....and Determinism
After speaking the Bhagavad Gita on the battlefield and outlining what are the do's and dont's of intelligent living, he says, 'Yathechasi Tatha Kuru,' meaning, 'I have told you everything. Now you can do what you like and act as you please.'
We have the freedom of will to think and rise high. The will is a gift of the intellect that can act as a monitor to guide us in the right path of life. It can take care of the human individual, protecting him or her from pitfalls and giving the wisdom to learn from mistakes.
Of course, the principle of determinism is also at work. Every humanbeing is born with a bank balance. Just as the seed contains the whole blueprint of the tree, what type of flowers, how tall it will grow, how long it will live, the human life and destiny is governed by Karma, Prarabhdha Karma, Sanchitha Karma and Agami Karma. Prarabha is the profit and loss statement that one inherits at birth. Sanchitha is all the actions performed from the time of birth and Agami is the collective of Prarabhdha and Sanchitha that will manifest in the future.
Let me first clear some misconceptions about the word Karma. It simply means Action. Anything done with the thought, words and physical action creates an impression on the mind. The impact can be beneficial if it is good - meaning if it helps to turn the senses inward. The impact can cause harm if it is bad - again, if the senses are thrown outward and lost in the world of action. Anything that helps the mind to become more focussed and stable is good karma and anything that rattles the mind, disturbs it and lose balance is bad Karma.
With the help of free will, we can change the course of our life from the boring, mundane or ordinary to achieve nobility and greatness. For instance, I can use my free will to practise Pranayama, Hatha Yoga and Meditation and regulate my diet - but I cannot say that I will not get any disease. We have the free will to determine our life, but are also bound to accept what life gives us. Depending on its energy, a river has the power to determine its course of flow. The more the energy, or rather the realisation of the presence of the power within, our capacity to determine situations increases. But ultimately, the joy of living lies not in determining, but surrendering to the flow and just remain a witness.
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18 comments:
Reminds me of Tagore's words in Sadhana - 'It is only because the strings of the vina are firmly bound at one end that it finds its freedom in music at the other end.'
Agnibarathi: Tagore is one of my favourite writers. I have a print-out of "Where the mind is without fear...Give me the strength to surrender my strength to thy will with love." before me at office. The verse actually explains where our individual will ends and the cosmic will begins.
swahilya
beautifully thought and written.
This gift of 'free will' also makes huge difference between other path and sanathana dharma.
But Karma is also badly misrepresented
by others without understanding it proper meaning.
Thank you so much Swahilya. It was really interesting and informative.
"But ultimately, the joy of living lies not in determining, but surrendering to the flow and just remain a witness."
Nice lines...how true indeed.
Swahilya,
Terrific write up.. Very lucid explanation. I remember reading in Yoga Vasistha where Sage Vasistha says to the effect that "When the actions do not materialize as expected, blame it on the effort in the present as not being good enough and not on the prarabdha." (The effort is the present is more potent). Your explanation on this based on thoughts, words and actions explains that sentence in detail most beautifully. Thank you.
Mind has me dancing to its tune and puts me in misery at every available opportunity, but why do i still oblige like a slave? Wish it can be turned off by the control of a button.. :) Wishful thinking!!
very succinct post on the specifics of karma.
Just like arjuna had the company and recieved THE TRUTH from the master himself , one should always keep the company of noble souls to negate the effects caused by maaya and do proper karma..
OT:am gonna blogroll u..:)
Swahilya,
A very informative post. Encouraging to read these blogs and connect to the "path of the truth" whose "signboards" are all writ in our scriptures, vedas, upanishads.
Beautiful analogy about the river and human will.
Nice to see another Tagore fan Swahilya!! His book sAdhanA was the only book which I read by taking notes (not even my college books got that honour!! ;))
Ganesh: You have got the point. While generally everywhere people are told what to do, how to sit, how to eat, how to talk and how to pray, Sanatana Dharma gives the individual the total freedom but monitors the whole process and has its way finally - just like the mother who would let the child play in a large open space with toys, but keep an eye and hold the child when there is danger or sometimes allow the child to fall and experience the suffering - to not make that mistake again.
Kasthuri: There is such a joy and comfort in surrendering and the whole world takes care of you. Like a baby in the mother's womb which is pampered and celebrated!
Krishna: I've always contemplated on the company of great souls. When we are seeing from the foot hills, the vision is limited. But climb on top of the mountain - it is an expansive vision. Great souls who have reached the top always come down to show us the way there and the best way to learn is surrender our faculty of free will and determinism and follow them in silent absorbtion.
Varadha: Vedas, Upanishads and Scriptures are signboards. But what generally happens is people cling on to the signboards and symbols and forget to take that path. It is as good as asking the way to a person and clinging on to the person who is showing the direction, instead of walking in the path shown!
Agnibarathi: I read Tagore's works in college in B.A. English, but I realised the spiritual nature of his works when the spiritual quest began in me. A poem 'Home' which is one of my posts last month was written after I re-read Tagore's play The Post Office and found that it touched me deep within.
swahilya you answer to varadha also holds good for religion itself
that is the problem we are facing now.
Swahilya ji,
"It is as good as asking the way to a person.."
I understand the point you are trying to make. I don't know why people don't make the journey after seeing the signboards..how much of free will and destiny are in play in this, I don't know.
I believe that the system of beliefs and traditions (read - assimilating, practising scriptures) was pervasive and people were a part of the system. They did take tha path and travelled..
For then it could have been an escape into the eternity..I know some of us still are part of the system, but the system may not be as pervasive at all. The subtlety of the Truth in the scriptures and vedas trigger the people to probe and guide along the path, literally.
Have seen dome references (like tha of Maharishi Sri Ramana, Paramachary'a "Daivathin kural")
Devotion, Disassociation, Meditation, Constant contemplation are vehicles to transport us to the undertake the journey to the Destination..how much of free will and destiny are in play in this, I don't know.
Again, I found the posting extremely clear and thoroughly enjoyed it..
Varadha: Though we have the free will to sit down and meditate, destiny has a role to play in allowing us to sit down.
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