeds? Bad deeds follow crimes and people who indulge in them cannot go unpunished. Why they turn bad depends on the Law of "Karma" and in successive births, they commit more errors. If people want to avoid the same, they should resort to worship and prayers, which will help them to generate Devotion within. They should seek the guidance of a spiritual master. Youngsters should treat their parents with utmost reverence. Modern youth sometimes show scant courtesy and even ridicule their adherence to tradition. To say that parents are ignorant is perhaps the greatest misfortune. The country's hoary culture and heritage should be preserved. They have been handed over to us by sages and saints after so many trials, for our good and for our prosperity. If someone says that he continues to worship in his house, an idol that has been preserved over generations, we must be proud of him. Whatever may be the nature of our profession and whatever may be our individual status, two factors --Righteousness and Devotion, bind us together Adi Sankara prescribed tbe correct way of life based on "Dharma and Bhakthi" and people should uphold the same.
                                                                         May 9, 1988